Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Not to be confused with Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Bucks County
County
Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown in 2010
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°20′N 75°07′W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	November 1682
Named for	Buckinghamshire, England
Seat	Doylestown
Largest township	Bensalem
Area
• Total	622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
• Land	604 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Water	18 sq mi (50 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	646,538
• Estimate  (2023)	645,984
• Density	1,070/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.buckscounty.gov
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated	October 29, 1982

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. The county is part of the Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state.

The county represents the northern boundary of the Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD metropolitan statistical area.

To its southwest, Bucks County borders Montgomery County and Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city. To its east, the county borders the Delaware River and U.S. state of New Jersey. To its north, the county borders Lehigh and Northampton counties in the state's Lehigh Valley region. The county is approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Allentown, the state's third-largest city, and 40 miles (64 km) north of Philadelphia, the state's largest city.

History

Founding

Mercer Museum in Doylestown

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; "Bucks." is the traditional abbreviation for the English county, which became the actual name of the Pennsylvania one. He built a country estate, Pennsbury Manor, in Falls Township in present-day Bucks County.

Some places in Bucks County were named after locations in Buckinghamshire, England, 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, 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 Revolutionary War

See also: George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River

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 Revolutionary War. 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 622 square miles (1,610 km²), of which 604 square miles (1,560 km²) is land and 18 square miles (47 km²) (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.

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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	25,216		—
1800	27,496		9.0%
1810	32,371		17.7%
1820	37,842		16.9%
1830	45,745		20.9%
1840	48,107		5.2%
1850	56,091		16.6%
1860	63,578		13.3%
1870	64,336		1.2%
1880	68,656		6.7%
1890	70,615		2.9%
1900	71,190		0.8%
1910	76,530		7.5%
1920	82,476		7.8%
1930	96,727		17.3%
1940	107,715		11.4%
1950	144,620		34.3%
1960	308,567		113.4%
1970	410,056		32.9%
1980	479,211		16.9%
1990	541,174		12.9%
2000	597,635		10.4%
2010	625,249		4.6%
2020	646,538		3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

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 371 per square mile (143/km²). 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

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 was completed, the population of Levittown had swelled to nearly 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, the county experienced a second growth spurt as developers expanded in previously underdeveloped townships, including Middletown, Lower Makefield, Northampton, and Newtown townships. 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. Oxford Valley Mall was constructed in Middletown, and became a retail nucleus in the county.

In the late 20th century, growth somewhat stabilized as development was completed in the county's historically underdeveloped areas, leaving little new area to be further developed.

Bucks County areas along the Delaware River have surpluses of abandoned industry, so many municipalities have granted building rights to luxury housing developers. As the regions that began the suburban boom in Bucks County, such as Levittown, have aged, commercial strips and other neglected structures have been torn down and replaced with new shopping plazas and commercial chains. With rising property values, areas with older construction are undergoing a renaissance, and Central and Upper Bucks have continued to experience rapid growth, with many municipalities doubling their populations since the late 20th century.

As of 2013, the population of Bucks County was 626,976, making it the fourth-most populous county county in the state behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Montgomery counties.

2020 census

Bucks County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	521,575	80.67%
Black or African American (NH)	25,277	4%
Native American (NH)	531	0.08%
Asian (NH)	35,053	5.42%
Pacific Islander (NH)	143	0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)	24,189	3.74%
Hispanic or Latino	39,770	6.15%

Economy

Aerial view of Levittown, c. 1959

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 40 miles (64 km) 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.

Notable businesses

• 21st Century Media
• Burpee Seeds and Plants
• Byers' Choice Ltd.
• Carson Helicopters
• Charming Shoppes
• eGames, Inc.
• EPAM Systems
• GE Betz
• Keystone Aircraft
• V. La Rosa and Sons Macaroni Company
• Lehigh Defense
• McCaffrey's Food Markets
• Moon Nurseries
• New Hope and Ivyland Railroad
• Questar Corporation
• Rita's Italian Ice
• Simpay
• West Coast Video
• Windowizards

Tourism

Schofield Ford Covered Bridge over Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park; Bucks County has 12 covered bridges, ten of which are still open to highway traffic, and two of which are located in parks and open to non-vehicular traffic.

New Hope Railroad in New Hope

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 driving radius.

Bucks County is home to twelve covered bridges. Ten are still open to vehicular traffic; two others, located in parks, are open only to non-vehicular traffic. All Bucks County bridges use the Town truss design. 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 thoroughbred 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 in Doylestown
• Cairn University in Langhorne Manor
• Holy Family University in Newtown
• La Salle University in Newtown
• Strayer University in Trevose

Public school districts

Map of Bucks County public school districts

K-12 school districts include:

• 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
• North Penn School District (also in Montgomery County)
• 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 under jurisdiction 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 partially 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. Pop star Sabrina Carpenter was born in Quakertown, and grew up in nearby Montgomery County.

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

Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park

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 500 acres (200 ha) 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

Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park

• Bucks County Horse Park
• 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

Historic properties

Pennsbury Manor in Falls Township

• Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
• Stover-Myers Mill and Erwin Stover House
• Moland House an old stone farmhouse built around 1750 located in Warwick Township, 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 Declaration of Independence, George Clymer and Robert Morris, and as a headquarters of General George Washington from December 8 to 14, 1776, prior to Washington's attack in the Battle of Trenton.
• Pennsbury Manor house and grounds, the 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]
• Clark Nature Center
• Peace Valley Nature Center
• Silver Lake Nature Center

Transportation

Airports

Air transportation facilities available in or close to Bucks County include:

• Doylestown Airport
• Pennridge Airport
• Philadelphia International Airport
• Quakertown Airport
• Sterling Aviation Heliport in Croydon next to Neshaminy State Park
• Van Sant Airport and Park
• Trenton-Mercer Airport

Public transportation

• Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line, which runs in southern Bucks County. Its Keystone Service trains run daily, stopping at the Cornwells Heights station in Bensalem Township
• Bucks County Transport, a paratransit and ridesharing service
  • Doylestown Dart provides public transportation around the Doylestown area
• SEPTA
  • City Division and Suburban Division bus routes across southeastern Bucks County
• Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown, Trenton, Warminster and West Trenton lines
• TMA Bucks's Rushbus, which runs in parts of southern and central Bucks County

Major roads and highways

I-95 northbound at its interchange with I-295 and I-276/Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks County

• I-95
• I-276 / Penna Turnpike
• I-295
• I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension
• US 1
• 
  US 1 Bus.
• US 13
• US 202
• 
  US 202 Bus.
• PA 32
• PA 63
• PA 113
• PA 132
• PA 152
• PA 179
• PA 212
• PA 213
• PA 232
• PA 263
• PA 309
• PA 313
• PA 332
• PA 412
• PA 413
• PA 513
• PA 532
• PA 563
• PA 611
• PA 663

Politics and government

United States presidential election results for Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	187,367	47.16%	204,712	51.53%	5,212	1.31%
2016	164,361	47.64%	167,060	48.42%	13,621	3.95%
2012	156,579	48.74%	160,521	49.97%	4,166	1.30%
2008	150,248	45.08%	179,031	53.71%	4,045	1.21%
2004	154,469	48.30%	163,438	51.10%	1,909	0.60%
2000	121,927	46.29%	132,914	50.46%	8,581	3.26%
1996	94,899	41.74%	103,313	45.44%	29,151	12.82%
1992	94,584	38.06%	97,902	39.40%	56,021	22.54%
1988	127,563	59.99%	82,472	38.78%	2,605	1.23%
1984	130,119	63.25%	74,568	36.25%	1,032	0.50%
1980	100,536	55.49%	59,120	32.63%	21,508	11.87%
1976	85,628	50.69%	79,838	47.26%	3,457	2.05%
1972	99,684	62.28%	56,784	35.48%	3,591	2.24%
1968	69,646	48.63%	57,634	40.24%	15,931	11.12%
1964	50,243	38.89%	78,287	60.60%	646	0.50%
1960	67,501	53.95%	57,177	45.70%	438	0.35%
1956	59,862	60.72%	38,541	39.09%	180	0.18%
1952	40,753	62.38%	24,301	37.20%	275	0.42%
1948	29,411	62.46%	16,655	35.37%	1,018	2.16%
1944	25,634	58.62%	17,823	40.76%	270	0.62%
1940	25,169	54.73%	20,586	44.77%	229	0.50%
1936	23,860	48.80%	24,159	49.41%	876	1.79%
1932	22,331	59.07%	14,135	37.39%	1,341	3.55%
1928	28,421	76.47%	8,446	22.72%	301	0.81%
1924	17,460	66.88%	6,582	25.21%	2,066	7.91%
1920	14,130	65.17%	6,867	31.67%	684	3.15%
1916	9,269	53.97%	7,491	43.62%	414	2.41%
1912	5,452	32.00%	6,773	39.75%	4,812	28.24%
1908	9,409	55.33%	7,233	42.54%	362	2.13%
1904	9,572	57.73%	6,719	40.52%	290	1.75%
1900	9,263	55.13%	7,287	43.37%	253	1.51%
1896	9,798	57.61%	6,685	39.31%	524	3.08%
1892	8,230	48.72%	8,390	49.67%	272	1.61%
1888	8,584	49.11%	8,642	49.44%	253	1.45%
1884	8,191	48.47%	8,604	50.92%	103	0.61%
1880	8,385	49.19%	8,627	50.61%	35	0.21%

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 County 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 counties. It went Democratic in the 1992-2020 presidential elections, though by a margin of less than 5% in each except for 2008, with three of those eight elections decided by less than 2% (1992, 2012, and 2016). In 2024, Donald Trump flipped the county with a narrow plurality of 49.68%. 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.

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 2028. 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 Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district, (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.

Voter registration

Chart of Voter Registration

  Republican (41.42%)

  Democratic (41.37%)

  Independent (12.77%)

  Other Parties (4.43%)

As of July 22, 2024, there are 478,085 registered voters in Bucks County.

• Republican: 198,045 (41.42%)
• Democratic: 197,781 (41.37%)
• Independent: 61,061 (12.77%)
• Third Party: 21,198 (4.43%)

County commissioners

• Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair, Democratic
• Robert "Bob" J. Harvie Jr., Vice Chair, Democratic
• Gene DiGirolamo, Republican

County row officers

Office	Official	Party	Term ends
Clerk of Courts	Eileen Hartnett Albillar	Democratic	2027
Controller	Pamela A. Van Blunk	Republican	2025
Coroner	Patti Campi	Democratic	2027
Treasurer	Kris Ballerini	Democratic	2027
District Attorney	Jennifer Schorn	Republican	2025
Prothonotary	Coleen Christian	Republican	2025
Recorder of Deeds	Daniel "Dan" McPhillips	Republican	2025
Register of Wills	Linda Bobrin	Democratic	2027
Sheriff	Frederick "Fred" A. Harran	Republican	2025

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

District	Senator	Party
6	Frank Farry	Republican
10	Steve Santarsiero	Democratic
16	Jarrett Coleman	Republican

State House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party
18	Kathleen C. Tomlinson	Republican
29	Tim Brennan	Democratic
31	Perry Warren	Democratic
140	Jim Prokopiak	Democratic
141	Tina Davis	Democratic
142	Joe Hogan	Republican
143	Shelby Labs	Republican
144	Brian Munroe	Democratic
145	Craig Staats	Republican
178	Kristin Marcell	Republican

United States House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party
1	Brian Fitzpatrick	Republican

United States Senate

Senator	Party
Bob Casey	Democratic
John Fetterman	Democratic

Communities

Map of Bucks County, Pennsylvania with municipal labels showing boroughs (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places (in blue)

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

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Bucks County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	Bensalem	Township	60,427
2	Levittown	CDP	52,983
3	Croydon	CDP	9,950
4	Bristol	Borough	9,726
5	Quakertown	Borough	8,979
6	Morrisville	Borough	8,728
7	Perkasie	Borough	8,511
8	Fairless Hills	CDP	8,466
9	† Doylestown	Borough	8,380
10	Richboro	CDP	6,563
11	Telford (lies partially in Montgomery County)	Borough	4,872
12	Sellersville	Borough	4,249
13	Churchville	CDP	4,128
14	Warminster Heights	CDP	4,124
15	Chalfont	Borough	4,009
16	Village Shires	CDP	3,949
17	Woodbourne	CDP	3,851
18	Brittany Farms-The Highlands	CDP	3,695
19	Newtown Grant	CDP	3,620
20	Trevose	CDP	3,550
21	New Britain	Borough	3,152
22	Feasterville	CDP	3,074
23	Plumsteadville	CDP	2,637
24	New Hope	Borough	2,528
25	Yardley	Borough	2,434
26	Woodside	CDP	2,425
27	Penndel	Borough	2,328
28	Newtown	Borough	2,248
29	Dublin	Borough	2,158
30	Eddington	CDP	1,906
31	Tullytown	Borough	1,872
32	Spinnerstown	CDP	1,826
33	Langhorne	Borough	1,622
34	Langhorne Manor	Borough	1,442
35	Cornwells Heights	CDP	1,391
36	Richlandtown	Borough	1,327
37	Ivyland	Borough	1,041
38	Hulmeville	Borough	1,003
39	Trumbauersville	Borough	974
40	Milford Square	CDP	897
41	Silverdale	Borough	871
42	Riegelsville	Borough	868

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 ≤ 32.0 °F (0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 72.0 °F (22 °C) 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 > 102 °F (39 °C). 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 < −16 °F (−27 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Haycock Mountain, elevation 968 ft (295 m), is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −4.6 °F (−20 °C). The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 26 and 36 inches (66 and 91 centimetres) 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.

Climate data for Haycock Twp. Elevation: 735 ft (224 m). 1981-2010 Averages (1981-2018 Records)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	69.9 (21.1)	77.8 (25.4)	86.8 (30.4)	93.1 (33.9)	93.9 (34.4)	94.5 (34.7)	101.4 (38.6)	98.6 (37.0)	96.3 (35.7)	88.9 (31.6)	79.6 (26.4)	73.7 (23.2)	101.4 (38.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	37.3 (2.9)	41.1 (5.1)	49.1 (9.5)	61.3 (16.3)	71.0 (21.7)	79.2 (26.2)	83.5 (28.6)	81.9 (27.7)	75.2 (24.0)	64.1 (17.8)	53.4 (11.9)	41.7 (5.4)	61.7 (16.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)	28.4 (−2.0)	31.4 (−0.3)	38.7 (3.7)	49.9 (9.9)	59.7 (15.4)	68.4 (20.2)	72.8 (22.7)	71.4 (21.9)	64.3 (17.9)	53.3 (11.8)	43.7 (6.5)	33.2 (0.7)	51.4 (10.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	19.5 (−6.9)	21.7 (−5.7)	28.4 (−2.0)	38.4 (3.6)	48.3 (9.1)	57.7 (14.3)	62.1 (16.7)	60.9 (16.1)	53.4 (11.9)	42.5 (5.8)	34.0 (1.1)	24.7 (−4.1)	41.1 (5.1)
Record low °F (°C)	−13.9 (−25.5)	−6.5 (−21.4)	0.7 (−17.4)	15.9 (−8.9)	31.4 (−0.3)	39.4 (4.1)	45.4 (7.4)	40.2 (4.6)	33.8 (1.0)	22.7 (−5.2)	9.8 (−12.3)	−3.5 (−19.7)	−13.9 (−25.5)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.54 (90)	2.89 (73)	3.74 (95)	4.25 (108)	4.24 (108)	4.34 (110)	5.11 (130)	4.12 (105)	4.45 (113)	4.56 (116)	3.83 (97)	4.20 (107)	49.27 (1,251)
Average relative humidity (%)	68.6	64.5	60.7	58.9	64.0	70.4	69.9	72.5	73.4	71.7	69.6	70.1	67.9
Average dew point °F (°C)	19.4 (−7.0)	20.8 (−6.2)	26.3 (−3.2)	36.1 (2.3)	47.5 (8.6)	58.4 (14.7)	62.4 (16.9)	62.1 (16.7)	55.6 (13.1)	44.4 (6.9)	34.4 (1.3)	24.5 (−4.2)	41.1 (5.1)
Source: PRISM

Climate data for Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	39 (4)	43 (6)	52 (11)	63 (17)	74 (23)	82 (28)	87 (31)	85 (29)	77 (25)	66 (19)	55 (13)	44 (7)	64 (18)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	24 (−4)	25 (−4)	33 (1)	42 (6)	52 (11)	61 (16)	66 (19)	65 (18)	57 (14)	45 (7)	37 (3)	29 (−2)	45 (7)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.94 (100)	2.87 (73)	4.24 (108)	3.85 (98)	4.81 (122)	3.61 (92)	4.72 (120)	4.34 (110)	4.66 (118)	3.35 (85)	3.74 (95)	3.80 (97)	47.93 (1,217)
Source: Weather Channel

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 > 32.0 °F (0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 72.0 °F (22 °C) 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 > 110 °F (43 °C). 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 < −7 °F (−22 °C). The plant hardiness zone in Andalusia, Bensalem Twp, elevation 16 ft (4.9 m), is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.0 °F (−16 °C). The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 24 and 26 inches (61 and 66 centimetres) 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.

Climate data for Andalusia, Bensalem Twp. Elevation: 16 ft (4.9 m). 1981-2010 Averages (1981-2018 Records)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	72.5 (22.5)	78.7 (25.9)	87.7 (30.9)	94.1 (34.5)	96.1 (35.6)	97.5 (36.4)	103.5 (39.7)	101.3 (38.5)	99.1 (37.3)	89.6 (32.0)	81.8 (27.7)	76.6 (24.8)	103.5 (39.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	41.0 (5.0)	44.4 (6.9)	52.6 (11.4)	63.9 (17.7)	73.7 (23.2)	82.9 (28.3)	86.9 (30.5)	85.5 (29.7)	78.7 (25.9)	67.3 (19.6)	56.4 (13.6)	45.4 (7.4)	65.0 (18.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	33.4 (0.8)	36.0 (2.2)	43.3 (6.3)	53.8 (12.1)	63.3 (17.4)	72.8 (22.7)	77.4 (25.2)	76.0 (24.4)	68.9 (20.5)	57.3 (14.1)	47.6 (8.7)	37.8 (3.2)	55.7 (13.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	25.6 (−3.6)	27.6 (−2.4)	34.1 (1.2)	43.6 (6.4)	52.9 (11.6)	62.7 (17.1)	67.8 (19.9)	66.4 (19.1)	59.1 (15.1)	47.3 (8.5)	38.9 (3.8)	30.3 (−0.9)	46.4 (8.0)
Record low °F (°C)	−7.4 (−21.9)	−0.6 (−18.1)	5.7 (−14.6)	19.5 (−6.9)	35.2 (1.8)	44.4 (6.9)	51.0 (10.6)	45.4 (7.4)	38.8 (3.8)	27.6 (−2.4)	15.0 (−9.4)	1.6 (−16.9)	−7.4 (−21.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.52 (89)	2.73 (69)	4.23 (107)	3.88 (99)	4.20 (107)	4.18 (106)	4.97 (126)	4.34 (110)	4.14 (105)	3.71 (94)	3.46 (88)	3.93 (100)	47.29 (1,201)
Average relative humidity (%)	64.2	60.9	56.1	56.5	60.7	62.8	64.1	66.2	66.8	66.9	65.5	66.4	63.1
Average dew point °F (°C)	22.6 (−5.2)	23.8 (−4.6)	28.7 (−1.8)	38.7 (3.7)	49.5 (9.7)	59.4 (15.2)	64.3 (17.9)	63.9 (17.7)	57.4 (14.1)	46.4 (8.0)	36.6 (2.6)	27.6 (−2.4)	43.3 (6.3)
Source: PRISM

Climate data for Newbold Channel, Falls Twp, Delaware River Water Temperature
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °F (°C)	37 (3)	37 (3)	44 (7)	53 (12)	63 (17)	74 (23)	81 (27)	80 (27)	73 (23)	60 (16)	48 (9)	40 (4)	58 (14)
Source: NOAA

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.
• Sabrina Carpenter (1999–), Actress and singer-songwriter
• 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.
• P!NK (1979–), singer-songwriter.
• 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
• Arthur Donaldson Smith (1866–1939), explorer of East Africa
• 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

External links

• Bucks County Government official website
• Visit Bucks County (official website of county's tourism promotion agency)