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The history of West Chester, Pennsylvania, began in 1762, when Phineas Gage was issued a license to build a tavern. The borough was incorporated in 1799. One of the nation's first railroads was built in West Chester in 1832, and a prominent courthouse, designed by Thomas U. Walter, was completed in 1847. The first biography of Abraham Lincoln was published in the borough. Thanks to the Sharples Separator Works, West Chester became a major industrial town at the turn of the 20th century. During World War II, West Chester produced more penicillin than anywhere else in the country. ==18th century== Native Americans camped at what is now West Chester, and eight campsites have been discovered. Nathaniel Puckle, a ship captain, was deeded a large plot of land by William Penn in 1701 that includes parts of present-day West Chester. The Haines family purchased a tract of land shortly thereafter that also encompassed a portion of the borough. In 1760 there were four farms at the intersection of the road from Pottstown to Wilmington (currently High Street) and the road from Philadelphia to the Brandywine Creek (currently Gay Street).〔Carson-Gentry & Rodebough 1997, p. 7.〕 In 1762, Phineas Gage was issued a license to build a tavern in what is now West Chester. It was apparently nameless until August 1768, when John Clark purchased the tavern and called it Turk's Head Inn. A small crossroads village developed around the tavern bearing the Turk's Head name.〔Futhey and Cope 1881, p. 213.〕 On September 11, 1777, the Battle of Brandywine was fought several miles from the Turk's Head village. A schoolhouse, located at what is now High and Gay Streets, served as a hospital for recovering Colonial soldiers. A small skirmish between the British and Colonial troops took place shortly after the battle.〔Mowday 2005, p. 7.〕 The Pennsylvania General Assembly authorized John Hannum, Isaac Taylor, and John Jacobs to build a new courthouse and prison for Chester County and sell the old courthouse in Chester on March 22, 1784. Work began on a new courthouse in Turk's Head in the summer of 1784.〔Kervey 1889, p. 161.〕 Chester saloonkeeper John Harper, unhappy with the splitting of Delaware County from Chester County, led a militia with the intent of destroying the unfinished courthouse in 1785. Bringing a cannon, muskets, and whiskey, Harper's men were ready to fight. They eventually gave up their pursuit after being stopped by a group of men led by Hannum.〔 On November 28, 1786, Turk's Head officially became Chester County's seat of justice after a court session was held there.〔Kervey 1889, p. 165.〕 A post office was established in 1791.〔Futhey and Cope 1881, p. 216.〕 Hannum renamed Turk's Head West Chester and began selling lots along Gay Street. By 1795 he had mapped out the original streets – Church, High, Gay, Market, Chestnut, and Walnut. On March 28, 1799, West Chester was incorporated as a borough from Goshen Township land by an act of state legislature. Burgesses now were required to lead municipal affairs, and the first burgess to be elected was William Sharpless. West Chester Fire Company was established later in the year. As of the 1800 census, West Chester had a population of 374.〔Futhey and Cope 1881, p. 215.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of West Chester, Pennsylvania」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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