Townapedia
Chester - Chester County Court House 01
Chester - Chester County Court House 01 · Tichnor Brothers, Inc., Public domain
Chester County Courthouse (Built 1852), Chester, South Carolina
Chester County Courthouse (Built 1852), Chester, South Carolina · Calvin Beale, Public domain
Chester City Hall
Chester City Hall · Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kumler Hall
Kumler Hall · Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0

Chester, South Carolina

Chester is a city of 5,218 people in Chester County, South Carolina.

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Population5,218 -3.5% since 2019
Elevation535 ft 163 m
Land area4.1 sq mi
ZIP code29706
Nearest airportRock Hill/York County Airport (RKH) 22 mi

Why visit Chester

Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails and 7 places to eat in and around town.

Highlights include Chester Historic District, Chester City Hall and Opera House and Chester Sports Complex.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 30°F.

About Chester

Chester is a small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Chester had a population of 5,269. It is the county seat of Chester County. The community was segregated.

From the Wikipedia article Chester, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks5

Chester Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi

Park in South Carolina, United States of America, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Chester City Hall and Opera House

Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Kumler Hall

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Finley School

Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds4

Chester Sports Complex

Park · 1.0 mi

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Gayle Park

Park · 1.9 mi

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Joe Collins Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 1.0 mi

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Wylie Park

Park · 0.9 mi

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Restaurants and cafes7

Waffle House

Diner · American · 1.0 mi

1780 J A Cochran Bypass, Chester

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +1 803-218-9410

Arby's

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.0 mi

1622 J A Cochran Bypass, Chester

10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 803-871-2333

Wendy's

Fast food · Burger · 1.0 mi

1825 J.A. Cochran Bypass, Chester

09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 803-581-8383

Bojangles'

Fast food · Chicken · 0.9 mi

1759 J.A. Cochran Bypass, Chester

Open in Google Maps · +1 803-581-8120

Hardee's

Fast food · Burger · 1.0 mi

1791 J A Cochran Bypass, Chester

Open in Google Maps · +1 803-377-4870

KFC

Fast food · Chicken · 0.9 mi

1607 Ja Cochran Highway 72 Bypass, Chester

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McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 1.0 mi

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Churches and places of worship24

Faith Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 1.1 mi

1903 J A Cochran (Bypass), Chester

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Eureka Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 1.4 mi

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First Baptist Church

Church · Baptist

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Mount Calvary Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 0.4 mi

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Parkway Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 1.4 mi

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Saint Josephs Catholic Church

Church · Catholic · 0.4 mi

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Second Wilson Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 0.4 mi

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Westside Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 1.6 mi

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Bethel United Methodist Church

Church · 0.4 mi

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Brooklyn African Methodist Episcopal Church

Church

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Carmel Presbyterian Church

Church · 0.4 mi

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Chester Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

Church · 0.4 mi

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12 more on the map.

History

While being transported to Richmond, Virginia, for his trial for treason, former Vice-President Aaron Burr passed through Chester. Burr "flung himself from his horse and cried for a rescue, but the officer commanding the escort seized him, threw him back like a child into the saddle, and marched on." The large stone he stood on has been inscribed and is preserved in the town center, and is known locally as the Aaron Burr Rock.

Chester was home to Brainerd Institute, a school for African American children.

The Catholic Presbyterian Church, Chester City Hall and Opera House, Chester Historic District, Colvin-Fant-Durham Farm Complex, Fishdam Ford, Kumler Hall, Lewis Inn, and McCollum Mound are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the History section of Chester, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Shopping3

Gas and EV charging1

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Schools, colleges and libraries17

Healthcare1

Map of Chester

62 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°January: 4.0 in of rainFebruary: 3.4 in of rainMarch: 4.2 in of rainApril: 3.9 in of rainMay: 3.5 in of rainJune: 4.3 in of rainJuly: 3.9 in of rainAugust: 4.4 in of rainSeptember: 3.8 in of rainOctober: 3.1 in of rainNovember: 3.4 in of rainDecember: 4.0 in of rainJanuary: 52°FFebruary: 56°FMarch: 64°FApril: 73°FMay: 80°FJune: 87°FJuly: 90°FAugust: 88°FSeptember: 83°FOctober: 73°FNovember: 62°FDecember: 55°FJanuary: 30°FFebruary: 32°FMarch: 38°FApril: 46°FMay: 56°FJune: 65°FJuly: 69°FAugust: 68°FSeptember: 62°FOctober: 49°FNovember: 38°FDecember: 32°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan52°F30°F4.0 in
Feb56°F32°F3.4 in
Mar64°F38°F4.2 in
Apr73°F46°F3.9 in
May80°F56°F3.5 in
Jun87°F65°F4.3 in
Jul90°F69°F3.9 in
Aug88°F68°F4.4 in
Sep83°F62°F3.8 in
Oct73°F49°F3.1 in
Nov62°F38°F3.4 in
Dec55°F32°F4.0 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chester 1 Se (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$46,138median household income
$123,000median home value
$902median monthly rent
38.8median age
14.0%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
59.1%of homes are owner-occupied
28.3 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1825%18 to 3422%35 to 6437%65 and over15%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Chester County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.

  • 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
  • 2024-09-29: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
  • 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
  • 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
  • 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
  • 2022-11-21: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Rock Hill/York County Airport (RKH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.

  • Rock Hill 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
  • Catawba 20 mi northeast, about 32 min by car
  • Fort Mill 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
  • Tega Cay 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
  • Baxter Village 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
  • Buffalo 27 mi west, about 44 min by car
  • Lake Wylie 29 mi north, about 46 min by car
  • Marvin 30 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
  • Waxhaw 31 mi northeast, about 50 min by car
  • Charlotte 41 mi northeast, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.