"A River Runs Through It"
the best known assets of Newlin Township is the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek
which winds and twists its way through Newlin
Township from the western border with East Fallowfield
Township to the eastern border with Pocopson Township. Many small tributaries join up with the Brandywine as it makes its way through the Township
creating meadows and flood plains along the way. Steep slopes and winding, curvy roads make a
visitor feel that they are in the mountains at times. Native Hemlocks and Mountain Laurel grace the
slopes as they melt away toward the Brandywine.
history of Newlin
Township revolves around
the Brandywine Creek and tributaries.
The Lenni-Lenape Indians once hunted and fished in the valley of Brandywine
Creek. The last of the tribe, Indian
Hannah who died in 1802, is buried in Newlin on the grounds of the old
Embreeville Poorhouse located on the state-owned land of the now closed Embreeville Hospital.
and homes were built along the creek in Newlin with one of the earliest mills
in historical records being at Embreeville.
A deed from 1756 notes a corn, grist and saw mill in the village. A house near the mill dates from 1760. The stone core of the mill still stands, with
an addition dating from 1883. Nearby, Harvey’s Mill site and
house date from 1780. The Passmore Mill
and house, c. 1840, on Green Valley Creek, a tributary of the Brandywine,
still stand and are currently dwellings.
Commerce and homes were located near the mills. The National Historic Register lists 13
places and districts within the township including the historic districts of
Embreeville, Green Valley and a portion of Northbrook.
from the mill at Embreeville is the Stargazer’s Stone where, in 1764, English
astronomers Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon began work on the farm of John
Harland. Their task was to mark the
border between the colonies of Pennsylvania
The famous Mason-Dixon Line has been the traditional dividing line between the
North and South and was know as the boundary dividing free states from slave states prior to the
Nathaniel Newlin took possession of 7100 acres from the Free Society of Traders
who had purchased these acres and more from William Penn in 1681. In 1840-1 the Newlin tract of land became a
township and was named after Nathaniel Newlin.
Newlin consists of 7,700 acres of which approximately 3900 acres are protected
from development through conservation easements to the Brandywine Conservancy,
the sale of development rights to the Chester County Agricultural Land
Preservation Board, and the most recent acquisition by the Natural Lands Trust
of the ChesLen Preserve. The Preserve
includes 1263 acres of Newlin
Township in one
continuous parcel. There is clearly a
strong commitment in the community to preservation of the land.
pasture land for cattle and horses, vineyards, an orchard and farm fields give
a real open feel to parts of Newlin.
Corn, soybeans, hay and fruit production are important agricultural
products of the Township.
census records a population of 1285 for the Township with a median age of
41.9. Total housing units are 446 with
total households of 429. Approximately 20 miles of roads in the Township are
maintained by the Township and of that 20 miles, 7 miles are unpaved
roads. State Routes 162 and 842 go
through Newlin and are maintained by PennDot along with 3 other roads in the
Township owns 16 acres of land where the Township Maintenance Garage is located
at 1751 Embreeville Road
(Rt. 162). The Garage is where Township residents vote. Future plans are to
renovate the house which is on the property to make it suitable for meetings,
an office and fireproof - record storage.
Until the time that this building is available for use, official
meetings of the Township Supervisors, Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing
Board are held at The Lenfest Center, Cannery Road, Coatesville, Pa.