Borough of West Grove | |
Borough | |
Nickname: Home of the Roses | |
Country | United States |
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State | Pennsylvania |
County | Chester |
Elevation | 430 ft (131.1 m) |
Coordinates | 39°49′18″N 75°49′36″W / 39.82167°N 75.82667°WCoordinates: 39°49′18″N 75°49′36″W / 39.82167°N 75.82667°W |
Area | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
- land | 0.6 sq mi (2 km2) |
- water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0% |
Population | 2,854 (2010) |
Density | 4,756.7/sq mi (1,836.6/km2) |
Incorporated | November 29, 1893 |
Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
- summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
ZIP Code | 19390 |
Area code | 610 and 484 |
Location in Chester County and the state of Pennsylvania.
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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Website: http://www.westgroveborough.org | |
West Grove is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,854 at the 2010 census.
The village of West Grove derived its name from the Friends Meeting House on Harmony Road built in 1787 several miles west of the Friends Meeting House in the village of London Grove. West Grove was separated from London Grove Township and became an incorporated borough on November 29, 1893. However, the decree of incorporation was not recorded until January 9, 1894, to prevent confusing the tax accounts of London Grove Township and to eliminate the need for a special borough election.
The move for incorporation followed several years of significant growth in West Grove that began to develop with the coming of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad in 1860. The March 28, 1885, the Daily Local News described West Grove as "one of the most flourishing villages in this county" and stated that "it contains some three flouring mills and the largest nursery for rose culture [see below] in the United States (Dinger & Conrad, Co.), a large casket factory (Paxson Comfort) and a large number of dwellings." In May 1885, the Chester County Democrat reported that thirty new homes were under construction in the village of West Grove.
The "Father of West Grove" was Joseph Pyle. Born in Penn Township in 1836, Joseph Pyle opened a general store in 1860 in the brick building that is currently empty but housed a Rite Aid Pharmacy, Eckerd Pharmacy, and West Grove Pharmacy in the past. This building was constructed by Pyle and is believed to be the oldest brick structure in the center of town. Joseph Pyle constructed many of the commercial buildings along the present-day Exchange Place, including the Roselyn Theater Building in 1867 (torn down in 1980), the National Bank of West Grove building in 1883 and the K&P Building in 1885. Appointed postmaster of the borough by President Lincoln in 1864, Pyle served twenty-two years. Furthermore, Pyle introduced the manufacture of brick, planned and installed the first public water system, was President of the West Grove Improvement Company which financed the construction of the casket factory in 1885, served on Borough Council and was Burgess (Mayor) from 1900-1903.