Chester County Planning Commission

Social Equity — Demographics

The following section provides basic background information on various aspects of Chester County's communities. Also listed are links to resources providing more detailed information. Topics addressed in this section are: Population Trends; Racial and Ethnic Cohorts; Age Cohorts, Children and Seniors; Single Parent Households; and the Disabled.

View mapping illustrating social equity and general population cohorts in Chester County. This mapping addresses age, race, and ethnicity.

View mapping illustrating social equity and households in Chester County. This mapping addresses: number of people in households/number of households; single-parent households; and households receiving food stamps/SNAP.

Population Trends in Chester County

Since the housing boom of the 1980s and 1990s, Chester County has been undergoing almost constant changes in terms of land use and population demographics. The total population counted in 2020 was 534,413, an increase of 35,527 from 2010. View detailed data sets on population growth for Chester County and its municipalities.

Chester County Population Trends

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census, P1, DECENNIALPL2020, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171); US Census Bureau. 2010 Decennial Census, P1, TOTAL POPULATION, Summary File 1; US Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2000, P001, TOTAL POPULATION [1], Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data; US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census; US Census Bureau, 1980 Decennial Census; Chester County Planning Commission, Chester County Population Analysis Census 1970, circa 1972, pages 8-9.

Ongoing Changes to Chester County's Racial and Ethnic Cohorts

As the county's population has grown, it has also changed in terms of its racial and ethnic makeup, with notable increases in the number of residents whose ethnic origins trace to Latin America and Asia. On the table below, the word "alone" is used to decribe persons who self identified as being of just one race when filling out the 2020 US Census. The 2020 Census count for Chester County was 35,252 (or 6.6%) Asian, 29,526 (or 5.5%) Black or African American, 413,013 (or 77.3%) White, 18,878 (or 3.5%) Some Other Race, and 36,071 (or 6.7%) Two or More Races.

Chester County Selected Race Trends

Note: American Indian and Alaska Native Alone 2020 population was 0.27% while Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone was 0.02%.

Since the 18th century, Chester County has been mostly white with a small Black or African American population. The Black or African American population has remained stable over the past few decades, while the Asian population has increased since 2000. The white cohort has also continued to grow, but has decreased modestly in terms of the percent of the total population.

Chester County Trends for Whites and Non-whites

Chester County Selected Race Percent

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census, P1, DECENNIALPL2020, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171).

Since the 1990s, there has been an influx of immigrants from Mexico and other locations in Latin America. The Chester County 2011 Census ACS for "Hispanic or Latino" was 33,739 (or 6.7%) while the estimate for 2021 was 41,549 (or 7.1%).

Chester County Trends for Hispanic or Latino

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 (biennial data) American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, C03001.

Chester County Trends for Hispanic or Latino by National Origin

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 (biennial data) American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, C03001.

View detailed data sets on race and ethnicity for Chester County and its municipalities.

Some other useful websites that address this issue include:

American Planning Association: Equity Diversity Inclusion
Urban Institute: Race and Equality
The Brookings Institute: Race in American Public Policy

Chester County's population has also changed in terms of age distribution

In general, children and seniors are more likely to experience economic hardships relative to working age adults. Such is also the case among disadvantaged communities, which means that the children and seniors from these communities can be especially vulnerable. Thus, age is an important feature to consider when it comes to understanding social equity. Furthermore, seniors commonly have health and mobility issues which cause them to be disabled.

Since 2000, the number of seniors in the County has grown significantly. There have been long term increases in residents nearing retirement (ages 55-64 years) as well those eligible for social security (ages 65 and older). The population of preschool and school aged children has remained stable. View detailed data sets on age cohorts for Chester County and its municipalities.

Age Cohort Trends in Chester County

Some other useful websites that address this issue include:

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Racial Equity Resources for Child Welfare Professionals
Annie E. Casey Foundation: Racial Equity and Inclusion
Justice in Aging: Advancing Equity
California Department of Aging: Equity in Aging Resource Center
American Society on Aging: What Might it Mean for the United States to Achieve Equity for Older Adults of Color?

Single Parent Households

The US Census, through its 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimate, has reported that for Chester County there were:

204,047 households, of which 59.0% were "married households" while 5.9% were "cohabitating couples".
7,580 householders (3.7 % of total) were single parents with children under 18, but no spouse present.
Of these single parents 6,302 (83.1%) were female, and 1,278 (16.9%) were male.

Disabled Persons

The US Census, through its 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimate, has reported that for Chester County there was:

A Total Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population of 534,283, of which 49,103 (9.2%) was self-described as having a disability.
This disabled population was 11.0% under 18, while 49.8% was 18 to 64 years, and 39.2% was 65 years and older.
4.5% of the population under 18 years was disabled.
7.5% of the population 18 to 64 years was disabled.
21.4% of the population 65 years and older was disabled.

Some useful websites that address this issue include:

Center for Disease Prevention and Control: Health Equity for People with Disabilities
The Ford Foundation: Social Justice, What's Disability Got to do with it?

Population and Demographics