CHESTER COUNTY 5/14/12
Date Formed:  1785 Chester,Chester,Chester,Chester
Land Area (square miles): 581
County Seat: Chester
Other Cities and Towns: Fort Lawn, Great Falls, Lowrys, Richburg
Form of Government: Council-Supervisor
Council Members: 7
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Catawba
County History
Chester County and its county seat were named for Chester County, Pennsylvania. The county was formed in 1785 as part of the larger Camden District but was later transferred to Pinckney District (1791-1800); it became a separate district in 1800. Scotch-Irish settlers from Pennsylvania and Virginia moved into this upstate region beginning about 1755. During the Revolutionary War, American forces under General Thomas Sumter were defeated here at the battle of Fishing Creek in August 1780; the Americans were victorious at Fishdam Ford in November of the same year. The Landsford Canal was built in 1823 to allow boats and barges to bypass rapids on the Catawba River; this canal is now open as a state park. In later years the availability of hydroelectric power encouraged the establishment of textile mills in the area. Governor, U.S. Senator, and judge Donald S. Russell (1906-1997) lived in Chester as a boy.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 32,170 30 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 970 39
Census Population 2000 34,068 30 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -205 33
Census Population 2010 33,140 30 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -0.6% 33
Population Estimate 2010 33,121 30 Persons Per Square Mile 57.0 31
Population Estimate 2011 32,916 30
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 8,507 30 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $904,177 28
Jobs 2009 9,149 30 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $27,299 28
Jobs 2008 8,507 30 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 68% 28
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 -1.7% 44 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $35,934 21
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -7.0% 46 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 76% 21
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -642 36 Unemployment Rate 2011 16.0% 5
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $97,618,675 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $2,946
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.1352 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $87,141 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $125,721,573 Capital Projects Sales Tax 1.0%
Admissions Tax Collected FY10 $23,586 School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10 $58,389 Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $29,747,840 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $16,937,281 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $898
General Fund Budget FY12 $16,160,869 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $511
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $2,900,000 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $488
Payroll FY12 $8,903,386 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $87
Full-Time Employees FY12 277 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 73 Moody's: A1
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 8.36 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: