Downingtown, PA > Downingtown Venues > Borough of Downingtown

Borough of Downingtown

Address:4 West Lancaster Avenue  Downingtown, PA 19335  View map Phone:610-269-0344  Fax:610-269-1580  Contact: 

            Downingtown’s origins are of a small village located midway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. The village was first known as Milltown since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier. Thomas Moore erected ‘a water corn mill’ in 1716 and Roger Hunt established a grist mill in 1739. The deteriorated structure of the Roger Hunt mill and mill race still survives in Downingtown to this day, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1761, John Downing opened a tavern on the east side of the Brandywine Creek which was first known as the Downing Mill Inn; not long thereafter, his father, Thomas, developed an industrial complex of mills on the Lancaster Road in Milltown.

            Around the time of the American Revolution, Milltown began being known as Downing’s Town. During the Revolution, the town was used as a location for storage of food supplies; a forage magazine was constructed in Downing’s Town to hold provisions for the troops. During the time of the Revolution, Richard Downing, son of Thomas, continued to operate and expand the families mill complex and the Downing family continued to prosper in the small village.

            After the war of 1812, the village name of Downing’s Town was changed to Downingtown. The development of stage coach service from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh through Downingtown influenced the villages growth and prosperity. As transportation changed from stage to railroads, Downingtown embraced the changes. New jobs became available and the population grew. The Industrial Revolution also affected the growth of Downingtown, industry and manufacturing facilities located in Downingtown because of its central location and good access to rail transportation corridors.
       
            In the 1920's, many municipal improvements were undertaken such as the beginning of trash collection, erecting the Municipal Building and creating the Dr.Edward Kerr Memorial Park. A newly appointed park commission solicited funds for the planned park. The commission depended on public subscriptions plus annual contributions from the school board and the Borough Council to maintain the park.
Downingtown’s rich history is readily apparent to the resident and visitor alike as they travel along East Lancaster Avenue where numerous historic structures line the street. The East Lancaster Avenue Historic District was placed on the national Register of Historic Places in 1979 and there are 20 historic structures within the district.
       
            Today the Borough of Downingtown has a council-manager form of government established by ordinance in 1953. The Borough is governed by a six member Borough Council who are elected three each from two wards with overlapping four year terms. The President of the Borough Council is a member of and elected by entire Borough Council. The mayor is elected by the Borough at large. Borough Council oversees all functions of Borough administration as well as the following citizen boards and commissions: Historical and Parks Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and the Main Street Program.

Website:Borough of Downingtown  Email: 

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 15th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Feb 15, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, February 22nd

Borough Council Meeting

when:Feb 22, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, February 28th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Feb 28, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, March 7th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Mar 7, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, March 13th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Mar 13, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, March 21st

Borough Council Meeting

when:Mar 21, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, March 27th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Mar 27, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, March 28th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Mar 28, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, April 4th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Apr 4, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, April 10th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Apr 10, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, April 18th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Apr 18, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, April 24th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Apr 24, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, April 25th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Apr 25, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, May 2nd

Borough Council Meeting

when:May 2, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, May 8th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:May 8, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, May 16th

Borough Council Meeting

when:May 16, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, May 22nd

Planning Commission Meeting

when:May 22, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, May 23rd

Borough Council Meeting

when:May 23, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, June 6th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Jun 6, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, June 12th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Jun 12, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, June 20th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Jun 20, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Tuesday, June 26th

Planning Commission Meeting

when:Jun 26, 2012 at 7:30pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

Wednesday, June 27th

Borough Council Meeting

when:Jun 27, 2012 at 7:00pm where:4 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA venue:Borough of Downingtown category:Government and Politics

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