by Linda M. Gordon (Author)
Goshen Township is part of the original 1681 William Penn grant and was established in 1704. At that time it covered what today are East Goshen Township, West Goshen Township, the borough of West Chester, and part of Westtown Township. In 1817, Goshen was divided into East Goshen Township and West Goshen Township. East Goshen Township has a rich history that dates back to the Revolutionary War. While much has changed in the township through the years, more than 100 buildings still remain from the 18th and 19th centuries. East Goshen Township remained mainly a farming community until the 1970s, when rapid growth began to change the landscape from rural to suburban. East Goshen Township contains historic photographs from the Chester County Historical Society and longtime area residents, depicting a time when farming was still the township's main industry.