Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the English county of Buckinghamshire.
Bucks County is part of the northern boundary of the Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, more commonly known as the Delaware Valley. The county borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city, to its southwest and the U.S. state of New Jersey to its east.
History
Founding
Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by colonial proprietor William Penn in 1682. Penn named the county after Buckinghamshire, the county in which he lived in England. He built a country estate, Pennsbury Manor, in Falls Township, Bucks County.
Some places in Bucks County were named after locations in Buckinghamshire, including Buckingham and Buckingham Township, named after the former county town of Buckinghamshire; Chalfont, named after Chalfont St Giles, the parish home of William Penn's first wife and the location of the Jordans Quaker Meeting House, where Penn is buried; Solebury Township, named after Soulbury, England; and Wycombe, named after the town of High Wycombe.
Bucks County was originally much larger than it is today. Northampton County was formed in 1752 from part of Bucks County, and Lehigh County was formed in 1812 from part of Northampton County.
American War of Independence
General George Washington and his troops camped in Bucks County as they prepared to cross the Delaware River to take Trenton, New Jersey, by surprise on the morning of December 26, 1776. Their successful attack on Britain's Hessian forces was a turning point in the American War of Independence. The town of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania and Washington Crossing Historic Park were named to commemorate the event.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.8%) is water.
The southern third of the county between Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey, often called Lower Bucks, resides in the Atlantic Coastal Plain; it is flat and near sea level, and is the county's most populated and industrialized area.
The eastern and northeastern parts of the county have more in common with the New York Metro Area than the Delaware Valley. This because more people are commuting into New York City than Philadelphia. Some commuters utilize New Jersey Transit to get them into the city.
Bucks County shares a western border with Montgomery County, and also borders Philadelphia to the southwest, and Northampton and Lehigh Counties to the north. From north to south, it is linked to Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer and Burlington Counties in New Jersey by bridges.
Tohickon Creek and Neshaminy Creek are the largest tributaries of the Delaware in Bucks County. Tohickon Creek empties into the river at Point Pleasant and Neshaminy at Croydon (Bristol Township).
Adjacent counties
Lehigh County (northwest)
Northampton County (north)
Warren County, New Jersey (northeast)
Hunterdon County, New Jersey (northeast)
Mercer County, New Jersey (east)
Burlington County, New Jersey (southeast)
Philadelphia County (south)
Montgomery County (west)
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 625,249 people. The population density was 1,034.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% Non-Hispanic white, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.1% Asian (2.1% Indian, 1.1% Chinese, 0.7% Korean, 0.5% Filipino, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.1% Japanese, 0.4% other Asian) 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% were of two or more races, and 1.5% were of other races. 4.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2000, there were 218,725 households, and 160,981 families residing in the county. There were 225,498 housing units at an average density of . 20.1% were of German, 19.1% Irish, 14.0% Italian, 7.5% English and 5.9% Polish ancestry.
There were 218,725 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $59,727, and the median income for a family was $68,727. Males had a median income of $46,587 versus $31,984 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,430. About 3.10% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
Population growth
The 2013 population estimate of Bucks County was 626,976. This ranked the county fourth in the state, well behind (more than 10%) the counties of Philadelphia with 1,553,165 (247% of Bucks), Allegheny with 1,231,527 (196%), Montgomery with 812,376 (130%), and well ahead of Delaware with 561,973 (89.6%).
Growth began in the early 1950s, when William Levitt chose Bucks County for his second "Levittown". Levitt bought hundreds of acres of woodlands and farmland, and constructed 17,000 homes and dozens of schools, parks, libraries, and shopping centers. By the time the project ended, the population of Levittown had swelled to almost 74,000 residents. At the time, only whites could buy homes. This rule however, was soon overturned. Other planned developments included Croydon and Fairless Hills. This rapid sprawl continued until the mid-1960s.
In the 1970s, a second growth spurt began. This time, developers took land in townships that were mostly untouched. These included Middletown Township, Lower Makefield Township, Northampton Township and Newtown Township. Tract housing, office complexes, shopping centers, and sprawling parking lots continued to move more and more towards Upper Bucks, swallowing horse farms, sprawling forests, and wetlands. At this time, the Oxford Valley Mall was constructed in Middletown, which would become the business nucleus of the county.
Growth has somewhat stabilized since the 1990s, with smaller increases and less development. However, the main reason for this is not a lack of population growth, but loss of land. Lower Bucks now lacks large parcels of land to develop. Smaller residential and commercial projects must now be constructed. However, redevelopment of existing building sites is now a leading coalition in Lower Bucks. Many areas along the Delaware River have surpluses of abandoned industry, so many municipalities have granted building rights to luxury housing developers. Also, as the regions that began the suburban boom in Bucks, such as Levittown, begin to reach their 50th anniversaries, many commercial strips and other neglected structures are being torn down to be replaced with new shopping plazas and commercial chains. Also, with rising property values, areas with older construction are undergoing a renaissance. At the same time, Central and Upper Bucks are still seeing rapid growth, with many municipalities doubling their populations.
2020 census
Economy
The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by William Levitt.
Among Bucks' largest employers in the twentieth century were U.S. Steel in Falls Township, and the Vulcanized Rubber & Plastics and Robertson Tile companies in Morrisville. Rohm and Haas continues to operate several chemical plants around Bristol. Waste Management operates a landfill in Tullytown that is the largest receptacle of out-of-state waste in the USA (receiving much of New York City's waste following the closure of Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island, NY away).
Bucks is also experiencing rapid growth in biotechnology, along with neighboring Montgomery County. The Greater Philadelphia area consistently ranks in the top 10 geographic clusters for biotechnology and biopharma. It is projected by 2020 that one out of four people in Bucks County will work in biotechnology.
List of notable Bucks County businesses
Tourism
Another important asset of the county is tourism. The county's northern regions, colloquially referred to as Upper Bucks, are known for their natural scenery, farmland, colonial history, and proximity to major urban areas, including Philadelphia, New York City, Allentown, Reading, and Atlantic City, each of which is within a two-hour radius.
Bucks County is home to twelve covered bridges. Ten are still open to vehicular traffic. Two other bridges, both located in parks, are open only to non-vehicular traffic. All Bucks County bridges use the Town truss design. The Schofield Ford Bridge, in Tyler State Park, was reconstructed in 1997 from the ground up after arsonists destroyed the original in 1991.
Popular attractions in Bucks County include the shops and studios of New Hope, Peddler's Village (in Lahaska), Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope Railroad, Bucks County River Country and Bucks County Playhouse Theater (in New Hope). Rice's Market near Lahaska is a popular destination on Tuesday mornings. Quakertown Farmer's Market (locally called "Q-Mart") is a popular shopping destination on weekends. The county seat of Doylestown has the trifecta of concrete structures built by Henry Chapman Mercer, including the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, the Mercer Museum and Fonthill, Mercer's personal home.
Southern Bucks, colloquially referred to as Lower Bucks, is home to two important shopping malls, Neshaminy Mall, Oxford Valley Mall, and Sesame Place, a family theme park based on the Sesame Street television series. Also within Lower Bucks County is Parx Casino and Racing in Bensalem, a casino and thoroughbred horse racing track. The casino was built on the grounds of what was originally Philadelphia Park Racetrack. The complex includes the throughbred horse racing track, expansive casino, a dance club, numerous dining options, and the Xcite Center.
Education
Colleges and universities
Bucks County Community College
Delaware Valley University
Cairn University in Langhorne
Holy Family University in Newtown
La Salle University in Newtown
Strayer University in Trevose
Public school districts
Bensalem Township School District
Bristol Borough School District
Bristol Township School District
Centennial School District
Central Bucks School District
Council Rock School District
Morrisville Borough School District
Neshaminy School District
New Hope-Solebury School District
Palisades School District
Pennridge School District
Pennsbury School District
Quakertown Community School District
Souderton Area School District (also in Montgomery County)
The Bucks County public schools listed above are served by a regional educational service agency
called the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 located in the county seat of Doylestown.
Public charter schools
Bucks County Montessori Charter School
Center Student Learning Charter School
School Lane Charter School
Private schools
27 Catholic grade schools (there are also the 27 parishes in Bucks County of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
Abrams Hebrew Academy (K–8)
Archbishop Wood Catholic High School
Calvary Christian School
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
George School
Holy Family Regional Catholic School
Holy Ghost Preparatory School (9–12 for boys)
Newtown Friends School (PreK-8)
Plumstead Christian School
Quakertown Christian School
Solebury School
St. Katherine Drexel
St. Michael the Archangel
The Pen Ryn School
Trevose Day School
United Friends School Quakertown
Villa Joseph Marie High School (9–12 for girls)
Community, junior, and technical colleges
Bucks County Community College
Bucks County School of Beauty Culture
Bucks County Technical High School
Cairn University
CHI Institute
Delaware Valley University
Holy Family University
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
Pennco Tech
Libraries
The Bucks County Library System was founded in 1956 by a resolution of the Bucks County Commissioners.
The Bucks County Library System is made up of 7 branch libraries in the following townships:
Bensalem
Doylestown
Langhorne
Levittown
Perkasie
Quakerstown
Yardley-Makefield
Arts and culture
Fine and performing arts
Many artists and writers based in New York City have called Bucks County home, settling mainly in the small stretch between Doylestown and New Hope and along the Delaware River. Notable residents have included Margaret Mead, Pearl S. Buck, Oscar Hammerstein II, Stephen Sondheim, Charlie Parker, Moss Hart, George S. Kaufman, James Michener, Dorothy Parker, S. J. Perelman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Daniel Garber, Alfred Bester, Annie Haslam, and Jean Toomer. Bucks County has been the home of writer/musician James McBride, writer Eric Knight, Academy Award-winning film composer Joe Renzetti, musician Gene Ween of Ween, painter Christopher Wajda, photographer Michael Barone, and furniture designer George Nakashima. James Gould Cozzens lived in Lambertville, New Jersey, just across the river from Bucks County, and used Doylestown as the model for the setting of two novels; he is considered a Bucks County artist. Allen Saalburg relocated to Bucks County in 1947, and named his press after the canal.
The county boasts many local theater companies, including the long-established and recently reopened Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Town and Country Players in Buckingham, ActorsNET in Morrisville, and the Bristol Riverside Theatre, a professional Equity theater in Bristol. The Bucks County Symphony, founded in 1953, performs in Doylestown throughout the year and the Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Society, founded in 2009, performs a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta with full orchestra each June.
The Wild River Review, an online magazine that publishes in-depth reporting, works of literature, art, visual art, reviews, interviews, and columns by and about contemporary artists, photographers, and writers, is based out of Doylestown.
Literature
The seemingly autobiographical novel The Fires of Spring by James Michener takes place in and around Doylestown.
Popular culture
Alecia Moore, more commonly known as Pink, was born in Doylestown, as was motion picture writer and director Stefan Avalos. Three American Idol contestants live in Bucks County: Justin Guarini, who was born in Atlanta, but moved to Bucks County; Jordan White, who was born in Cranford, New Jersey and moved to Bucks County; and Anthony Fedorov, who was born in Ukraine and was from Trevose, in Lower Southampton Township. Singer/actress Irene Molloy and classical tenor David Gordon were born in Doylestown. Musician Asher Roth was born in Morrisville. The Tony Award-winning Broadway play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is set in the county. The main members of the rock band Ween are from New Hope.
Film
The 2019 film Colewell, starring Karen Allen, dedicated to Marguerite Addis a lifelong resident of Bucks County.
The 2012 film Safe, starring Jason Statham, was filmed at the Parx Casino and Racing in Bensalem Township.
The 2012 film The Discoverers was filmed in a variety of locations in Bucks County, including Croydon, Bristol, Newtown, New Hope, and Tyler State Park.
The 2010 NBC pilot episode for Outlaw was filmed in the Andalusia section of Bensalem Township.
Bucks County is mentioned multiple times on the 2010 Freeform TV series Pretty Little Liars.
The 2009 film Law Abiding Citizen, starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, was filmed partially in New Hope.
The county fair scene in the 2006 film Charlotte's Web was filmed at the Southampton Days Fair in Southampton.
M. Night Shyamalan's 2002 film Signs, starring Mel Gibson, was filmed and takes place in Bucks County. The town scenes were filmed on State Street in Newtown Borough, and the drugstore scene was filmed at Burns' Pharmacy on Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville. The house was built on farmland privately owned and leased to Delaware Valley College in Doylestown Township. A stage set for some interior shots was created in a warehouse on State Road in Bensalem Township. Shyamalan's film Lady in the Water was shot across the street from the Bloomsdale section of Bristol Township. In addition, Shyamalan's 2008 film, The Happening, was filmed in Upper Bucks County, including Plumsteadville.
Central Bucks High School West football team was followed during the 1999 season for the documentary The Last Game.
With the exception of the footage filmed in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, all of the 1998 film The Last Broadcast was shot in Bucks County.
A short scene from Stephen King's The Stand, published in 1978, is based in Pipersville.
The producer Fred Bauer, the director Steve Rash and composer Joseph Renzetti of The Buddy Holly Story, released in 1978, all live in Bucks County, where the film was conceived, and written by Bob Gittler.
One of Steven Spielberg's earliest films, Something Evil, released in 1972, is set in Bucks County.
The 1942 film George Washington Slept Here was set chiefly in Bucks County, although most of the filming took place in the studio.
Media
Local print publications include Bucks County Courier Times, The Intelligencer, The Advance of Bucks County, Bucks County Herald, Bucks County Town and Country Living, Radius Magazine, Yardley Voice, Morrisville Times, Newtown Gazette, Northampton Herald, Langhorne Ledger, Lower Southampton Spirit, New Hope News, Doylestown Observer, Warwick Journal, Fairless Focus. Online news publications are Levittown Now, Bucks County Beacon, NewtownPANow, Bucks Happening, New Hope Free Press. WBCB is a local radio news station.
Sports
Rugby league
The Bucks County Sharks rugby league team played in the AMNRL from 1997 to 2010 season. They returned to play in the AMNRL in 2011, until the league's fold in 2014, when they subsequently joined the USARL.
Little League
The county has a considerable history of producing Little League baseball contenders. Since its inception in 1947, four of the seven Pennsylvania teams to compete in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania have come from Bucks County: Morrisville (1955), Levittown American (1960 and 1961), and Council Rock-Newtown (2005). Two of these squads, Morrisville and Levittown (1960), went on to win the World Series title. In 2007, Council Rock Northampton won the PA State championship, and lost in the finals of regionals.
PIAA
The county is a part of PIAA's District I, and has seen many schools capture multiple state titles.
American Legion baseball
In 1996, Yardley Western Post 317 won the American Legion National Championship.
Bristol Legion Post 382 recently won the 2011 American Legion State Championship.
Horse racing
Parx Casino and Racing, formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Keystone Racetrack, was the former home of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, is in Bensalem.
Parks and recreation
Pennsylvania state parks
There are six Commonwealth-owned parks in Bucks County:
Five are owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Delaware Canal State Park
Neshaminy State Park
Nockamixon State Park
Ralph Stover State Park
Tyler State Park
Bucks County Parks and Recreation operates an 18-bed youth hostel in the Nockamixon State Park Weisel estate. The hostel is part of Hostelling International USA.
Washington Crossing Historic Park, a site operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, is part of Washington's Crossing, a U.S. National Historic Landmark area. The park is headquartered in the village of Washington Crossing located in Upper Makefield Township. It marks the location of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War.
County parks
Core Creek Park
Dark Hollow Park
Lake Towhee Park
Peace Valley Park
Playwicki Park
Ringing Rocks Park
Silver Lake Park
Tinicum Park
Tohickon Valley Park
Bucks County Horse Park
Historic properties
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Stover-Myers Mill; Erwin Stover House
Moland House an old stone farmhouse built around 1750 located in Warwick Township, and served as the headquarters for General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War from August 10, 1777, until August 23, 1777.
Summerseat, also known as the George Clymer House and Thomas Barclay House, is a historic house museum in Morrisville, built about 1765. It is the only house known to have been owned by two signers of the United States Declaration of Independence, Founding Fathers George Clymer and Robert Morris, and as a headquarters of General George Washington from December 8 to 14, 1776, prior to the attack on Trenton.
Pennsbury Manor house and grounds, the American home of William Penn, founder and first Governor of Pennsylvania, administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in association with The Pennsbury Society and are open to the public.
County recreation sites
Frosty Hollow Tennis Center
Core Creek Tennis Center
Oxford Valley Golf Course
Oxford Valley Pool
Tohickon Valley Pool
Weisel Hostel
Peace Valley Boat Rental
Core Creek Boat Rental
County nature centers
Bucks County Audubon Society's Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center
Churchville Nature Center
Peace Valley Nature Center
Silver Lake Nature Center
Clark Nature Center
Transportation
Airports
Public airports administered by the Bucks County Airport Authority
Doylestown Airport
Quakertown Airport, also a Civil Air Patrol facility
Van Sant Airport and Park, formerly owned and administered by the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation
Private Airports
Pennridge Airport, owned by Pennridge Development Ent. Inc but open to public use for general aviation
Sterling Aviation Heliport, privately owned and public heliport and helicopter repair facility located in Croydon, PA next to Neshaminy State Park.
Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia and Delaware County is a nearby airport that has commercial airline service.
Public transportation
Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line runs through the southern portion of the county. Select daily Keystone Service trains in each direction stop at the Cornwells Heights station in Bensalem.
SEPTA
City Division and Suburban Division bus routes across Southeastern Bucks
Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown, Trenton, Warminster and West Trenton lines
TMA Bucks's Rushbus – only parts of South and Central Bucks County
Bucks County Transport or BCT – a paratransit and ridesharing service
Doylestown Dart provides public transportation around the Doylestown area.
Major roads and highways
Politics and government
|}
As of July 17, 2023, there are 469,690 registered voters in Bucks County.
Democratic: 198,144 (42.19%)
Republican: 193,115 (41.12%)
Independent: 56,677 (12.07%)
Third Party: 21,754 (4.63%)
Like most of the Philadelphia suburbs, Bucks County was once a stronghold for the Republican Party. However, in recent years it has become more of a swing county, like Pennsylvania at large. In presidential elections, Bucks has been swept up in the overall Democratic trend that has swept the Philadelphia area, although the trend in Bucks has been less pronounced than in Delaware and Montgomery. It has gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992, though by a margin of fewer than 5 points in each except for 2008. Prior to this Republicans won the county all but thrice between 1896 and 1988 (except in 1912, 1936, and 1964). Unlike most other suburban Philadelphia counties, Bucks County consistently voted Democratic during the Civil War era, only voting Republican twice between 1856 and 1892, in 1860 and 1872.
Until recently, Republicans still held most local offices. However, after Democratic gains in the 2018 elections, Republicans hold all but three state house seats covering portions of the county, while the Democrats and Republicans hold two state senate seats each. The Democrats and Republicans each hold four of the row offices. As in most suburban Philadelphia counties, Republicans tend to be conservative on fiscal matters and moderate on social and cultural matters.
The executive government is run by a three-seat board of commissioners, one member of which serves as chairperson. Commissioners are elected through at-large voting and serve four-year terms. In cases of vacancy, a panel of county judges appoints members to fill seats. The current commissioners are Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia (D) (chairwoman), Robert "Bob" J. Harvie Jr. (D) (Vice-chairman), and Gene DiGirolamo (R). The current terms expire in January 2024. In 2012, four county employees were sentenced for compensating public employees for political work on behalf of Republican candidates.
Bucks County is represented in U.S. Congress by , (map) formerly numbered as the 8th District. The district is represented by Brian Fitzpatrick (R), making this district one of 18 nationwide to be held by a Republican and won by Joe Biden in 2020.
In the 2016 elections, Democrats Hillary Clinton (President), Josh Shapiro (Attorney General), and Joe Torsella (State Treasurer) won Bucks County while Republicans Pat Toomey (U.S. Senate), Brian Fitzpatrick (U.S. Representative), and John Brown (Auditor General) won Bucks County in their respective races.
County commissioners
Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair, Democratic
Robert "Bob" J. Harvie Jr., Vice Chair, Democratic
Gene DiGirolamo, Republican
County row officers
Law enforcement
The current Bucks County Sheriff is Frederick "Fred" A. Harran. Three members of the Sheriff's Office have died in the line of duty. One was shot and two others died in traffic accidents. The first, Sheriff Abram Kulp was murdered in February 1927.
State senate
State House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The most populous borough in the county is Morrisville with 10,023 as of the 2000 census. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bucks County:
Boroughs
Bristol
Chalfont
Doylestown (county seat)
Dublin
Hulmeville
Ivyland
Langhorne
Langhorne Manor
Morrisville
New Britain
New Hope
Newtown
Penndel
Perkasie
Quakertown
Richlandtown
Riegelsville
Sellersville
Silverdale
Telford (lies partly in Montgomery County)
Trumbauersville
Tullytown
Yardley
Townships
Bedminster
Bensalem
Bridgeton
Bristol
Buckingham
Doylestown
Durham
East Rockhill
Falls
Haycock
Hilltown
Lower Makefield
Lower Southampton
Middletown
Milford
New Britain
Newtown
Nockamixon
Northampton
Plumstead
Richland
Solebury
Springfield
Tinicum
Upper Makefield
Upper Southampton
Warminster
Warrington
Warwick
West Rockhill
Wrightstown
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Brittany Farms-The Highlands
Churchville
Cornwells Heights
Croydon
Eddington
Fairless Hills
Feasterville
Levittown
Milford Square
Newtown Grant
Plumsteadville
Richboro
Spinnerstown
Trevose
Village Shires
Warminster Heights
Woodbourne
Woodside
Unincorporated communities
Almont
Andalusia
Applebachsville
Aquetong
Argus
Bedminster
Blooming Glen
Brick Tavern
Bryn Gweled
Buckingham
Bucksville
California
Carversville
Center Bridge
Danboro
Dolington
Durham
Elephant
Erwinna
Eureka
Fallsington
Ferndale
Finland
Forest Grove
Fountainville
Furlong
Gallows Hill
Gardenville
Geryville‡
Hagersville
Harriman
Harrow
Hartsville
Highton
Hillside Village
Hilltop
Hilltown
Hinkletown
Holicong
Holland
Hood
Jamison
Johnsville
Kintnersville
Kulps Corner
Lahaska
Line Lexington‡
Lodi
Loux Corner (Hilltown)
Lumberville
Maple Beach
Mechanicsville
Mount Pleasant
Neshaminy Falls
Newville
Oakford
Ottsville
Oxford Valley
Paletown
Passer
Penns Park
Pineville
Pipersville
Pleasant Valley
Point Pleasant
Revere
Rushland
Shelly
Solebury
Southampton
Springtown
Strawntown
Uhlerstown
Unionville‡
Upper Black Eddy
Washington Crossing
White Horse
Wrightstown
Wycombe
Zionhill
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Historic communities
Tohickon, located under modern Lake Nockamixon
Police agencies and services
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Bucks County.
† county seat
Climate
Piedmont Region
According to the Trewartha climate classification system, the Piedmont (United States) section of Bucks County, which is located roughly northwest of U.S. Route 1, has a Temperate Continental Climate with hot and slightly humid summers, cold winters and year-around precipitation (Dcao). Dcao climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ , four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ , at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. According to the Köppen climate classification system, the climate is a hot-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate (Dfa). During the summer months in the Piedmont, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values > . The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < . The plant hardiness zone at Haycock Mountain, elevation , is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between depending on elevation and distance from the Atlantic Ocean. The average snowiest month is February which correlates with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. Some areas of the Piedmont farther south and along the river below New Hope are in hardiness zone 7a, as is the Atlantic Coastal Plain region of Bucks.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Region
According to the Trewartha climate classification system, the Atlantic coastal plain section of Bucks County, which is located roughly southeast of U.S. Route 1 has a Temperate Oceanic Climate with hot and slightly humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (Doak). Doak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > , four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ , at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. According to the Köppen climate classification, this region has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). During the summer months in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values > . The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < . The plant hardiness zone in Andalusia, Bensalem Twp, elevation , is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between depending on elevation and distance from the Atlantic Ocean. The average snowiest month is February which correlates with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.
Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Bucks County, Pennsylvania would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).
Notable people
Charles Albright, (1830–1880), United States Congressman; born in Bucks County
Christy Altomare (1986-), Actress and singer-songwriter, originated the role Anya in the musical Anastasia.
Jacob Jennings Brown (1775 – 1828), Commanding General of the United States Army.
Ulric Dahlgren (1842-1864), Union Army Colonel, unsuccessful raid on Richmond, Virginia started the Dahlgren Affair.
Charles Ellet, Jr. (1810-1862), Civil Engineer and Union Army officer.
Samuel Hartsel (1834–1918), Colorado ranching pioneer.
Michael Hurley (1941-), singer and guitarist.
Saige Martin, former member of the Raleigh City Council.
Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860), portrait painter and museum keeper.
Allen Rosenberg (1931-2013), rower and rowing coach
Andrew Jackson Smith (1815–1897), Union army general
Ezra Stone (1917–1994), actor and director
Official seal
The traditional seal of Bucks County, Pennsylvania takes its design from the inspiration of the county's founder, William Penn. The center of the seal consists of a shield from the Penn family crest with a tree above and a flowering vine surrounding it in symmetric flanks. The seal has a gold-colored background and a green band denoting Penn as the county's first proprietor and governor. In 1683, Penn's council decreed that a tree and vine be incorporated into the emblem to signify the county's abundance of woods. The seal was used in its official capacity until the Revolutionary War. The county government has since used the official Pennsylvania state seal for official documents. Today, the Bucks County seal's use is largely ceremonial. It appears on county stationery and vehicles as a symbol of the county's heritage. The gold emblem is also the centerpiece of the official Bucks County flag, which has a blue background and gold trim.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
References
External links
Bucks County Government official website
Visit Bucks County (official website of county's tourism promotion agency)
1682 establishments in Pennsylvania
Populated places established in 1682