Chester, Pennsylvania: Part One

This video was filmed on September 17th, 2023 and features sections of Chester, Pennsylvania. This is Part One of a two part series. Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Delaware Valley on the western bank of the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Incorporated in 1682, Chester is the oldest city in Pennsylvania and was the location of William Penn’s first arrival in the Province of Pennsylvania. Over the past 50-60 years Chester lost its manufacturing base and over half of its residents and devolved into a post-industrial city struggling with pollution, poverty, and crime. However, on the upside, Chester is host to Widener University, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, Subaru Park soccer stadium, Crozer-Chester Medical Center (CCMC) and more. Also, in the 1990s and into the 2000s Chester’s old housing projects (e.g. Lamokin, William Penn, McCafferty, etc.) were demolished and replaced by newer residential developments. The new housing opportunities were a significant improvement for the city.