Kennett Square, PA
| Borough of Kennett Square | |
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| Borough | |
State Street in Kennett Square
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 Location of Kennett Square in Chester County, Pennsylvania. |
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 Kennett Square
Kennett Square
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| Coordinates: 39°50′39″N 75°42′38″W / 39.84417°N 75.71056°WCoordinates: 39°50′39″N 75°42′38″W / 39.84417°N 75.71056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Chester |
| Settled | 1682 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2) |
| • Land | 1.06 sq mi (2.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 6,072 |
| • Estimate (2016) | 6,160 |
| • Density | 5,784.04/sq mi (2,232.57/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| ZIP Code | 19348 |
| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-39352 |
| Website | www.kennett-square.pa.us |
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 week. 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.
The area to become known as Kennett Square was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. The town was originally called Kennet Square, with the name "Kennet", England, and "Square" coming from the original land grant from William Penn of one square mile. General Sir William Howe marched through Kennett to the Battle of Brandywine during the American Revolution. It was also known as an important part of the Underground Railroad, which 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 the novel The Story of Kennett, written by 19th-century American author Bayard Taylor, who lived nearby at Cedarcroft.
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