Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35 km²), of which, 13.7 square miles (35 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.

Concord Township is located in Southwest Delaware County and is bordered by Chadds Ford Township to the West, Thornbury Township to the North, Chester Heights to the East and Bethel Township to the Southeast. A portion of the southern border of Concord Township sits along the border-arc between Pennsylvania and Delaware known as the 12-mile circle. Concord Township resides in both the Brandywine Creek and Chester Creek watersheds.

One of the busiest intersections in the state, where Route 1 and Route 202 meet, is locally known as "Painters Crossing." While there are no boroughs or other major population centers in the township, the unincorporated area known as Concordville has historical houses and a Quaker meetinghouse dating from the early colonial period.

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 17,231 people, 6,193 households, and 4,168 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,257.7 people per square mile (485.7/km²). There were 6,711 housing units. The racial makeup of the township was 86.1% White, 6.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 4,168 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% were individuals living alone 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income (2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) for a household in the township was $86,680, and the median income for a family was $121,389. Males had a median income of $91,470 versus $58,555 for females. The per capita income for the township was $42,358. About 4.0% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Concord Township is first mentioned in court records on June 27, 1683 when John Mendenhall was appointed constable of "Concord liberty".[5]

The paper for the first currency printed by the Continental Congress was made at the Ivy Mills founded by Thomas Willcox and Thomas Brown. The Ivy Mills was the second oldest paper mill in the United States.[6] The mill made printing paper for Benjamin Franklin and paper for currency for several Continental governments, the US government and many South American countries.[7] The oldest Roman Catholic parish in Pennsylvania began as a mission at the home of the Willcox family in 1730.[8] The church was later moved approximately one mile east to the top of the hill into what later would become the Borough of Chester Heights and is known as St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

In 1702, the St. John's Episcopal Church was founded on land donated by John Hannum, a successful farmer and tavern owner who was baptized by the former Quaker George Keith. Keith was known to conduct services at the Hannum home on Concord Road.[9]

The Newlin Grist Mill has been grinding grain since 1704. It has an 11 feet (3.4 m) tall stone wheel housed in a timber frame. The mill and processing complex had later passed through various hands, but in the 1950s it was purchased by a direct descendant of Nicholas Newlin, which along with 200 acres (0.81 km²) of surrounding countryside became the Newlin Mill Historic Park. The mill complex area was home to the Markham post office and Markham train station (Philadelphia/Baltimore rail traffic)

The name "Concord" was believed to have been given by the earliest European settlers of the township and reflects the harmonious feelings among them at the time. Title to all real estate in the township can be traced back to a grant from William Penn.

Concord Township was a part of Chester County until 1789, at which point Delaware County was created by act of legislature. Farmers in the northern and western reaches of Chester County were weary of travelling a period of days to get to the county seat in Chester, on the Delaware River. The seat of Chester County was moved to Turk's Head, now West Chester, and was centrally located in the county.

The Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting, Concord Friends Meetinghouse, Concordville Historic District, Handwrought (also known as the Thomas Marshall House), High Hill Farm, Ivy Mills Historic District, Newlin Mill Complex, Nicholas Newlin House and Thompson Cottage are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

US 1 (Baltimore Pike)

US 202 (US Route 202)

US 322 (Conchester Highway)

PA 491 (Naamans Creek Road)

The Delaware County jail, George W. Hill Correctional Facility, is partially in Concord Township, with other parts in Thornbury Township.[11]

Garnet Valley School District serves Concord Township.[12]

Rachel Kohl Library serves Concord Township.[13]

• Kathrynann Durham, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge and former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• John Larkin, Jr. - businessman, banker and politician
• William Garrigues Powel - Pennsylvania State Representative

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

• Concord Township
• Concord Township at DelawareCountyPA.com