Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is known as the Mushroom
Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a year. To celebrate this heritage, Kennett Square has an annual Mushroom Festival
, where the town shuts down to have a parade, tour mushroom farms, and buy and sell food and other goods. It is also home to the corporate headquarters of Genesis HealthCare
which administers elderly care
facilities. The local high school is Kennett High School
. Its population was 6,072 at the 2010 census.
Native Americans. The town was originally called Kennett Square, with the name "Kennett" coming from the River Kennet
in Berkshire
, England, and "Square" coming from the original land grant from William Penn of one square mile. It was the site of General Sir William Howe's march to the Battle of Brandywine
during the American Revolution
. It was also known as an important part of the Underground Railroad
that helped slaves escaping to the North for freedom. Many of its prominent citizens helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad.In 1853, a group asked for Kennett Square to be incorporated, and by 1855 it held elections.
Kennett Square's founder is credited with introducing mushroom growing to the area. He grew carnations, a popular local commodity around 1885, and wanted to make use of the wasted space under the elevated beds. He imported spawn from Europe and started experimenting with mushroom cultivation.
Kennett Square is the subject and setting of 19th century American author Bayard Taylor
's novel, The Story Of Kennett.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,273 people, 1,868 households, and 1,242 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,679.2 people per square mile (1,801.7/km²). There were 1,967 housing units at an average density of 1,745.5 per square mile (672.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 73.58% White, 10.26% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 12.48% from other races
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.88% of the population.
There were 1,868 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,523, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $35,978 versus $27,246 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $22,292. About 7.5% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
.
There is an internet radio station, BrandywineRadio.com, headquartered in the center of town which started on June 2, 2008. It focuses on local news, weather, traffic, and sports in the Brandywine Valley including Chester County, Delaware County, and New Castle County, DE.
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is known as the Mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a year. To celebrate this heritage, Kennett Square has an annual Mushroom Festival
Mushroom Festival
There are numerous mushroom food festivals held annually in: Telluride, Colorado; Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; Morel Mushroom Festival held in Harrison, Michigan and Boyne City, Michigan, and the Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival held in Morgan Hill, California....
, where the town shuts down to have a parade, tour mushroom farms, and buy and sell food and other goods. It is also home to the corporate headquarters of Genesis HealthCare
Genesis HealthCare
is a leading provider of short-term post-acute, rehabilitation, skilled nursing and long-term care services. As of 2011, Genesis operates over 200 skilled nursing centers and assisted living residences in 13 eastern states. Genesis also supplies rehabilitation therapy to over 1,100 healthcare...
which administers elderly care
Elderly care
Elderly care or simply eldercare is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and In-Home care.-Cultural and geographic...
facilities. The local high school is Kennett High School
Kennett High School (Pennsylvania)
Kennett High School is the only public high school in the Kennett Consolidated School District and is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States. The school averages around 1300 students and 100 faculty members...
. Its population was 6,072 at the 2010 census.
History
The area to become known as Kennett Square was originally inhabited by the LenapeLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
Native Americans. The town was originally called Kennett Square, with the name "Kennett" coming from the River Kennet
River Kennet
The Kennet is a river in the south of England, and a tributary of the River Thames. The lower reaches of the river are navigable to river craft and are known as the Kennet Navigation, which, together with the Avon Navigation, the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames, links the cities of Bristol...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England, and "Square" coming from the original land grant from William Penn of one square mile. It was the site of General Sir William Howe's march to the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. It was also known as an important part of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
that helped slaves escaping to the North for freedom. Many of its prominent citizens helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad.In 1853, a group asked for Kennett Square to be incorporated, and by 1855 it held elections.
Kennett Square's founder is credited with introducing mushroom growing to the area. He grew carnations, a popular local commodity around 1885, and wanted to make use of the wasted space under the elevated beds. He imported spawn from Europe and started experimenting with mushroom cultivation.
Kennett Square is the subject and setting of 19th century American author Bayard Taylor
Bayard Taylor
Bayard Taylor was an American poet, literary critic, translator, and travel author.-Life and work:...
's novel, The Story Of Kennett.
Geography
Kennett Square is located at 39°50′39"N 75°42′38"W (39.844104, -75.710654).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,273 people, 1,868 households, and 1,242 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,679.2 people per square mile (1,801.7/km²). There were 1,967 housing units at an average density of 1,745.5 per square mile (672.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 73.58% White, 10.26% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 12.48% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.88% of the population.
There were 1,868 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,523, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $35,978 versus $27,246 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $22,292. About 7.5% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The borough is governed by the Council-Manager form of government. There are seven Council Members and a mayor who are elected by the citizens. The Borough Manager is an employee of the Borough, hired by the Council. The present Borough manager is Brant Kucera.Events
The Kennett Mushroom Festival is held annually in early September. The festival has been highlighted on Food TV. In early October Kennett Square hosts a microbrew festival. The event draws over 40 breweries and often is sold out. Kennett Square celebrates Cinco de Mayo, which is organized by Casa Guanajuato, and other local companies. April 2008 was the start for the first annual springfestinthepark, held at the beautiful (over 100 acre) Anson B Nixon park. In May, the famous Kennett Run occurs that ends at the Park pavilion. These are but a few of the events for families and visitors throughout the year.Education
Kennett Square schools are all part of the Kennett Consolidated School District. This grouping of districts was the first consolidation of schools in the history of Pennsylvania (website). Students enrolled in kindergarten attend the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center (website). Grades 1 through 5 attend either Greenwood Elementary (http://gw.kcsd.org/) or Bancroft Elementary (http://be.kcsd.org/) For grades 6 through 8, all students attend Kennett Middle School (website). For grades 9 through 12, students then attend Kennett High SchoolKennett High School (Pennsylvania)
Kennett High School is the only public high school in the Kennett Consolidated School District and is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States. The school averages around 1300 students and 100 faculty members...
.
Media
Kennett Square has three newspapers which cover local news, The Chester County Press (website), covering portions of the county, the Kennett Paper, (website), covering Kennett Square and environs and the Daily Local News, a daily, covering the entire county. There is also a magazine, Kennett Square Today (website).There is an internet radio station, BrandywineRadio.com, headquartered in the center of town which started on June 2, 2008. It focuses on local news, weather, traffic, and sports in the Brandywine Valley including Chester County, Delaware County, and New Castle County, DE.
Notable people
- Bayard TaylorBayard TaylorBayard Taylor was an American poet, literary critic, translator, and travel author.-Life and work:...
(1825–1878), writer - Harry WhitneyHarry WhitneyHarry Whitney was an American sportsman, adventurer, and author. He traveled to northern Greenland with Robert Peary in 1908, staying over the winter with the Eskimos at Etah and Annoatok. In the spring of 1909 Whitney found himself at the center of the controversy between Frederick Cook and Peary...
(1873–1936), Arctic hunter, author, and adventurer - Herb PennockHerb PennockHerbert Jefferis Pennock was a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his time spent with the star-studded New York Yankee teams of the mid to late 1920s and early 1930s. Pennock won two World Series championships with the Red Sox and then four World Series championships with the...
(1894–1948), Hall of Fame baseball pitcher also known as the Squire of Kennett Square. - Jessica SavitchJessica SavitchJessica Beth Savitch was an American television broadcaster and news reporter, host of PBS' Frontline and New York weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News during the short-lived Roger Mudd/Tom Brokaw era....
(1947–1983), Broadcast journalist - Pat CiarrocchiPat CiarrocchiPat Ciarrocchi co-anchors the weekday noon newscast of CBS3 Eyewitness News on KYW-TV, alongside Ukee Washington. She joined the station in 1982. Previously she had served as anchor of the weekday morning and noon news for almost two decades. While at KYW-TV, she served as co-anchor of Evening...
(born 1953), Broadcast journalist - Bruce Johnston (criminal)Bruce Johnston (criminal)Bruce Alfred Johnston Sr was the leader of one of the most notorious gangs in the history of Pennsylvania, USA...
- Head of notorous Johnson Gang
Points of interest
- Longwood GardensLongwood GardensLongwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
- Kennett Meetinghouse
- Anson B Nixon Park
- Talula's TableTalula's TableTalula's Table is a small gourmet market and restaurant in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The restaurant is known as the hardest reservation to get in the US. With only one table that seats from 8 to 12 people, one reservation is taken every day for one year from that date.Saveur magazine named...
See also
- Kaolin Mushroom FarmsKaolin Mushroom FarmsKaolin Mushroom Farms, Inc. is a fourth-generation family farm that began growing mushrooms in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1925. The company's headquarters is now at 649 West South Street in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.-History:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Southern Chester County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Southern Chester County, PennsylvaniaFile:Map of Chester County Pennsylvania NRHP sites.PNG|thumb|right|Map of Chester County poly 77 194 71 185 77 176 100 130 101 113 100 100 97 89 128 71 187 24 216 5 222 7 229 4 237 3 253 11 258 15 262 13 262 9 264 8 277 32 278 34 282 33 281 30 282 26 286 26 289 35 291 43 300 50 300 55 298 58 299 63...