First settled in 1714 and has grown, by reason of its steel industry, to a prosperous community of 13,826 population.

The Brandywine Iron Works was founded here in 1810 and ten years later rolled the first charcoal iron boiler plates in the United States. Its successor, Lukens Steel mill, now boasts the world's largest steel plate-rolling mill. Six miles south of the town, along Brandywine Creek, can be seen the ruins of Laurel Forge where iron plates for the "Monitor," the 'cheesebox on a raft,' were hurriedly fabricated late in 1861.

In the twelve-month period ending August 31, 1957, freight gross revenues amounted to $3,422,264 and the passenger gross was $130,924.

DOWNINGTOWN, Pennsylvania

A small, quiet town of 4,948 population which has retained much of its Colonial characteristics in spite of the gradual growth of its numerous and prosperous industries. It was first settled by emigrants from Birmingham, England about 1700. Originally known as Milltown, by reason of the mill erected on the Brandywine Creek, but renamed for Thomas Downing who purchased the mill in 1739. During the Revolution the town was used as a garrison for Colonial troops and as a commissary post. Jacob Eichholtz, one of the foremost early American portrait painters, was born here in 1776. It was incorporated as a borough in 1859 and subsequent years found small industries locating here which today, for the most part, produce paper, paper and metal products, and machinery.

PAOLI, Pennsylvania

An early Colonial settlement and stop-over point on the road leading to Lancaster before the Revolutionary War. Its distinguishing feature was the Paoli Tavern from which the town derived its name. The tavern, named in honor of Pasquale di Paoli, the celebrated Corsican patriot and general born in 1726, was destroyed by fire in 1906.

General Anthony Wayne was born about 1-1/2 miles south of Paoli in 1745 and the old homestead of five-hundred acres is still owned and occupied by one of his descendants. It was near here that General Wayne and his division met disaster on the night of September 20, 1777. A British force surprised and badly defeated the Continentals encamped here after their retreat from the Brandywine.