Brief History of
Malvern, Pennsylvania

Early Years

In the 17th century, the area was settled by the English explorer William Penn. He established Chester County in the year 1682 as one of the first counties in Pennsylvania. The original county’s population in 1799 was just 374 people. As of 2021, the population of Malvern is 3,473 people— the highest it has ever been in history. Malvern’s population density is 2,755 people per square mile and the city spans over 1 mile long.

Historical Events

Malvern is home to the Paoli Massacre that occurred on September 20th, 1777. The even happened during the American Revolutionary War just after the battle of the Brandywine on September 11th, 1777 under the command of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne.

Development

The church, trains, and businesses that inhabit the village were what made it successful. For the longest time, the village was known as West Chester Intersection due to it being positioned between Philidelphia and Columbia Railroad as well as West Chester Railroad. The community’s name changed to Malvern in 1873 when the intersection railroads started running through the village. The village being known as a railway junction ended in 1880 when West Chester Railroad’s terminal was moved from north to west to Frazer, PA.

Malvern has a variety of residential, retail, and industrial neighborhoods. Malvern was incorporated August 13, 1889 after separating from the Willistown Township. At the 1860 census, the population of Willistown was 1,521, and in 2020 it was 10,991.

Resources

Valuable content relating to the history and life of Malvern: