Chester Eastside

➢ founded in 1682 and covers six square miles – the oldest city in Pennsylvania
➢ during World War II 36,000 people employed in Chester, the total population is now 33,000
➢ 75% of residents are Black or African-American, 13% are White/Non-Hispanic, and 7% are Hispanic
➢ placed under receivership in 2020 and declared bankruptcy in November 2022

➢ 30.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level – three times the national average
➢ Chester is in the poorest congressional district in Pennsylvania, and the 7th poorest in the nation
➢ Chester has an 8.1% unemployment rate, compared to Delaware County (3.1%) and Pennsylvania (3.6%)

➢ 33% of households in Chester combat food insecurity
➢ Chester is in the first congressional district which is the second hungriest district in the nation (behind the Bronx)

➢ the Chester-Upland School District placed under receivership in 2012
➢ The enrollment at Chester High School is 98% minority, 92% economically disadvantaged, and has a 43% graduation rate
➢ 16% of students are proficient in reading, 0% in Math, and 5% in science

➢ there are 11 industries that emit carcinogens in Chester
➢ each day 3,788 tons of trash, 900 tons of contaminated soil, 288 tons of medical waste, and 36 million gallons of wastewater come through the streets and sewers of Chester

➢ 38.5% of children suffer with asthma, five times the national average
➢ 60% of children tested had blood lead levels over the CDC recommended maximum level