Bucks County, Pennsylvania
From Freepedia
| Image:Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Bucks County.png Location in the state of Pennsylvania | |
| Formed | 1682 |
| Seat | Doylestown |
| Area - Total - Water | 1,611 km² (622 mi²) 38 km² (15 mi²) 2.37% |
| Population - (2000) - Density | 597,635 380/km² |
Bucks County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 597,635. A 2004 U.S. Census estimate placed the population at 617,558. The county seat is Doylestown6. Bucks County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the Delaware Valley area.
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History
Founding
Bucks County was one of the three original counties in Pennsylvania. It was named by William Penn in 1682 in honor of Buckinghamshire England, the ancestral home of the Penn family. Penn's home, Pennsbury Manor, is also located within the county.
Revolutionary War
In December of 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
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 area of the county between Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey is flat and near sea level, and thus the county's most populated and industrialized area. Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor especially 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.
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 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 1,611 km² (622 mi²). 1,573 km² (607 mi²) of it is land and 38 km² (15 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.37% water.
Arts & Culture
Fine & Performing Arts
Renowned for its natural scenery, farmland, colonial history, and proximity to major urban areas, Bucks County is regarded by Philadelphians, New Yorkers, and New Jerseyans alike as a rural haven for weekend getaways and artistic colonies, especially in its more bucolic northern regions. 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 of Bucks County have included Pearl S. Buck, Oscar Hammerstein, II (of Rodgers and Hammerstein), Moss Hart, James Michener, Dorothy Parker, S. J. Perelman, and Jean Toomer. Bucks County is the home of writer/musician James McBride and was also home to furniture designer George Nakashima.
The county boasts many local theater companies, the most famous of which is the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope.
Popular Culture
Alecia Moore, more commonly known as Pink, was born in Doylestown. Bucks County has also given two sons to the hit-pop culture show American Idol: Justin Guarini, who was born in Atlanta, but moved to Bucks County, and even attended Central Bucks East High School with Pink; and Anthony Fedorov, who was born in Ukraine and currently resides in Lower Southampton Township.
Atlanta Falcons starting free safety Bryan Scott is a Bucks County native. He attended Central Bucks East High School.
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. Shyamalan's next film, Lady in the Water, is being shot in Bristol Township.
Sports & Recreation
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.
Philadelphia Park Racetrack, formerly the home of Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, is located in Bensalem.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 597,635 people, 218,725 households, and 160,981 families residing in the county. The population density is 380/km² (984/mi²). There are 225,498 housing units at an average density of 143/km² (371/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 92.46% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Bucks county has the fastest growing minority population in the Delaware Valley. Recent estimates predict the population to be around 82.2% white in 2010, down from 90% in 2000.
There are 218,725 households out of which 35.30% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% are married couples living together, 8.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% are non-families. 21.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.17.
In the county, the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.40 males.
Municipalities
Boroughs
- Bristol
- Chalfont
- Doylestown
- Dublin
- Hulmeville
- Ivyland
- Langhorne
- Langhorne Manor
- Morrisville
- New Britain
- New Hope
- Newtown
- Penndel
- Perkasie
- Quakertown
- Richlandtown
- Riegelsville
- Sellersville
- Silverdale
- Telford
- Trumbauersville
- Tullytown
- Yardley
Townships
- Bedminster Township
- Bensalem Township
- Bridgeton Township
- Bristol Township
- Buckingham Township
- Doylestown Township
- Durham Township
- East Rockhill Township
- Falls Township
- Haycock Township
- Hilltown Township
- Lower Makefield Township
- Lower Southampton Township
- Middletown Township
- Milford Township
- New Britain Township
- Newtown Township
- Nockamixon Township
- Northampton Township
- Plumstead Township
- Richland Township
- Solebury Township
- Springfield Township
- Tinicum Township
- Upper Makefield Township
- Upper Southampton Township
- Warminster Township
- Warrington Township
- Warwick Township
- West Rockhill Township
- Wrightstown Township
Census-designated places
- Brittany Farms-Highlands
- Churchville
- Cornwells Heights-Eddington
- Croydon
- Fairless Hills
- Feasterville-Trevose
- Levittown
- Newtown Grant
- Richboro
- Southampton
- Village Shires
- Warminster Heights
- Woodbourne
- Woodside
Education
Colleges and Universities
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges
External links
