Bucks County is a county in the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

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 The counties of England are areas used for different purposes, which include administrative, geographical, cultural and political demarcation. The term "county" is defined in several ways and can apply to similar or the same areas used by each ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...

. Bucks County is part of the northern boundary of the Philadelphia–

Camden Camden may refer to: People * Camden (surname), a surname of English origin * Camden Joy (born 1964), American writer * Camden Toy (born 1957), American actor Places Australia * Camden, New South Wales * Camden, Rosehill, a heritage res ...

– Wilmington, PA– NJ– DE– MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, more commonly known as the

Delaware Valley The Delaware Valley is a metropolitan region on the East Coast of the United States that comprises and surrounds Philadelphia, the sixth most populous city in the nation and 68th largest city in the world as of 2020. The toponym Delaware Val ...

. It is located immediately northeast of Philadelphia and forms part of the southern tip of the eastern state border with New Jersey.

History

Founding

Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by colonial proprietor William Penn in 1682. Penn named the county after

, 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 In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a county town is the most important town or city in a county. It is usually the location of administrative or judicial functions within a county and the place where the county's members of Parliament are elect ...

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 Solebury Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,709 at the 2020 census. History Migrating English Quakers began to settle down in an area of Buckingham Township. Around 1702, this area was in ...

, 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 Lehigh may refer to: Places United States *Lehigh, Iowa *Lehigh, Kansas *Lehigh, Oklahoma *Lehigh, Barbour County, West Virginia *Lehigh, Wisconsin * Lehigh Acres, Florida * Lehigh Township (disambiguation) * Lehigh Valley, a region in eastern Pe ...

was formed in 1812 from part of Northampton County.

American War of Independence

General

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

and his troops camped in Bucks County as they prepared to cross the

Delaware River The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock (village), New York, Hancock, New York, the river flows for along the borders of N ...

to take Trenton, New Jersey, by surprise on the morning of December 26, 1776. Their successful attack on Britain's

Hessian A Hessian is an inhabitant of the German state of Hesse. Hessian may also refer to: Named from the toponym *Hessian (soldier), eighteenth-century German regiments in service with the British Empire **Hessian (boot), a style of boot **Hessian f ...

forces was a turning point in the

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. The town of

Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania Washington Crossing is an unincorporated village located in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Formerly known as "Taylorsville," it is most famous for George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the nigh ...

and

Washington Crossing Historic Park Washington Crossing Historic Park is a 500-acre (2 km2) state park operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in partnership with the Friends of Washington Crossing Park. The park is divided into two sectio ...

were named to commemorate the event.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, 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 The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Afr ...

, and is flat and near sea level, and the county's most populated and industrialized area. Bucks County shares a western border with

Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to: Australia * The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania United Kingdom * The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery United States * Montgomery County, Alabama * Mon ...

, and also borders Philadelphia to the southwest, and

Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; ...

and

Lehigh Lehigh may refer to: Places United States *Lehigh, Iowa *Lehigh, Kansas *Lehigh, Oklahoma *Lehigh, Barbour County, West Virginia *Lehigh, Wisconsin *Lehigh Acres, Florida *Lehigh Township (disambiguation) *Lehigh Valley, a region in eastern Penns ...

Counties to the north. From north to south, it is linked to

Warren A warren is a network of wild rodent or lagomorph, typically rabbit burrows. Domestic warrens are artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. The term evolved from the medieval Angl ...

, Hunterdon,

Mercer Mercer may refer to: Business * Mercer (car), a defunct American automobile manufacturer (1909–1925) * Mercer (consulting firm), a large human resources consulting firm headquartered in New York City * Mercer (occupation), a merchant or trader ...

and

Burlington Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...

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

(northwest) * Northampton County (north) * Warren County, New Jersey (northeast) * Hunterdon County, New Jersey (northeast) *

Mercer County, New Jersey Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Trenton, also the state capital, but also directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is included within the Federal Communications Commission's ...

(east) *

Burlington County, New Jersey Burlington County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The county is the largest by area in New Jersey. Its county seat is Mount Holly.

(southeast) * Philadelphia County (south) *

(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 Non-Hispanic whites or Non-Latino whites are Americans who are classified as "white", and are not of Hispanic (also known as "Latino") heritage. The United States Census Bureau defines ''white'' to include European Americans, Middle Eastern Amer ...

, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.1%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

(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 German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, 19.1% Irish, 14.0% Italian, 7.5% English and 5.9%

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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 Fairless Hills is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The CDP is located within c. The population was 9,046 at the 2020 census. That is up from 8,466 at the 2010 census. History Fairless Hills as it is ...

. 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 The Oxford Valley Mall is a two-story shopping mall, managed and 85.5 percent-owned by the Simon Property Group, that is located next to the Sesame Place amusement park near Langhorne in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Its dep ...

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

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 The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line in the Northeast megalopolis of the United States. Owned primarily by Amtrak, it runs from Boston through Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Philadelphia, Wilmington, a ...

during World War II.

Suburban A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

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 United States Steel Corporation, more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an American integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with production operations primarily in the United States of America and in severa ...

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 A landfill site, also known as a tip, dump, rubbish dump, garbage dump, or dumping ground, is a site for the disposal of waste materials. Landfill is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal, although the systematic burial of the waste ...

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 Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull and f ...

away). Bucks is also experiencing rapid growth in biotechnology, along with neighboring

. 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 Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...

, each of which is within a two-hour radius. Bucks County is home to twelve

covered bridges A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered woo ...

. 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 A lattice bridge is a form of truss bridge that uses many small, closely spaced diagonal elements forming a latticework, lattice. The lattice Truss Bridge was patented in 1820 by architect Ithiel Town. Originally a design to allow a substantial br ...

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 Peddler's Village is a 42-acre countryside property in Bucks County, Pennsylvania that features 60+ retail shops and boutiques, full and quick-service restaurants, a 66-room hotel and an indoor family entertainment center. Open year-round, Peddler ...

(in Lahaska),

New Hope Railroad The New Hope Railroad , formerly and colloquially known as the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, is a shortline and heritage railroad located in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Today, the railroad operates both steam and diesel powered locomotives and is ...

, 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 Henry Chapman Mercer (June 24, 1856 – March 9, 1930) was an American archeologist, artifact collector, tile-maker, and designer of three distinctive poured concrete structures: Fonthill, his home; the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works; and th ...

, 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 Neshaminy Mall is a shopping mall located at U.S. Route 1 and Bristol Road in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. The mall was opened in 1968 and was the sixth interior mall constructed in Greater Philadelphia. The Neshaminy Mall is anchored by Bos ...

, and Sesame Place, a family theme park based on the '' Sesame Street'' television series. Also within Lower Bucks County is

Parx Casino and Racing Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a thoroughbred horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Parx is located in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, northeast of the city of P ...

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 Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a thoroughbred horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Parx is located in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, northeast of the city of P ...

Education

Colleges and universities

* Bucks County Community College * Delaware Valley University * Cairn University in Langhorne *

Holy Family University Holy Family University is a private Roman Catholic university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was chartered in 1954 by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. In addition to the main Torresdale campus in the northeaste ...

in Newtown *

La Salle University La Salle University () is a private, Catholic university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle. History La ...

in Newtown *

Strayer University Strayer University is a private for-profit university with its headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1892 as Strayer's Business College and later became Strayer College, before being granted university status in 1998. Strayer Univer ...

in Trevose

Public school districts

Map of Bucks County Pennsylvania School Districts

* Bensalem Township School District *

Bristol Borough School District The Bristol Borough School District is a diminutive, suburban, public school district located in southern Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the Borough of Bristol. It encompasses just , with a population of 12,000 people at the 199 ...

Bristol Township School District Bristol Township School District is a public school district located in Levittown, Pennsylvania (U.S.). It covers Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bristol Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bucks County. It has 5,971 students i ...

* Centennial School District *

Central Bucks School District The Central Bucks School District or CBSD is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and is the third largest school district in Pennsylvania. The district covers the Boroughs of Chalfont, Doylestown and New Britain and Buckingham To ...

Council Rock School District The Council Rock School District, also known as CRSD, is located in lower Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania. The district's administrative offices are located in one of the original school district buildings in the Borough of Newtown. ...

Morrisville Borough School District The Morrisville Borough School District is a Public school (government funded), public school district serving the Philadelphia suburb of Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Morrisville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bucks County. It features ...

Neshaminy School District Neshaminy School District is a school district headquartered in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the eastern Pennsylvania municipalities of Middletown Township, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Penndel, Hulmevill ...

New Hope-Solebury School District New Hope-Solebury School District is the only school district that educates children in Solebury Township Solebury Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,709 at the 2020 census. History M ...

Palisades School District Palisades School District is a public school district located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It serves Bridgeton, Durham, Nockamixon, Springfield, and Tinicum Townships. On July 1, 2013, the borough of Riegelsville transferr ...

Pennridge School District Pennridge School District is located approximately north of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The district Pennridge School District, covers approximately with a total population of 45,000 and encompasses eight municipalities, includi ...

Pennsbury School District Pennsbury School District is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The district serves Falls Township, Lower Makefield Township, Yardley Borough, and Tullytown Borough. For the 2019-2020 school year, there were 10,25 ...

* 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 – Pennsbury *School Lane Charter School

Private schools

*27 Catholic grade schools (there are also the 27 parishes in Bucks County of the

Archdiocese of Philadelphia The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well a ...

) *Abrams Hebrew Academy (K–8) *

Archbishop Wood Catholic High School Archbishop Wood Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The school was founded in 1964 in Warminster Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It sits on thirty-two acre tract of land and ...

*Calvary Christian School *

Conwell-Egan Catholic High School Conwell-Egan Catholic High School is a coeducational, Catholic school, Catholic high school in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Athletics ...

* George School *Holy Family Regional Catholic School *

Holy Ghost Preparatory School , motto_translation = One heart and one mind , address = 2429 Bristol Pike , location = , region = , town = Bensalem , county = Bucks County , state ...

(9–12 for boys) *

Newtown Friends School Newtown Friends School is a coeducational prekindergarten through eighth grade Quaker independent school founded in 1948 and located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Though its name and address indicate it is in Newtown Township, it is physically lo ...

(PreK-8) *Plumstead Christian School *Quakertown Christian School *

Solebury School Solebury School is a co-educational private boarding and day school located on a campus in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Solebury School's academic program features a college-preparatory curriculum with cour ...

*St. Katherine Drexel *St. Michael the Archangel *The Pen Ryn School *Trevose Day School *United Friends School Quakertown *

Villa Joseph Marie High School Villa Joseph Marie High School is a private Roman Catholic all-girls high school in Holland, Pennsylvania. Background Villa Joseph Marie High School was established in 1932 by the Sisters of Saint Casimir. The school began as a small boarding ...

(9–12 for girls)

Community, junior and technical colleges

* Bucks County Community College *Bucks County School of Beauty Culture *

Bucks County Technical High School Bucks County Technical High School (BCTHS) is a technical high school, a part of the Bucks County School District that allows students to focus on career trades alongside their academic classes. Through this process, they prepare students to fi ...

* Cairn University *

CHI Institute Kaplan, Inc. is an American for-profit corporation that provides educational and training services to colleges, universities, businesses and individuals around the world. Founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan, the company offers a variety of test prepa ...

* Delaware Valley University *

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Middle Bucks Institute of Technology (MBIT) is a vocational-technical school serving Centennial, Central Bucks, New Hope/Solebury, and Council Rock School Districts in Pennsylvania, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. o ...

Pennco Tech Pennco Tech is a private for-profit technical school in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and Blackwood, New Jersey.

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

. Notable residents have included Margaret Mead, Pearl S. Buck,

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

, Charlie Parker, Moss Hart,

George S. Kaufman George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theater director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals for the Marx Brothers and others. ...

, James Michener, Dorothy Parker, S. J. Perelman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Daniel Garber, Alfred Bester,

Annie Haslam Annie Haslam (born 8 June 1947) is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band Renaissance since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave vocal r ...

, and Jean Toomer. Bucks County has been the home of writer/musician James McBride, writer Eric Knight, Academy Award-winning film composer

Joe Renzetti Joe Renzetti (born January 4, 1941) is an American film composer and session musician. He scores for films and television, and composes works for orchestra, chamber groups, and solo artists. Career Born in Philadelphia, Renzetti began his career ...

, musician Gene Ween of Ween, painter Christopher Wajda, photographer Michael Barone, and furniture designer George Nakashima.

James Gould Cozzens James Gould Cozzens (August 19, 1903 – August 9, 1978) was a Pulitzer prize-winning American writer whose work enjoyed an unusual degree of popular success and critical acclaim for more than three decades. His 1949 Pulitzer win was for the WWI ...

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 Allen Russell Saalburg (1899–1987) was an American painter, illustrator, and screen printer born in Rochelle, Illinois. His father was the cartoonist Charles W. Saalburg. He studied at the Art Students League of New York before working in adver ...

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 THE BUCKS COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE The Bucks County Playhouse is located in New Hope, Pennsylvania. When the ''Hope Mills'' burned in 1790, the grist mills were rebuilt as the ''New Hope Mills,'' by Benjamin Parry. The town was renamed for the mills. ...

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 Stefan Avalos is an American Filmmaker, Musician and Journalist, best known for his work in film. Together with his partner Lance Weiler, he made ''The Last Broadcast (film), The Last Broadcast'' (1997), a horror film based on found footage (fil ...

. 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 Anatoliy Vladimirovich "Anthony" Fedorov (russian: link=no, Анатолий Владимирович Фёдоров; born May 4, 1985) is an American singer and actor who is former lead singer for the Chicago band 7th Heaven. He rose to fame as ...

, who was born in Ukraine and was from

Trevose Trevose, also known as the TVO(tee,vee,oh) is a census-designated place within Lower Southampton Township, Pennsylvania. Trevose is located within both Bensalem and Lower Southampton townships in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which is north of a ...

, 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 2012 film ''

Safe A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer) is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door. The body and ...

'', starring Jason Statham, was filmed at the

Bensalem Township Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The township borders the northeastern section of Philadelphia and includes the communities of Andalusia, Bensalem, Bridgewater, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, Flushing, Oakford, Sil ...

. *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 An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so that anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them ...

'' was filmed in the Andalusia section of

. *Bucks County is mentioned multiple times on the 2010 Freeform TV series '' Pretty Little Liars''. *The 2009 film ''

Law Abiding Citizen ''Law Abiding Citizen'' is a 2009 American vigilante action thriller film directed by F. Gary Gray, written by Kurt Wimmer, and starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler (who also co-produced). The film takes place in Philadelphia, telling the stor ...

'', starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, was filmed partially in New Hope. *The county fair scene in the 2006 film ''

Charlotte's Web ''Charlotte's Web'' is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his ...

'' was filmed at the Southampton Days Fair in Southampton. *

M. Night Shyamalan Manoj Nelliyattu M. Night Shyamalan ( ; born August 6, 1970) is an Indian-American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for making original films with contemporary supernatural plots and twist endings. He was born in Mahé, India, and raise ...

's 2002 film ''

Signs Signs may refer to: * ''Signs'' (2002 film), a 2002 film by M. Night Shyamalan * ''Signs'' (TV series) (Polish: ''Znaki'') is a 2018 Polish-language television series * ''Signs'' (journal), a journal of women's studies *Signs (band), an American ...

'', 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 Doylestown Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 17,565 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 census. Adjacent to the Doylestown, Pennsylvania, county seat, many county offices and t ...

. A stage set for some interior shots was created in a warehouse on State Road in

. Shyamalan's film ''

Lady in the Water ''Lady in the Water'' is a 2006 American fantasy psychological thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who produced with Sam Mercer. The film features the starring cast of Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard with Bob Balaban, ...

'' 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 Plumsteadville is a census-designated place in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along Pennsylvania Route 611 Pennsylvania Route 611 (PA 611) is a state highway in eastern Pennsylvania running fro ...

. * 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 Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

'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 Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...

's earliest films, ''

Something Evil ''Something Evil'' is a 1972 American made-for-television horror film starring Sandy Dennis, Darren McGavin and Ralph Bellamy. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the screenplay was written by Robert Clouse. Plot A married couple with two young chi ...

'', released in 1972, is set in Bucks County. *The 1942 film ''

George Washington Slept Here ''George Washington Slept Here'' is a 1942 comedy film starring Jack Benny, Ann Sheridan, Charles Coburn, Percy Kilbride, and Hattie McDaniel. It was based on the 1940 play of the same name by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, adapted by Everett ...

'' 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 Voic''e, ''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, 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 The American National Rugby League (AMNRL) was a rugby league organization in the United States that operated from 1997 to 2014. The country's first domestic rugby league competition, it hosted an annual league from 1998 through 2013. Throughout it ...

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 The USA Rugby League (USARL) is the official governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States. The organization also runs the national amateur competition for club teams in the US. The league consists of six te ...

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 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

), Levittown American (

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

and

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba ( Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 ...

), and Council Rock-Newtown (

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...

). 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

(formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Keystone Racetrack), formerly the home of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, is in Bensalem.

Parks and recreation

Pennsylvania state parks

There are six

-owned

parks A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...

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 Delaware Canal State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Bucks and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania. The main attraction of the park is the Delaware Canal which runs parallel to the Delaware River between Easton and Bristol. The Delawar ...

Neshaminy State Park Neshaminy State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Visitors to the park can catch a glimpse of the Philadelphia skyline from a hiking trail on Logan Point. The park is locate ...

** 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 Hostelling International (HI), formerly known as International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), is a grouping of more than seventy National Youth Hostel Associations in over eighty countries, with over 4,000 affiliated hostels around the world ...

USA. *

, 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 George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River occurred on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, was the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against Hessian forces, whic ...

during the American Revolutionary War.

County parks

Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park from dam

Core Creek Park Core Creek Park, a county park within Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It sits within Middletown Township on . The park surrounds Lake Luxembourg, which was formed by a dam on Core Creek. The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk. History The fir ...

Dark Hollow Park
* Lake Towhee Park *

Peace Valley Park Peace Valley Park is a 1,500 acre (6 km²) park located near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bucks County Park System. The park surrounds Lake Galena (Pennsylvania), Lake G ...

* Playwicki Park * Ringing Rocks Park *

Silver Lake Park Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical co ...

Tinicum Park Tinicum Park is a park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is located on River Road ( PA 32) in Erwinna, Pennsylvania. There is a Polo Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known ...

* Tohickon Valley Park
Bucks County Horse Park

Historic properties

** Moravian Pottery and Tile Works ** Stover-Myers Mill;

Erwin Stover House Erwin may refer to: People Given name * Erwin Chargaff (1905–2002), Austrian biochemist * Erwin Dold (1919–2012), German concentration camp commandant in World War 2 * Erwin Hauer (1926–2017), Austrian-born American sculptor * Egon Erwin Kisc ...

Moland House Moland House (also known as Washington's Headquarters Farm) is an old stone farmhouse built around 1750, by John Moland (b. 1700 London, England d. 1761), a Philadelphia and Bucks County lawyer. Although physically located in Hartsville, War ...

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. * Pennsbury Manor house and grounds, the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

home of William Penn, founder and first

Governor of Pennsylvania A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

, administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in association with The

Pennsbury Society Pennsbury may refer to: *Pennsbury Manor, the home of Pennsylvania founder William Penn **Pennsbury High School, a school near Pennsbury Manor that is a namesake of it **Pennsbury School District, the school district near Pennsbury Manor that is a ...

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

Transportation

Airports

* Public airports administered by th
Bucks County Airport Authority
**

Doylestown Airport Doylestown Airport is a public airport in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, owned by the Bucks County Airport Authority (BCAA)., effective 2009-07-02. It is two nautical miles north of Doylestown, Pennsylvania and has a single fixed-base operator, Lead ...

Quakertown Airport Quakertown Airport is a public airport in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, owned by the Bucks County Airport Authority. It is two miles west of Quakertown, Pennsylvania and was dedicated on 22 January 1965. It is home to the Civil Air Patrol Squadro ...

, also a

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...

facility ** Van Sant Airport and Park, formerly owned and administered by the

Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation Bucks may refer to: Places * Buckinghamshire, England, abbreviated Bucks * Bucks, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community * Bucks, Illinois, United States, an unincorporated community * Bucks, Michigan, an unincorporated community ...

*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 Croydon is a census-designated place located in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 9,950. Croyden is located southeast of Allentown and northeast of Philadelph ...

next to

Public transportation

* Amtrak's

line runs through the southern portion of the county. Select daily '' Northeast Regional'' and ''

Keystone Service Amtrak's ''Keystone Service'' provides frequent regional rail, regional passenger train service between the Harrisburg Transportation Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, running along the Philadelphia to ...

'' trains in each direction stop at the

Cornwells Heights station Cornwells Heights station is a train station in Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania. Located on Station Avenue near Bristol Pike in Bensalem Township, it serves the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia. It is served by SEPTA's Trenton Line commuter trai ...

in Bensalem. * SEPTA ** City Division and Suburban Division bus routes across Southeastern Bucks **

Regional Rail Regional rail, also known as local trains and stopping trains, are passenger rail services that operate between towns and cities. These trains operate with more stops over shorter distances than inter-city rail, but fewer stops and faster serv ...

's Lansdale/Doylestown, Trenton, Warminster and West Trenton lines *

TMA Bucks TMA may refer to: Science * Tense–Modality–Aspect or ''tense–aspect–mood'', grammatical system * Tetramethylammonium ion or its salts * Thermomechanical analysis * Third man argument, a philosophical criticism of Plato's theory of For ...

's Rushbus – only parts of South and Central Bucks County *

Bucks County Transport Buck County Transport (BCT) is a private, non-profit organization that operates transportation services in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. BCT is headquartered in Holicong, Pennsylvania, and operates bus services throughout Bucks County. The organizat ...

or BCT – a paratransit and ridesharing service **

Doylestown Dart Buck County Transport (BCT) is a Privately held company, private, Nonprofit organization, non-profit organization that operates transportation services in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. BCT is headquartered in Holicong, Pennsylvania, and operates bus ...

provides public transportation around the Doylestown area.

Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Politics and government

As of November 7, 2022, there are 481,780 registered voters in Bucks County. *

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

: 204,167 (42.38%) * Republican: 196,486 (40.78%) * Independent: 58,030 (12.04%) * Third Party: 23,097 (4.79%) Like most of the Philadelphia suburbs, Bucks County was once a stronghold for the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

. However, in recent years it has become more of a

swing Swing or swinging may refer to: Apparatus * Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth * Pendulum, an object that swings * Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus * Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse * Swing rid ...

county, like Pennsylvania at large. In presidential elections, Bucks has been swept up in the overall

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. Until recently, Republicans still held most local offices. However, after Democratic gains in the 2018 elections, Republicans hold all but four 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. All four statewide winners ( Barack Obama for President,

Rob McCord Robert Maxwell McCord (born March 5, 1959) is an American former politician and convicted felon. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the Treasurer of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2015. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic n ...

for Treasurer, Jack Wagner for Auditor General, and Tom Corbett for Attorney General) carried Bucks in November 2008. Earlier in 2008, Democrats took a plurality of registered voters. The GOP statewide candidates in the 2010 midterms, Tom Corbett for Governor and Pat Toomey for Senate, both won Bucks. Bucks County is represented in U.S. Congress by ,
map
formerly numbered as the

8th District 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of the ...

. While concerns about gerrymandering are on the rise, the 1st District remains one of the few districts in the United States that is almost fully encompassed by a single county. In order to comply with population requirements, the Bucks County-dominated 1st Congressional district also includes slightly over 100,000 residents in the Hatboro-Horsham area of Montgomery County. 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 Gene D. DiGirolamo (born March 28, 1950) served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 18th District from 1995 to 2020. He serves as the Bucks County Commissioner after being sworn in on January 6, 2020. A ...

(R). The current terms expire in January 2024. In 2012, four county employees were sentenced for compensating public employees for political work. In the 2016 elections, Democrats Hillary Clinton (President), Josh Shapiro (Attorney General), and

Joe Torsella Joseph M. Torsella (born October 8, 1963) is an American politician and former diplomat, who served as the Pennsylvania Treasurer from 2017 to 2021. He served as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform (with the ra ...

(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 *

, 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 A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

. 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 Chalfont may refer to: United Kingdom * A collection of villages in Buckinghamshire, England known collectively as "The Chalfonts": ** Chalfont St Giles ** Chalfont St Peter ** Little Chalfont * Chalfont Common, in Buckinghamshire, England * Chal ...

* Doylestown (county seat) * Dublin * Hulmeville * Ivyland * Langhorne *

Langhorne Manor Langhorne Manor is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,422 at the 2010 census, a 55.6% increase from the 2000 census. The mayor of Langhorne Manor is Bob Byrne. History Langhorne Manor was named for Jeremiah Langhorne. ...

* Morrisville *

New Britain New Britain ( tpi, Niu Briten) is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago, part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from New Guinea by a northwest corner of the Solomon Sea (or with an island hop of Umboi the Dam ...

* New Hope * Newtown * Penndel * Perkasie * Quakertown * Richlandtown * Riegelsville *

Sellersville Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. It is in the Pennridge School District. History Sellersville was founded in the early 18th century. It was centered on a major road known as ...

* Silverdale * Telford (lies partly in

) * Trumbauersville * Tullytown * Yardley

Townships

* Bedminster * Bensalem * Bridgeton * Bristol *

Buckingham Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of Central Milton Keynes, sou ...

* Doylestown * Durham * East Rockhill *

Falls Falls may refer to: Places * Waterfalls or rapids * Falls, North Carolina, USA * Falls, West Virginia, USA Other uses * The ropes or wires, fed through davits, that are used to secure and lower a ship's lifeboats. * Falls (surname) * The sepa ...

* Haycock * Hilltown *

Lower Makefield Lower Makefield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Lower Makefield Township is located in the Delaware Valley and borders New Jersey to its north and east. Most addresses in the township have a Yardley address, which surroun ...

* Lower Southampton * Middletown *

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

* Newtown *

Nockamixon Nockamixon Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,441 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5&nb ...

Plumstead Plumstead is an area in southeast London, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. It is located east of Woolwich. History Until 1965, Plumstead was in the historic counties of England, historic county of Kent and the detail of mu ...

* Richland *

Solebury Solebury Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,709 at the 2020 census. History Migrating English Quakers began to settle down in an area of Buckingham Township. Around 1702, this area was i ...

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

* Tinicum * Upper Makefield * Upper Southampton * Warminster * Warrington * Warwick * West Rockhill * Wrightstown

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the

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 Eddington or Edington may refer to: People * Eddington Varmah, Liberian politician * Eddington (surname), people with the surname Places Australia * Eddington, Victoria United Kingdom * Eddington, Berkshire * Eddington, Cambridge * E ...

* Feasterville * Levittown * Milford Square * Newtown Grant *

* Richboro * Spinnerstown *

* Village Shires * Warminster Heights * Woodbourne *

Woodside Woodside may refer to: Places and buildings Australia *Woodside, South Australia, a town *Woodside, Victoria, a town Canada *Woodside National Historic Site, the boyhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King *Woodside, Nova Scotia, a neighborho ...

Unincorporated communities

* Almont * Andalusia * Applebachsville * Aquetong *

Argus Argus is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek word ''Argos''. It may refer to: Greek mythology * See Argus (Greek myth) for mythological characters named Argus **Argus (king of Argos), son of Zeus (or Phoroneus) and Niobe **Argus (son of Ar ...

* Bedminster * Blooming Glen * Brick Tavern *

Bryn Gweled Bryn Gweled is a small community in Upper Southampton Township, Pennsylvania, Upper Southampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Described as an "intentionally cooperative community",Buckingham Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of Central Milton Keynes, sou ...

* Bucksville * California *

Carversville Carversville is an unincorporated community and geographically isolated area in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 45 miles north of Philadelphia. It was originally a Lenape gathering placed called Aqueto ...

* Center Bridge * Danboro * Dolington * Durham * Elephant * Erwinna * Eureka * Fallsington * Ferndale * Finland *

Forest Grove A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

* Fountainville * Furlong * Gallows Hill * Gardenville * Geryville‡ * Hagersville * Harriman *

Harrow Harrow may refer to: Places * Harrow, Victoria, Australia * Harrow, Ontario, Canada * The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland * London Borough of Harrow, England ** Harrow, London, a town in London ** Harrow (UK Parliament constituency) ...

* Hartsville *

Highton Highton is a residential suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. With views across Geelong, Corio Bay and the surrounding region, Highton is located along the banks of the Barwon River and across the rolling Barrabool Hills. The Barwon River ...

* Hillside Village * Hilltop * Hilltown * Hinkletown * Holicong * Holland *

Hood Hood may refer to: Covering Apparel * Hood (headgear), type of head covering ** Article of Academic dress#Hood, academic dress ** Bondage hood, sex toy * Hoodie, hooded sweatshirt Anatomy * Clitoral hood, a hood of skin surrounding the clitori ...

* Jamison * Johnsville * Kintnersville * Kulps Corner * Lahaska * Line Lexington‡ * Lodi * Loux Corner (Hilltown) * Lumberville * Maple Beach * Mechanicsville * Mount Pleasant *

Neshaminy Falls Neshaminy Falls is an unincorporated community in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Neshaminy Falls is located in the northwestern part of the township, southwest of Bristol Road. It is served by the Neshaminy Falls s ...

* Newville * Oakford * Ottsville * Oxford Valley * Paletown * Passer * Penns Park * Pineville * Pipersville * Pleasant Valley * Point Pleasant *

Revere Revere may refer to: Brands and companies *Revere Ware, a U.S. cookware brand owned by World Kitchen * Revere Camera Company, American designer of cameras and tape recorders *Revere Copper Company * ReVere, a car company recognised by the Classic ...

* Rushland * Shelly *

* Southampton * Springtown * Strawntown * Uhlerstown * Unionville‡ * Upper Black Eddy * Washington Crossing *

White Horse A white horse is born predominantly white and stays white throughout its life. A white horse has mostly pink skin under its hair coat, and may have brown, blue, or hazel eyes. "True white" horses, especially those that carry one of the dominant ...

* Wrightstown * Wycombe * Zionhill ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Historic communities

* Tohickon, located under modern

Lake Nockamixon Lake Nockamixon is a reservoir in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States, and the largest lake in Bucks County. It is formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek and is the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park. Swimming is not allowed in the lake, but bo ...

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 The heat index (HI) is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity, in shaded areas, to posit a human-perceived equivalent temperature, as how hot it would feel if the humidity were some other value in the shade. The result is als ...

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 Wind chill or windchill (popularly wind chill factor) is the lowering of body temperature due to the passing-flow of lower-temperature air. Wind chill numbers are always lower than the air temperature for values where the formula is valid. When ...

values < . The plant hardiness zone at Haycock Mountain, elevation 968 ft (295 m), is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 26 and 36 inches (66 and 91 cm) 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 The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Afr ...

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 A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(''Cfa''). During the summer months in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with

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

values < . The plant hardiness zone in Andalusia, Bensalem Twp, elevation 16 ft (5 m), is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 24 and 26 inches (61 and 66 cm) 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 August William Kuchler (born ''August Wilhelm Küchler''; 1907–1999) was a German-born American geographer and naturalist who is noted for developing a plant association system in widespread use in the United States. Some of this database has beco ...

U.S.

potential natural vegetation In ecology, potential natural vegetation (PNV), also known as Kuchler potential vegetation, is the vegetation that would be expected given environmental constraints (climate, geomorphology, geology) without human intervention or a hazard event ...

types, Bucks County, Pennsylvania would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (''104'') with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern

Hardwood Hardwood is wood from dicot trees. These are usually found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. In temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen. Hardwood (which comes from ...

Forest (''25'').

Notable people

* Josh Adams, free agent professional football player born in Warrington, Pennsylvania * Charles Albright, (1830–1880), United States Congressman; born in Bucks County * Lavoy Allen (1989–), NBA G player for the Northern Arizona Suns * Stan and Jan Berenstain, writers and illustrators best known for creating the children's book series ''The Berenstain Bears'' * Christy Altomare, Actress and singer-songwriter, best known for originating the role of Anya in the Broadway musical Anastasia *

Jacob Jennings Brown Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775 – February 24, 1828) was known for his victories as an American army officer in the War of 1812, where he reached the rank of general. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a national ...

(1775 – 1828), Commanding General of the United States Army * Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973), author and Nobel Prize for Literature recipient; lived near Dublin in Hilltown Twp. *

Sabrina Carpenter Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter (born May 11, 1999) is an American singer and actress. Carpenter made her acting debut with an appearance in the television crime show ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' and had a recurring role on Fox Broadcasting ...

(1999–), actress in '' Girl Meets World'' * Brandon Cottom (1992-), NFL player for the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

; attended high school at

Council Rock High School North Council Rock High School North is a high school located in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the Council Rock School District. The school is located across from Newtown Middle School and Tyler State Park, and near Bucks Cou ...

* Ulric Dahlgren (1842-1864), Union Army Colonel, unsuccessful raid on Richmond, Virginia started the Dahlgren Affair *

Charles Dera Charles Dera (born December 21, 1978) is an American pornographic actor, stripper, and model. Early lifeDeraczunas
his real ...

(1978), Pornographic film actor and professional martial artist * Charles Ellet, Jr. (1810-1862), Civil Engineer and Union Army officer *

Mary Jane Fonder Mary Jane Fonder (July 5, 1942 – June 4, 2018) was an American criminal who murdered Rhonda Smith, a fellow congregant, inside their church in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 2008. Fonder had also been the prime suspect in the possible homicide of ...

, Criminal convicted of killing a fellow church member *

William Edgar Geil Dr. William Edgar Geil (October 1, 1865, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania – April 11, 1925, in Venice) was an unordained evangelist, explorer, lecturer, photographer, and author of 10 books related to his travels. He lectured all over the world, illu ...

, Minister *

Chad I Ginsburg Chad I Ginsburg (born April 24, 1972), also credited as CiG, is an American musician, singer and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, producer and current vocalist of West Chester-based band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Prio ...

, guitarist of

CKY CKY may refer to: * CKY (band), American rock band, formerly "Camp Kill Yourself" ** ''CKY'' (video series), named after the band **CKY crew, people involved in the video series and related projects *CKY-DT, a television station in Winnipeg, Manito ...

* Justin Guarini, singer/actor, and contestant on '' American Idol'' *

Roy M. Gulick Roy Moyer Gullick (April 12, 1904 – September 27, 1976) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. He spent his senior career mostly in Quartermaster Department, reaching the capacity of Quarterm ...

(1904 - 1976), Major General and Quartermaster of the Marine Corps *

, Oscar and Tony Award-winning writer, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) theatre director of musicals *

Samuel Hartsel Samuel Hartsel (November 22, 1834 – November 20, 1918) was an American rancher The town of Hartsel, Colorado was named after him. Life and career Hartsel was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At the age of 15, he became interested in catt ...

(1834–1918), Colorado ranching pioneer; born in Bucks County *

(1947–), lead singer of the progressive rock group

Renaissance (band) Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, best known for their 1978 UK top 10 hit " Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia", and "Ashes Are Burning". They developed a unique sound, combin ...

* Michael Hurley, singer and guitarist * Maureen Johnson (1973–), author of young adult fiction *

Patrick Kerney Patrick Manning Kerney (born December 30, 1976) is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers football, University of Virgi ...

, former NFL defensive lineman; grew up in Newtown * Richard Kind, actor, '' Spin City'' and '' Mad About You'' * Eric Knight, creator of

Lassie Lassie is a fictional female Rough Collie dog and is featured in a short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a full-length novel called ''Lassie Come-Home''. Knight's portrayal of Lassie bears some features in common with another fic ...

* Michael Levin (1984–2006), American-born Israeli soldier who died in the

2006 Lebanon War The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War ( ar, حرب تموز, ''Ḥarb Tammūz'') and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War ( he, מלחמת לבנון השנייה, ''Milhemet Leva ...

Saige Martin Saige Martin is an American artist, fund director, and politician. A Democrat, Martin was one of the first openly gay people, the first Latinx person, and the youngest person ever to sit on the Raleigh City Council. He served from 2019 until 2020, ...

, first openly LGBT person and first

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

person to serve on the Raleigh City Council * James McBride, writer and musician whose compositions have been recorded by a variety of other musicians * Matthew McGurk, United States Army Officer; talent manager; music producer * Margaret Mead (1901–1978), anthropologist; raised near Doylestown *

(1856–1930), archaeologist, artifact collector, tile-maker, and designer of poured concrete structures; Doylestown resident * James Michener (1907–1997), author;

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It recognizes distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, published during ...

recipient; lived in Doylestown * Matt Millen (1958-), former National Football League linebacker and executive; lives on a farm in Durham * David Miscavige (1960– ), Leader of the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a scientology as a business, bu ...

Jamie Moyer Jamie Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Over his 25-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Boston R ...

(1962– ), starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (Philadelphia Phillies); born in

* Dorothy Parker, writer, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th-century urban foibles * Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860), portrait painter and museum keeper * S. J. Perelman, humorist, author, and screenwriter; best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for ''The New Yorker'' * Christina Perri (1986-), Singer/songwriter * Pink (1979– ), singer; real name Alecia Moore; born in Doylestown * Justin Pugh, former NFL offensive lineman; attended high school at Council Rock High School South in

* Nancy Raabe, Nancy Raabe (1954- ), Lutheran pastor, composer, author, classical music critic. Lives in Hilltop Twp, works in Hatfield. * Leon Redbone, singer/songwriter and guitarist *

(1941– ), Academy Award-winning film composer; musical arranger of many hit records; session musician * Allen Rosenberg (rowing), Allen Rosenberg (born 1931), rower and rowing coach * Asher Roth, platinum-certified hip-hop artist * Dean Sabatino, drummer for the punk band Dead Milkmen; Pennridge School District, Pennridge High School graduate * Liev Schrieber actor, titular protagonist of Ray Donovan; Paternal ancestral home. * Bryan Scott, NFL free safety; Bucks County native; attended Central Bucks High School East, Central Bucks East High School * Paul Simon, musician; owned a farm in Bucks County * Steve Slaton, former NFL running back; from Levittown; attended

in Fairless Hills * Andrew Jackson Smith (1815–1897), Union army general * Hiram N. Smith (1817-1890), Wisconsin State Assemblyman * Ezra Stone (1917–1994), actor and director * Superheaven, alternative rock/grunge band formed in 2008 (formerly known as Daylight) * Brianna Taylor, cast member of ''The Real World: Hollywood''; born in Warwick, lives in Warminster * Troy Vincent, former NFL cornerback; lives in Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, Lower Makefield and attended Pennsbury High School * Dean Ween, pseudonym for Mickey Melchiondo of the band Ween * Gene Ween, pseudonym for Aaron Freeman of the band Ween * Jordan White, singer/songwriter and lyricist, contestant on '' American Idol''

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.

References

External links

Bucks County Government
official website
Visit Bucks County
(official website of county's tourism promotion agency) {{coord, 40.34, -75.11, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990 Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1682 establishments in Pennsylvania Populated places established in 1682