East Pikeland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Pike's Land was the first name given to the grant of 10,000 acres to Joseph Pike in 1705.  This land was divided in 1838 into East and West Pikeland and was first settled by Quakers.

East Pikeland was directly involved in the Revolutionary War, especially from 1775 through 1778.  The Continental Powder Works gunpowder mill and gun factory was authorized to be built during the "Philadelphia Campaign" as a source of munitions for George Washington's Continental Army.  Built in 1776 at Rapp's Dam on French Creek in East Pikeland Township near the village of Kimberton, it was burned by British Crown Forces on September 22, 1777.  Historic Snyder's Mill, of which the remnants can still be seen today at the site of the powder works, is located on Rapp's Dam Road near Rapps Covered Bridge (built in 1866).

Kimberton Village in East Pikeland is a quaint 18th century Quaker village located off Route 113.  The Kimberton Historic District includes sixty-two buildings along three eighteenth and nineteenth century roadways that helped to make the village a local education, market, and transportation center.  These historic sites include businesses such as:

• Kimberton Inn built in 1820 as an inn and operates now as a fine restaurant.

• The French Creek Boarding School for Girls built in 1818 and now houses apartments and the Station Bistro restaurant. 

• The Grange formed in 1906, is now the Kimberton Arts Building.

• Chrisman's Mill built in 1796 is located in the center of Kimberton Village operated as a Grist Mill until 1938 and is now the Kimberton Post Office.

East Pikeland Township also has a great variety of outdoor recreation areas: 

• Kimberton Park near the Kimberton Fire Department includes Playgrounds, Basketball, Roller Hockey, and Tennis Courts.

• French Creek Trail has trail heads at the historic Rapps Covered Bridge and the Hares Hill 'Silver' Bridge and includes interpretive signage to learn about local history.

For questions, visit our Website at eastpikeland.org, or call 610-933-1770.