Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Founding: 1789
Parent county: Chester
Namesake: The Delaware River
Seat: Chester (1789–1850); Media (1850–)
Land area: 184 square miles
Population (2020): 576,830
Population (historic): 9,469 (1790); 19,791 (1840); 39,403 (1870); 94,762 (1900); 280,264 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1790–1810; 1820–1970; 1990–2020
Subdivisions: One city; 27 boroughs; ten CDPs; 21 townships
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 49,106 (21.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 62.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 43.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 3.4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $6,040
Average outbuilding value (1930): $8,180

Average farmhouse size (1940): 7.4 rooms

Number of farms (1920): 1,287
Average farm size (1920): 46.3 acres

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Chester (ex-seat)

 
Namesake: Chester, England
Founding: pre-1682 (founding as Upland); 1682 (incorporation); 1775 (post office)
Population (2020): 32,605
Population (historic): 657 (1820); 1,667 (1850); 9,485 (1870); 33,988 (1900); 59,164 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1950
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,066 (35.7%)
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Media

 
Namesake: The borough's central location within Delaware County
Founding: 1850 (platting); 1850 (incorporation); 1852 (post office)
Population (2020): 5,901
Population (historic): 285 (1850); 1,045 (1870); 2,736 (1890); 3,562 (1910); 5,372 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1850s; 1870–1930; 1940–1970; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,088 (35.4%)

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