Elverson

History

Elverson's earliest European settlers arrived in the late 18th century when the area was known as Springfield. Later dubbed Blue Rock after a deposit of peculiar rocks not far from the town, it remained largely rural until the arrival of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad in 1870. By 1883, the town's population had more than doubled. In 1899, the settlement was named Elverson after James Elverson, owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who later donated a stained glass window to a church in Elverson. The Borough of Elverson was officially incorporated on April 17, 1911, from land annexed from West Nantmeal Township, and it remained the commercial center of northwestern Chester County through the first half of the 20th century. In 1953, the borough annexed additional land, resulting in its current size of about one square mile. Elverson's building styles follow the periods of its commercial growth and range from early 19th century stone or log buildings to post-railroad Queen Anne structures and 20th century craftsman and Foursquare-style houses. Commercial and residential development since the 1950s has occurred largely on the outskirts of the borough's historic center. The Wilmington and Northern Railroad line, later incorporated into the Reading Railroad system, was abandoned and removed in 1983. The Elverson Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all land. Elverson borders the Hopewell Big Woods. The city of Reading is approximately north of the borough. *Caernarvon Township, Berks County - north *West Nantmeal Township, Chester County - east, south, and west

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,473
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25,400
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  25,056
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  24,795
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,029
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  22,549
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  21,448
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  20,060

Largest nearby schools

• Owen J Roberts HS
  High · Pottstown · 1,820 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center
  Middle · Downingtown · 1,046 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• Owen J Roberts MS
  Middle · Pottstown · 910 students · 14:1 ratio
• Springton Manor El Sch
  Elementary · Glenmoore · 619 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• West Vincent El Sch
  Elementary · Chester Springs · 578 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• French Creek El Sch
  Elementary · Pottstown · 566 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Shamona Creek El Sch
  Elementary · Downingtown · 543 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Brandywine-Wallace El Sch
  Elementary · Downingtown · 479 students · 15:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.81 — 2019-09-15
  5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
• M 2.64 — 2015-01-25
  4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
• M 3.05 — 2010-06-03
  4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
• M 2.76 — 2009-10-25
  4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
• M 2.78 — 2009-07-01
  3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
• M 3.37 — 2008-12-27
  2 km NNE of Landisville, Pennsylvania