7 Reasons to Love Moving to Chadds Ford in the Delaware Valley
January 26, 2020 | Your Local Metro
Are you thinking about moving to Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania? If so, there are a lot of reasons to love living in this township 25 miles from Philadelphia. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, there is something for everyone moving to Chadds Ford. The Pocono Mountains, cherished for their serenity and scenery are 2-hours drive and the Great Lakes are even closer. Pennsylvania’s rich history and quirky traditions offer something for everyone to enjoy and Chadds Ford is the perfect place to make a home base. Here are 7 of the top reasons why people choose to spend their lives in this lovely area.
7 Things to Love About Moving to Chadds Ford
1. Rich History
Chadds Ford has an important place in American history. The community was established in 1684, long before the American Revolutionary War, and it’s persisted through several centuries of change without losing any of its charm.
In fact, the community has held onto its history, preserving important historical buildings, museums, and artifacts from the area. Thanks to the local historical society, there are also several annual events to celebrate the region’s history, including a fun colonial festival with historical costumes, bluegrass music, house tours, and children’s activities.
2. Beautiful Scenery
Located in the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley, alongside the picturesque Brandywine Creek, Chadds Ford is full of natural beauty. Often, this natural beauty is paired with the area’s history. For example, the 5-mile Harvey Run Trail in Chadds Ford, stretching through 300 acres of preserved nature, starts by a 19th-century stone mill that’s now an art museum.
Likewise, you can visit the 933-acre Brandywine Creek State Park, which was originally a dairy farm. The park is still divided by 19th-century stone walls, and it includes old-growth forest and a freshwater marsh. It’s also bordered by the majestic Winterthur estate, which has 1,000 acres of woodlands and meadows, as well as a 60-acre garden that’s among the best in the US.
3. Lovely Homes
According to Best Places, homes in Chadds Ford cost more than average, with a median home price of $465,200. However, this is partly because many of the homes in Chadds Ford are large and beautiful. While the community also has condos, townhomes, and farmland, there are plenty of grand homes that are gorgeous to look at.
Even if these homes are outside your budget, they give the area a lot of beauty, particularly since some of them have historic value. You can find spacious 18th- and 19th-century homes that have been maintained and renovated with modern comforts, so that they look charming instead of dilapidated. Paired with lush forests and lovely landscaping, these homes help make the neighborhoods in Chadds Ford worth moving to.
4. Wonderful Wineries and Restaurants
The Brandywine Valley has the perfect geography and climate for growing wine grapes, so it’s no surprise that the area has more than a dozen wineries to visit. Chadds Ford itself has two wineries, one of which (Chaddsford Winery) is “among the oldest, largest, and most acclaimed wineries in Pennsylvania,” creating award-winning wines that are unique to the region.
Besides being close to great wineries, Chadds Ford has several exceptional restaurants that not only serve great food, but also have a nice ambiance for special occasions. For example, you can go to The Gables at Chadds Ford, located in an old dairy barn that’s been converted into an elegant restaurant. Or you can spend an evening at Brandywine Prime, located in a charming restored stone cottage from 1703. These are just a couple of the high-quality restaurants you can enjoy when living in Chadds Ford.
5. A Strong Art Community
Despite being relatively small, Chadds Ford has a thriving community of both artists and individuals dedicated to supporting the arts. You can see this local appreciation of art through establishments like the Brandywine River Museum of Art and the kid-friendly art studio Art Beat.
Like much of Chadds Ford, the local enthusiasm for art is rooted in history. At the end of the 19th century, the artist Howard Pyle founded an artists’ colony in Chadds Ford that developed a unique style of illustration called the Brandywine School.
Since then, the town has been a home and source of inspiration for well-known artists like N.C. Wyeth and his son Andrew Wyeth. If you’re an artist, the beautiful town may very well become a source of inspiration for you, too!
6. Close to Urban Amenities
Though surrounded by nature, Chadds Ford is close enough to Philadelphia and other urban centers for you to attend concerts, go shopping, and enjoy all the activities that a city offers.
If you’re not in the mood for a big city yet still want more variety in shopping or activities, you can go to one of the larger towns and suburban centers nearby, such as Wilmington. In less than 20 minutes, you can be at a zoo, a golf course, or a major mall. Everything you could need is a just a short distance away.
7. Great Schools
In addition to all of the advantages above, kids in Chadds Ford go to excellent schools. The Unionville-Chadds Ford school district has so many positive aspects, they have a whole page on their website dedicated to their “points of pride.”
For instance, they’ve been ranked as one of the top ten school districts in Pennsylvania, and on Niche, the district gets an A+ for their teachers, academics, healthy & safety, clubs & activities, and college prep. In other words, if you have children, you can rest assured that if you move to Chadds Ford, it will be beneficial for the whole family.
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