Downingtown

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Downingtown
Marsh Creek Lake near Downingtown
Marsh Creek Lake near Downingtown
Location in Pennsylvania
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Downingtown
Downingtown
Basic data
Foundation : May 12, 1859
State : United States
State : Pennsylvania
County : Chester County
Coordinates : 40 ° 0 ′  N , 75 ° 42 ′  W Coordinates: 40 ° 0 ′  N , 75 ° 42 ′  W
Time zone : Eastern ( UTC − 5 / −4 )
Residents : 7,589 (as of: 2000)
Population density : 1,331.4 inhabitants per km 2
Area : 5.7 km 2  (approx. 2 mi 2 ) of
which 5.7 km 2  (approx. 2 mi 2 ) is land
Height : 71 m
Postal code : 19335
Area code : +1 610 484
FIPS : 42-19752
GNIS ID : 1213957
Website : www.downingtown.org
Mayor : Josh Maxwell ( D )

Downingtown is a municipality in Chester County in the US state of Pennsylvania with 7,589 inhabitants according to the census of 2000 .

geography

Downingtown is located in eastern Pennsylvania 33 miles west of the city of Philadelphia .

history

The urban area has been inhabited since the early 18th century and has numerous historical buildings. The town was originally called Milltown because of the many mills along Brandywine Creek . The first of these mills was founded by Thomas Moore. Frederick Bicking, an immigrant from Winterburg , Germany, also owned paper mills in this area. The Bicking family continued the paper industry here into the 19th century.

Milltown was named Downing's Town during the American Revolution after Thomas Downing, a Quaker immigrant from Bradninch, Devon , England , bought several of the mills in 1717 . The city was officially renamed Downingtown in 1812. The eastern branch of Brandywine Creek flows through the town center. The city is on US Route 30 , which runs between the US east and west coasts. US Route 30 used to be a westward route for the wagons of the first settlers. Part of this road is known as the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike and is believed to be the first paved road to link the Atlantic to the Pacific in the United States. In the 18th century the radical leader of the Irish independence movement, Theobald Wolfe Tone , lived in Downingtown for a short time . In addition, the funeral procession of US President Abraham Lincoln led through Downingtown. The 1958 film Blob was filmed in the Downingtown area; Reference is made to the diner in the film, which is referred to as the Downingtown Diner .

economy

In 1996 the Victory Brewing Company was founded in Downingtown. The brewery inn gained national fame for its craft beers. The two founders of the brewery, Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski, learned their trade in Bavaria, among other places.

sons and daughters of the town

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The Blob (1958) - Filming locations . In: IMDB.com . Retrieved March 14, 2010.

Web links