Agriculture and Milling

Chester County has supported agriculture for thousands of years. Prior to European contact, Native Americans farmed various crops, including varieties of corn, beans, and squash. Following the establishment of Pennsylvania as a colony, agriculture throughout the county focused on a wider array of introduced crops with a strong focus on grain. With connections to the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington, agricultural products were shipped throughout the 13 colonies, the West Indies, and Europe. Grain was so prominent that Chester County was known as the "breadbasket of Philadelphia." For use and trade, the wheat was ground into flour. This required the construction of mills. Powered by water, mills were built on waterways throughout the entire county. Their ponds, mill races, ruins, and surviving mill buildings have left their mark on the landscape.

From the 18th and 19th centuries through today, the landscape supports livestock through grazing and feed crops, including corn and alfalfa. In the 19th century, a popular breed of hog was developed in Chester County, and is still bred today, called the Chester White. In the 18th century, Chester County was known for sheep husbandry. In the 19th century, there was significant growth in dairy farms. By the mid to late 19th century, Chester County vied with Lancaster County as the number one producer of dairy products in the United States. Butter was among the most prominent Chester County dairy products.

Chester County's contemporary economy is driven by agriculture. Nurseries, poultry, and grains are important, but the standout is mushroom production. Today, nearly 60% of mushrooms sold in the United States come from Chester County.

Farmers' markets, wineries, food festivals, the farm-to-table movement, CSAs, and more continue to celebrate the bounty and legacy of Chester County agriculture.