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Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Borough of Kennett Square
Borough
Kennett Square.JPG
State Street in Kennett Square
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Chester
Elevation 328 ft (100.0 m)
Coordinates 39°50′39″N 75°42′38″W / 39.84417°N 75.71056°W / 39.84417; -75.71056Coordinates: 39°50′39″N 75°42′38″W / 39.84417°N 75.71056°W / 39.84417; -75.71056
Area 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2)
 - land 1.1 sq mi (3 km2)
 - water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population 6,072 (2010)
Density 5,520/sq mi (2,131.3/km2)
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code 19348
Area code 610 and 484
Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Kennett Square highlighted.svg
Location in Chester County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania in United States (US48).svg
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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 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 the novel The Story Of Kennett, written by 19th-century American author Bayard Taylor, who lived nearby at Cedarcroft.


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