Bucks County, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bucks County, Pennsylvania | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
|
 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | November 1682 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Doylestown |
| Largest city | Levittown |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
622 sq mi (1,611 km²) 607 sq mi (1,572 km²) 15 sq mi (39 km²), 2.37% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
597,635 984/sq mi (380/km²) |
| Website: www.buckscounty.org | |
Bucks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The county seat is Doylestown. The suburban county is one of the five core counties in Pennsylvania that make up the Delaware Valley, or Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.
As of 2000, the population was 597,635. A 2004 U.S. Census estimate placed the population at 621,342, making it the fourth most populous county in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Montgomery counties), and the 95th most populous county in the United States. As of 2000, it is the 76th wealthiest county in the nation as measured by median family income.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
Bucks County was one of the three original counties in Pennsylvania. It was named by William Penn in 1682 after Buckinghamshire, England, the county where he lived and his family originated from. Bucks is the abbreviation for Buckinghamshire, and both names are used interchangeably in England. Penn's home, Pennsbury Manor, is located within Bucks County.
Place names in Bucks County derived from places in Buckinghamshire include Buckingham, Chalfont (named after Chalfont St Giles), Wycombe and Solebury (spelled Soulbury in England). Buckingham was the former county town of Buckinghamshire; Buckingham, PA, was the county seat of Bucks County from 1705-1726. Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire was the parish home of William Penn's first wife, and the location of the Jordans Quaker Meeting House, where Penn is buried.
[edit] Revolutionary War
In December 1776, Bucks County became the setting for Gen. George Washington and his troops as they prepared to cross the Delaware and storm Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas Day. The attack caught the Hessian army by surprise and would represent a turning point in the American War of Independence. The town of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania and Washington Crossing Historic Park were named to commemorate the event.
- See also: Washington's crossing of the Delaware
[edit] Law and Government
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 James F. Cawley (R) (Chairman), Charles H. Martin (R) and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia (D). The current terms expire at the end of 2012. [1]
[edit] Geography
Bucks County lies in the southeastern edge of the state along the Delaware River. Most of the land is typical of the piedmont region, with hills becoming more distinct further north. Unlike in the Southern Piedmont, soil in the Pennsylvania Piedmont has historically been fertile, giving Bucks County large areas of valuable farmland. With the decline of the farming industry, debate has arisen over how much of this open space should be preserved, and how much should be allotted for commercial and residential development.
The southern third of the county between Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey, often called Lower Bucks, resides in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and is flat and near sea level, and the county's most populated and industrialized area.
The county shares most of its 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 Bristol.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622 square miles (1,611 km²).607 square miles (1,573 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 km²) of it (2.37%) is water.
[edit] 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)
[edit] Industry and commerce
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 largely the receptacle of out-of-state waste in the USA (receiving nearly all of New York City's waste following the closure of Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island, NY 40-miles away).[citation needed]
This industry, however, belies another important asset of the county: tourism. The county's northern regions are renowned for their natural scenery, farmland, colonial history, and proximity to major urban areas. Popular attractions in Bucks County include the shops and studios of New Hope, Peddler's Village, Washington Crossing Historic Park, and Bucks County River Country. Southern Bucks is home to two important shopping centers, Neshaminy Mall and Oxford Valley Mall, and Sesame Place, a family theme park based on the Sesame Street television series.
Local publications include Bucks County Courier Times, Bucks County Town and Country Living, LifeStyle Magazine, Nouveau, and BUCKS Magazine.
[edit] 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 ended, the population of Levittown had swelled to almost 74,000 residents. At the time, only whites could buy homes. This rule however, was soon overturned. Other planned developments included Croydon and Fairless Hills. This rapid sprawl continued until the mid 1960s.
In the 1970s, a second growth spurt began. This time, developers took land in townships that were mostly untouched. These included Middletown, Lower Makefield Township, and Newtown Township. Tract housing, office complexes, shopping centers, and sprawling parking lots continued to move more and more towards Upper Bucks, swallowing horse farms, sprawling forests, and wetlands. At this time, the Oxford Valley Mall was constructed in Middletown, which would become the business nucleus of the county.
Growth has somewhat stabilized since the 1990s, with smaller increases and less development. However, the main reason for this is not emigration, 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 is now a leading coalition in Lower Bucks. Many areas along the Delaware River have surpluses of abandoned industry, so many municipalities have granted building rights to luxury housing developers. Also, as the regions that began the suburban boom in Bucks, such as Levittown, begin to reach their 50th anniversaries, many commercial strips and other neglected structures are being torn down to be replaced with new shopping plazas and commercial chains. Also, with rising property values, areas with older construction are beginning to have a "rebirth". At the same time, Central and Upper Bucks are still seeing rapid growth, with many municipalities doubling their populations.
[edit] Arts and culture
[edit] 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, Pennsylvania and New Hope and along the Delaware River. Notable residents have included Margaret Mead, Pearl S. Buck, Oscar Hammerstein, II, Stephen Sondheim, Moss Hart, James Michener, Dorothy Parker, S. J. Perelman, Stan and Jan Berenstain,Bob Dylan and Jean Toomer. Bucks County is the home of writer/musician James McBride, painter Christopher Wajda and was also home to furniture designer George Nakashima. James Gould Cozzens lived in Lambertville, New Jersey, just across the river from Bucks County, used Doylestown as the model for the setting of two novels, and is considered a Bucks County artist.
The county boasts many local theater companies, the most famous of which is the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope.
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.
[edit] Popular culture
Alecia Moore, more commonly known as Pink, was born in Doylestown as was motion picture writer and director, Stefan Avalos. Producer Samik resides in Bucks County, as do two American Idol contestants: Justin Guarini, who was born in Atlanta, but 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.
[edit] Film
M. Night Shyamalan's 2002 film Signs, starring Mel Gibson, was filmed and takes place in Bucks County. The town scenes, in particular, were filmed on State Street in Newtown Borough, the drugstore scene was filmed at Burns' Pharmacy on Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville. The house was built on the grounds of Delaware Valley College campus in Doylestown Township, Pennsylvania. A stage set for some interior shots was created in a warehouse on State Road in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. Shyamalan's film, Lady in the Water, was shot across the street from the Bloomsdale section of Bristol Township. With the exception of the Pine Barrens footage, all of The Last Broadcast was shot in Bucks County (though the name was changed). Also, a short scene from Stephen King's The Stand is based in Pipersville.
[edit] Sports and recreation
[edit] Football
- Buffalo Bills free safety Bryan Scott is a Bucks County native. He attended Central Bucks East High School.
- Former Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins star Troy Vincent resides in Lower Makefield and attended Pennsbury High School.
- Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney grew up in Newtown, Pa and attended Princeton Day School in New Jersey
[edit] 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.
[edit] Horse racing
- Philadelphia Park Racetrack, formerly the home of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, is in Bensalem.
[edit] Pennsylvania State Parks
There are 5 Pennsylvania state parks in Bucks County.
- Delaware Canal State Park
- Neshaminy State Park
- Nockamixon State Park
- Ralph Stover State Park
- Tyler State Park
[edit] Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 46.4% 154,469 | 53.0% 163,438 |
| 2000 | 46.3% 121,927 | 50.5% 132,914 |
| 1996 | 41.8% 94,899 | 45.5% 103,313 |
| 1992 | 38.1% 94,584 | 39.4% 97,902 |
| 1988 | 60.0% 127,563 | 38.8% 82,472 |
| 1984 | 63.3% 130,119 | 36.2% 74,568 |
| 1980 | 55.5% 100,536 | 32.6% 59,120 |
| 1976 | 50.7% 85,628 | 47.3% 79,838 |
| 1972 | 62.3% 99,684 | 35.5% 56,784 |
| 1968 | 48.6% 69,646 | 40.2% 57,634 |
| 1964 | 38.9% 50,243 | 60.6% 78,287 |
| 1960 | 54.0% 67,501 | 45.7% 57,177 |
As of November 2007, there are 416,618 registered voters in Bucks County [1].
- Democratic: 165,571 (39.74%)
- Republican: 186,920 (44.87%)
- Other Parties: 64,127 (15.39%)
Like Pennsylvania at large, Bucks County is regarded as a swing vote in major elections.
Bucks County was once a safeguard for the Republican Party, and although politically the county has diversified, Republicans still control most of the offices at local levels of government. County Republicans tend to hold moderate positions on environmental and social issues while advocating fiscal restraint. While the GOP controls most offices locally, at the national level, voters have favored the Democratic presidential candidate in the last four elections.
Bucks County is represented in U.S. Congress by 8th Congressional district (map). While concerns about gerrymandering are on the rise, the 8th District remains one of the few districts in the United States that is almost fully made up by a single county. Since 2002, however, the 8th District has included small portions of neighboring Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
[edit] Pennsylvania State Senate
- Robert M. Tomlinson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 6th Senatorial District
- Chuck McIlhinney, Republican, Pennsylvania's 10th Senatorial District
- Stewart J. Greenleaf, Republican, Pennsylvania's 12th Senatorial District
- Robert C. Wonderling, Republican, Pennsylvania's 24th Senatorial District
[edit] Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Gene DiGirolamo, Republican, Pennsylvania's 18th Representative District
- Bernard T. O'Neill, Republican, Pennsylvania's 29th Representative District
- David J. Steil, Republican, Pennsylvania's 31st Representative District
- John T. Galloway, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 140th Representative District
- Anthony J. Melio, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 141st Representative District
- Chris King, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 142nd Representative District
- Marguerite Quinn, Republican, Pennsylvania's 143rd Representative District
- Katharine M. Watson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 144th Representative District
- Paul I. Clymer, Republican, Pennsylvania's 145th Representative District
- Scott A. Petri, Republican, Pennsylvania's 178th Representative District
[edit] United States House of Representatives
[edit] United States Senate
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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% | |
| Est. 2004 | 621,342 | 4.0% | |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 597,635 people, 218,725 households, and 160,981 families residing in the county. The population density was 984 people per square mile (380/km²). There were 225,498 housing units at an average density of 371 per square mile (143/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.01% White, 4.08% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of German, 19.1% Irish, 14.0% Italian, 7.5% English and 5.9% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
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.
Like the rest of the Philadelphia region, Bucks County is experiencing a rapid increase of immigrants since the 2000 census. A 2005 population estimate of Bucks, showed that the Indian and Mexican populations have already doubled since 2000. Koreans, Palestinians, Turks, and Russians also saw significant increases.
[edit] Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bucks County:
[edit] Boroughs
[edit] Townships
[edit] 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.
[edit] Education
[edit] Colleges and universities
- Bucks County Community College
- Delaware Valley College
- Philadelphia Biblical University
- Holy Family University in Newtown
- La Salle University in Newtown
[edit] Public school districts
- Bensalem Township School District
- Bristol Borough School District
- Bristol Township School District
- Centennial School District
- Central Bucks School District
- Council Rock School District
- Easton Area School District (also in Northampton County)
- Morrisville Borough School District
- Neshaminy School District
- New Hope-Solebury School District
- Palisades School District
- Pennridge School District
- Pennsbury School District
- Quakertown Community School District
- Souderton Area School District (also in Montgomery County)
The Bucks County public schools listed above are served by a regional educational service agency called the Bucks County Intermediate Unit#22 located in the county seat of Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
[edit] Community, junior and technical colleges
- Bucks County Community College
- Bucks County School of Beauty Culture
- CHI Institute
- Delaware Valley College
- Pennco Tech
- Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
[edit] Notable residents
- Charles Albright, (1830-1880), born in Bucks County, United States Congressman[3]
- Pearl S. Buck, (1892-1973), lived in Dublin, author and Nobel Prize for Literature recipient
- Abbie Hoffman, (1936-1989), died in New Hope, activist
- Margaret Mead, (1901-1978), raised near Doylestown, anthropologist
- James Michener, (1907-1997), lived in Doylestown, author and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction recipient
- Alecia Moore, lived in Doylestown, Singer
[edit] External links
- Bucks County Government official website
- Bucks County Conference & Visitors Bureau: Official tourism website
[edit] References
- ^ Bucks County Commissioners
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ (1967) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.
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