West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA

West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, set amid the rolling Piedmont west of Philadelphia. A walkable center of brick sidewalks, historic houses and 19th-century commercial buildings is surrounded by college neighborhoods and newer suburbs. The borough grew from a crossroads village and became the county seat in the late 18th century, later developing as a center of education and regional trade. West Chester University, professional services, restaurants, shops and cultural institutions animate the town today.