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Chester County, Pennsylvania Iron and Steel Heritage Region Strategic Plan
In October 2000, Chester County, Pennsylvania selected Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC (formerly Redman/Johnston & Associates) as lead consultant to create a Strategic Plan for the Iron and Steel Heritage Region. Chester County has the nation’s longest history of iron and steel production, dating back to the early 1700s, and one of the highest concentrations of iron and steel industry historic sites in the country can be found within its boundaries. The Iron and Steel Heritage Region is bounded to the west by Lancaster County and its rural Amish farmland, to the north by the envisioned Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor, to the east by Valley Forge National Historic Park, and to the south/southeast by the Brandywine Valley and the City of Philadelphia. Each of these locations support a wide range of relevant historic and cultural landmarks in close proximity to the Iron and Steel Heritage Region. The Iron and Steel Heritage Region Strategic Plan focuses on a selected number of significant heritage resources located in Chester, Berks, Montgomery, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that tell the story of the evolution of America’s early iron and steel industry and its inherent ties to the colonial America and the birth of the nation. By telling the story of the people, places, and activities that shaped this region and, in turn, the country, this plan seeks to link two major objectives: - to preserve the historic and cultural resources within the heritage area, particularly those significant to the development of the iron and steel industry; and - to act as a catalyst for economic development by attracting tourists who seek authenticity, thus generating jobs, stimulating investment and yielding permanent economic benefits. The Plan focuses on the evolution of the iron and steel industry in Chester County from the early 1700s to the present, and includes historic, cultural, and greenway links to neighboring Lancaster and Berks Counties. This is the only region in the United States where visitors can explore iron industry vestiges from its 18th century infancy, observe 19th century technological innovations and industry expansion, and learn about 20th century international steel markets - all within a radius of 35 miles. PJA identified resources that spanned three centuries of change in the iron and steel industry in the French and Brandywine Creeks' watersheds for incorporation into the Chester County Iron and Steel Heritage Region. Through partnerships with public and private sites, the Plan recommends the establishment of various levels of visitors’ centers, heritage-driving loops, greenway trails, visitor amenities, and a general marketing plan. PJA worked with the County and its municipalities to adopt a Strategic Plan for the Iron and Steel Heritage Region that will preserve, protect, and promote the region’s historic, cultural and natural resources, foster economic growth and revitalization, and increase awareness and appreciation of the region’s unique identity as the birthplace of the nation’s first industrial revolution. Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC 416 Goldsborough Street Easton Maryland 21601 Telephone 410.822.9630 Fax 410.820.5039 Email plj@peterjohnstonassociates.com |