For more than 300 years, Thornbury Township has been shaped by the people who lived and worked on its land, including Native Americans, European settlers, William Penn's First Purchasers, soldiers, farmers, millers, manufacturers, and residents. As the nation confronted social problems, fought wars, and experienced progress, the people of Thornbury did as well. Life in Thornbury included learning in classrooms, finding solace in churches, enjoying the countryside, and trying new ways of living in communities. Its history also appears in places such as Thornton School on Westtown Road and the intersection of Cheyney Road and Creek Road, where generations of residents used shops that at various times included a blacksmith, a wheelwright, a general store, a post office, and other businesses.