Near the end of the seventeenth century Welsh Quakers settled in this part of Chester County. They called the area “Uwchlan,” which in Welsh means “upland” or the “land above the valley.” By 1712 Uwchlan was surveyed and recognized as a township. In 1826 the post office was established and given the name “Lionville.” In the village of Eagle the post office was given the name “Uwchland,” incorrectly adding a “d” to the end of the Welsh name and to this day has not been corrected. The population was 16,576 at the 2000 census. Uwchlan Township is home to five schools of the Downingtown Area School District.