[4] The class patrolled the Caribbean prior to World War I, sometimes supporting military interventions, with Chester playing a key role at the start of the United States occupation of Veracruz in 1914.

[3] The three Chesters were the US Navy's only ships to be commissioned with the "scout cruiser" (hull classification symbol non-standard at the time, CS or SCR are sometimes used) designation, and were characterized by high speed and little armor or armament.

[2] Chester had twelve coal-fired Normand boilers and Parsons direct-drive steam turbines totaling 23,000 shp (17,000 kW) on four shafts.

[2] Birmingham had twelve coal-fired Fore River boilers supplying 275 psi (1,900 kPa) steam to two four-cylinder vertical triple-expansion engines totaling 16,000 ihp (12,000 kW) (design) on two shafts.

[2] Salem had twelve coal-fired Fore River boilers and Curtis direct-drive steam turbines totaling 23,900 shp (17,800 kW) (design) on two shafts.

[1] All three ships were refitted in 1917 to prepare for service in World War I. Salem had her main engines replaced with a 20,000 shp (15,000 kW) General Electric geared steam turbine installation due to high coal consumption.