View source for Paoli, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Paoli
| native_name             = 
| other_name              = 
| settlement_type         = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = US 30 EB at Valley Road Paoli.JPG
| image_caption = Lancaster Avenue in Paoli
| image_flag              = 
| image_shield            = 
| motto                   = 
| nickname                = 
| etymology               = 
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = United States
| subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Counties of Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[List of townships in Pennsylvania|Township]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania|Tredyffrin]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map               = Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Paoli highlighted.svg
| map_caption             = Location of Paoli in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] (top) and of Chester County in [[Pennsylvania]] (below)
| pushpin_map             = United States
| pushpin_relief          = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Paoli in the [[United States]] 
| coordinates             = {{coord|40|02|27|N|75|29|24|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 1719
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| dunam_link              = 
| area_total_km2          = 5.23
| area_total_sq_mi        = 2.02
| area_land_sq_mi         = 2.02
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_ft            = 509
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total        = 6002
| population_density_km2  = 1150.24
| population_density_sq_mi = 2978.66
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1             = -5
| timezone1_DST           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = -4
| timezone2               =  
| utc_offset2             = 
| timezone2_DST           = 
| utc_offset2_DST         = 
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code             = 19301
| area_code_type          =  
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 610 and 484|610 and 484]]
| geocode                 = 
| iso_code                = 
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-57816
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_land_km2 = 5.22
|area_water_km2 = 0.01
}}
'''Paoli''' ({{IPAc-en|p|eɪ|ˈ|oʊ|l|i}} {{respell|pay|OH|lee}})<ref>[https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/2023/02/07/paoli-a-great-wisconsin-small-town-getaway-adds-a-striking-new-hotel/69875475007/ Lewis, Chelsey. "Paoli, a great Wisconsin small town getaway, now has a new hotel in an old cheese factory," ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', Tuesday 7 February 2023.] Retrieved 10 November 2025.</ref> is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] near [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. It is situated in portions of two townships: [[Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania|Tredyffrin]] and [[Willistown Township, Pennsylvania|Willistown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/place/p4257816_paoli/DC20BLK_P4257816.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Paoli CDP, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-03-14}} - See [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/cousub/cs4202977344_tredyffrin/DC20BLK_CS4202977344.pdf page 1 (PDF p. 2/3) of the Tredyffrin Township map] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/cousub/cs4202985352_willistown/DC20BLK_CS4202985352.pdf page 1 (PDF p. 2/3) of the Willistown Township map].</ref> At the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], it had a total population of 6,002.

== History ==
Paoli grew around an inn kept in 1769 by Joshua Evans, whose father bought {{convert|500|acre}} from [[William Penn]] in 1719 near the current site of the Paoli Post Office. Evans named his inn after General [[Pasquale Paoli]], a [[Corsica]]n, after Paoli had received the 45th and final toast at a [[Saint Patrick's Day]] celebration.{{when|date=February 2020}}{{Citation needed|date = October 2015}} The inn's location on the [[Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike]], about 20 miles (one day's drive for a horse-drawn wagon) from Philadelphia, contributed to its success.

===Battle of Paoli===
{{main|Battle of Paoli}}
On the evening of September 20, 1777, near Paoli, General [[Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey|Charles Grey]] and nearly 5,000 [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British soldiers]] launched a surprise attack on a [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] encampment, which became known as the [[Battle of Paoli]]. Having intercepted [[George Washington|General Washington]]'s orders to [[Anthony Wayne|General Wayne]] regarding British rearguard actions, Grey directed his troops to assault the small regiment of Americans commanded by Anthony Wayne in an area near his residence. Not wanting to lose the element of surprise, Grey ordered his troops to remove the flint from their muskets and to use only bayonets or swords to launch a surprise sneak attack on the Americans under the cover of darkness.<ref name="McGuire, Thomas J. 2000">McGuire, Thomas J. ''Battle of Paoli''. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2000, {{ISBN|0-8117-0198-0}}. pp.59</ref><ref name="Boatner, Mark Mayo 1966">Boatner, Mark Mayo, ''Cassell's Biographical Dictionary of the American War of Independence 1763–1783'', Cassell, London, 1966, {{ISBN|0-304-29296-6}}. pp.123</ref>

With the help of a [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] [[Espionage|spy]] who provided a secret password, "here we are and there they go" and led them to the camp, General "No-flint" Grey and the British overran several American pickets and launched their successful attack on the [[Continental Army]] camp. 201 American soldiers were killed or injured, while 71 were captured. The British suffered only 4 killed and 7 injured in comparison. Wayne's reputation was tarnished by the high casualties suffered in the battle, and he demanded a formal [[court-martial]] to clear his name. On November 1, a board of 13 officers declared that Wayne had acted with honor.<ref name="McGuire, Thomas J. 2000"/><ref name="Boatner, Mark Mayo 1966"/> The site of the battle is now part of nearby [[Malvern, Pennsylvania]].{{Citation needed|date = October 2015}}

===Philadelphia Main Line===
[[File:NIXONcampaigns.jpg|thumb|[[Richard Nixon]] makes a campaign stop in Paoli during the [[1968 United States presidential election|1968 presidential campaign]] in July 1968]]
The construction of the [[Main Line of Public Works]] across Pennsylvania enhanced the village's stature, as the [[Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad]] passed through it. This became the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]], which built suburban commuter lines out from Philadelphia in the late 19th century, spurring the growth of that city's suburbs. The largest and longest of these commuter lines, the "[[Philadelphia Main Line|Main Line]]", terminated in Paoli.

===Philadelphia Folk Festival===
"The Homestead," the fifteen-acre farm of Colley Wilson, on the south side of Swedesford Road, was the scene of the first annual Philadelphia Folk Festival in 1962, and remained at that site until 1965. It outgrew the space when an estimated 15,000 people attended the final year.  The site has been subdivided.
Gene Shay, a member of the Festival committee, observed after the first Festival, the site "with its spacious grassy valleys, clean running brooks, shaded hillsides and rustic barns, supplied the perfect background for all of the musical activity."
In those few years Acts such as [[Pete Seeger]], [[Judy Collins]], [[Mississippi John Hurt]], [[Phil Ochs]], [[Bill Monroe]], [[Tom Rush]], [[Tom Paxton]], [[Rev. Gary Davis]], [[Rambling Jack Elliott]], [[Buffy Sainte-Marie]], and [[The Paul Butterfield Blues Band]], and other performers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tehistory.org/hqda/html/v18/v18n3p083.html|title = TEHS - Quarterly Archives}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.0|sqmi}}, all  land. Paoli borders other towns, such as [[Berwyn, Pennsylvania|Berwyn]] and [[Malvern, Pennsylvania|Malvern]].<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> These three towns belong to either the Tredyffrin/Easttown or the Great Valley school districts.

==Demographics==
{{update|section|date=June 2021}}
{{US Census population
|2010= 5575
|2020= 6002
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/paolicdppennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2019 [[Survey (human research)|survey]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4257816|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 24, 2021|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 5,651 people, 2,552 housing units and 1,437 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|2,710.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,468 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,233.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.64% [[Asian American (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.39% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,361 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.

20.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

According to the 2024 American Communities Survey, the [[median household income]] was $117,094 and the median family income was $170,433. The [[per capita income]] was $70,424. 4.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].

==Notable people==
Notable people who were born or lived in Paoli include:
* [[Joe Butler (boxer)|Joe Butler]] (1866–1941), boxer
* [[Chubby Checker]] (born 1941), American rock and roll singer and dancer
* [[Dan Chisena]] (born 1997), professional football player, [[Carolina Panthers]]
* [[Mary Pat Christie]], former First Lady of New Jersey (2010–2018) and investment banker
* [[Wharton Esherick]] (1887–1970), sculptor
* [[Susan Henking]], president of [[Shimer College]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/jobs/a-college-president-drawn-to-uncertainties.html|date=August 25, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2013|title=A College President, Drawn to Uncertainties|author=Perry Garfinkel|work=New York Times}}</ref>
* [[Kristin Luckenbill]] (born 1979), professional soccer goalkeeper
* [[Max Patkin]] (1920–1999), baseball player and clown
* [[Ron Silliman]] (born 1946), American poet
* [[Anthony Wayne]] (1745–1796), U.S. Army officer during the [[American Revolutionary War]]
* [[Isaac Wayne]] (1772–1852), U.S. Congressman

== Education ==
=== Primary and secondary schools ===
{{Further|Tredyffrin/Easttown School District}}
[[File:Conestoga High School.jpg|thumb|[[Conestoga High School]] serves portions of Paoli]]
The [[Tredyffrin/Easttown School District]] serves the portions of Paoli in Tredyffrin Township. The section of Paoli in Willistown Township is served by [[Great Valley School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42029_chester/DC20SD_C42029.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chester County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-02-18}}</ref><ref name="PaoliCDPMap">"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4257816_paoli/DC10BLK_P4257816_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Paoli CDP, PA]."<!--Old URL: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US4257816&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on--> [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref>

The portion of Paoli in T/E are divided between the zoned of Beaumont Elementary School in Easttown Township and Hillside Elementary School in Tredyffrin Township.<ref>"[https://www.tesd.net/cms/lib/PA01001259/Centricity/Domain/1414/TESDmap2015.pdf TESDmap2015.pdf]." [[Tredyffrin/Easttown School District]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref> The Great Valley elementary schools, Charlestown, K.D. Markley, Sugartown and General Wayne, all filter into Great Valley Middle School. Tredyffrin/Easttown operates two middle schools, Tredyffrin/Easttown and Valley Forge, and all district students attend [[Conestoga High School]]. Great Valley students attend [[Great Valley High School]].

[[Delaware Valley Friends School]] is a school for those with [[learning differences]] in Paoli located next to Station Square, a business complex.

The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]] operates Catholic schools. St. Norbert School is in [[Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania|Easttown Township]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easttown.org/DocumentCenter/View/559/Easttown-Township-Zoning-Map?bidId=|title=Zoning Map|publisher=[[Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania|Easttown Township]]|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> and is outside of the Paoli CDP,<ref name="PaoliCDPMap"/> but has a Paoli mailing address. The school was established in 1956, with the school building built the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://school.stnorbert.org/about-our-school/history/|title=History|date=6 November 2017|publisher=St. Norbert School|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>

===Public libraries===
Tredyffrin Township Libraries operates the Paoli Library in Paoli. The Paoli Library is part of the [[Chester County Library System]].<ref name="PaoliCDPMap"/><ref>[http://www.tredyffrinlibraries.org/ Home page]. Tredyffrin Township Libraries. Retrieved on September 8, 2009.</ref>

==Transportation==
===Roads===
[[File:US 30 EB between Paoli Pike and Valley Road.jpeg|thumb|[[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|US Route 30]] passing through Paoli along [[Lancaster Avenue]]]]
Paoli is served by the [[U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 202]] freeway, [[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 252]] connecting it to [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania|King of Prussia]] and [[Philadelphia]]. Historically, Paoli was on the [[Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike]], which was later absorbed into the [[Lincoln Highway]], and became US 30 still later. Many locals still call the route "Lancaster Pike".

===Public transit===
{{see also|Paoli station}}
[[File:Paoli SEPTA and Amtrak station from platform February 2020.jpeg|thumb|[[Paoli station]] in Paoli]]
For generations, Paoli was the western terminus of [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] commuter trains coming from [[Philadelphia]] on the [[Main Line (Pennsylvania Railroad)|Main Line]]. The "Paoli Local" became iconic in the western suburbs. [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Keystone Service]]'' and ''[[Pennsylvanian (train)|Pennsylvanian]]'' trains stop at [[Paoli station]], but with the decline of long-distance train travel, the stops are now less frequent.

Commuters traveling by rail within Southeastern Pennsylvania use the Paoli station, although most local trains serving Paoli now terminate in Malvern, one stop to the west. [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Paoli/Thorndale Line]] (formerly R5) commuter rail runs between [[Thorndale, Pennsylvania|Thorndale]] and Philadelphia both ways every 30 minutes during the week. College students and city-working suburbanites take the Paoli/Thorndale Line to school and work. Station-to-station, a trip from Paoli to Center City Philadelphia on the Paoli/Thorndale Line takes approximately 45 minutes, although some rush hour trains run directly between Paoli and [[30th Street Station]] in under 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/w/PAO_1.html|title=Paoli/Thorndale Line Regional Rail Schedule|website=SEPTA |access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref>

Paoli is served by multiple [[SEPTA Suburban Bus]] routes. Local buses traverse Route 30 along the Main Line, and Paoli Pike is the main artery for buses heading to [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]].  The [[SEPTA Route 92|Route 92]] bus connects Paoli to West Chester and the [[King of Prussia Transit Center]] at the [[King of Prussia (shopping mall)|King of Prussia mall]]. The [[SEPTA Route 106|Route 106]] bus links Paoli to the other Main Line communities and the [[69th Street Transportation Center]]. The [[SEPTA Route 204|Route 204]] and [[SEPTA Route 206|Route 206]] buses connect the Paoli station to [[Eagleview, Pennsylvania|Eagleview]] and the [[Great Valley Corporate Center]] respectively.<ref name=septamap>{{cite map|title=SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban|publisher=SEPTA|url=http://www.septa.org/maps/region/pdf/suburb.pdf|access-date=May 2, 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, the majority of Paoli residents were found to drive alone on their way to work, while only 10.97% took public transportation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/paoli-pa/#housing|title=Paoli, PA|website=Data USA|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>

==Corporate headquarters==
* [[Ametek|AMETEK]], producer of electronic instruments
* [[DuckDuckGo]], Internet search engine
* Geneva Global, philanthropy consulting firm
* Turn5, online retailer of automotive parts

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:PaoliMalvernPA.jpg|Location of Paoli in relation to [[Malvern, Pennsylvania|Malvern]] and [[Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania|Chesterbrook]]
Image:CedarHollowRailroadStationPAOLIPA.jpg|Cedar Hollow Railroad Station in Paoli.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Paoli}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.paolibusiness.com/ Paoli Business and Professional Association]
* [https://www.facebook.com/townofpaoli/ Paoli, Indiana], sister city

{{Chester County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

<!--Partially in the township: https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/cousub/cs4202977344_tredyffrin/DC20BLK_CS4202977344.pdf -->

[[Category:Philadelphia Main Line]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania]]