Newtown Square Timeline

1681 – Newtown laid out as a township in Chester County by William Penn

March 4, 1681 – William Penn receives official grant of Penn’s Sylvania

July 18, 1681 – First grant of land to Robert Dunton

1683 – Newtown Incorporated as a Township?

1683 – Newtown Street Road laid out

1687 – Goshen Road laid out

Oct.1777 – Jan. 1778 – During the Revolutionary War, Major John Clark corresponds from an outpost in Newtown Square with General George Washington in nearby Valley Forge

September 26, 1789 – Newtown becomes part of Delaware County as it splits off from Chester County

1800 – 120 taxables on record in Newtown

1810 – 600 inhabitants, 97 households reported in Newtown

1820 – 617 inhabitants, 85 households reported

February 29, 1828 – The post office name "Newtown Square" is established

1830 – 640 inhabitants, 94 households reported

1840 – 543 inhabitants, 80 households reported

1860 – 830 inhabitants, 142 households reported

1880 – 735 inhabitants, 118 households reported

June 4, 1954 – Last trolley run to West Chester along West Chester Pike

Spring 1960 – Marple- Newtown Historical Society Formed by Hilda Lucas and Clarissa Smith

June 6, 1970 – Restoration of Bartram Bridge completed and dedication held

1970 – Population reported at 11,069 residents

1976 – Stan Short and various others form Tricentennial Commission to plan a celebration for Newtown in 1981

1976 – Newtown Township is deeded the Paper Mill House with 4.5 acres from Robert Harrison

1981 – The Square Tavern is restored by ARCO Chemical Co. for the 300th anniversary of Newtown

1981 – Tricentennial Celebration of Newtown Township

1984 – Publication of “Historic Newtown Township” by Alice and Carl Lindborg, Clara McVeigh, Erma Shaver and others (first edition 2000 copies)

July 19, 1985 – Official Incorporation of Newtown Square Historical Preservation Society (NSHPS)

June 8th, 1996 – Bartram Bridge restored once again with dedication ceremony held

Feb. 26-28, 1997 – After a 2-day stand-off, John E. DuPont surrenders to police for the murder of Olympic wrestler David Schultz at DuPont’s Foxcatcher Farm

June 1999 – NSHPS Publishes "Early Beginnings of Newtown Square and Self-Guided Tour of Historic Sites"

2000 – Census reports 11,700 people, 4,549 households and 3,184 families living in the Township

200X – Freight Station (originally at N. Newtown St. and Winding Way) saved, moved and restored

200X – Newtown Square Railroad Museum created as spin-off of the Historical Society

December 2006 – NSHS (NSHPS) establishes our first website

December 2007 – Despite Historical Society protest, the Dunminning Mansion (St. David’s Road) is demolished

Winter 2008 – Renovations completed to Square Tavern by BPG