Chester, PA Industrial Map

Custom-made map of Chester, PA showing local industries and railroad ownership.

Situated on the western bank of the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Wilmington, the city of Chester is the oldest in Pennsylvania – having been incorporated in 1682 by William Penn. Its location on the river made it a hub for shipping and industrial manufacturing in the 18th century and this association would last through the end of WWII.

This map shows the city at it’s height, just before the U.S. enters the war in 1941. It was designed and customized for use in the Central Engineering Department of the Pennsylvania Railroad. This process included dissecting and mounting the sheet onto linen for preservation and convenient storage. Bright color was then applied by hand to denote railroad company track and property ownership throughout the city. A custom legend was also added to identify the primary operators; the Penn, Reading and B & O Railroads.

The map also includes an extensive directory of local industries numbered within the image, providing a fascinating snapshot of the economic constitution of Chester prior to WWII. Sun Shipbuilding would grow into the largest shipyard in the U.S. during the war, ultimately employing more than 40,000 workers in a segregated environment. Other familiar corporate names like Diamond Ice, Pure Oil, Ford Motor Company and Westinghouse are also included.