Bucks County was one of the three provincial counties
established by William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania having been granted a
charter from King Charles II. He and around 100 passenger set sail in 1682 on
the "Welcome." Most were Quakers. Bucks County is said to have been
named after Buckinghamshire the old old home of the Penn's. Was formed in 1682. Northampton, Lehigh were at one time part
of Bucks County.
Links may include information about the History or
just a link to the Area
If you have a
listing you would like to submit contact the Bucks County Coordinator
below.
Many of the History's of each Borough and
Township can be found in THE HISTORY OF BUCKS
COUNTY PA By BY W. W. H. DAVIS, A. M. located
at the Bucks County Pa Archives.
Bedminster Township -Is located in
northern part of the County and is surrounded by Haycock, Tinicum, Tohickon, and
Plumstead Counties. The court of Quarter Sessions were petitioned by 35
residents in 1741 to lay out the township. The original petitioners were Irish or
German and a very small number were Welsh. The first pastor was Rev. William Tennent from 1726 to 1738
Bensalem Township - Is located in the
southern corner of the county. It is surrounded by Lower Southampton. Neshaminy
Creek separates is from Middletown and Bristol Township.
Bridgeton Township - Bridgeton was
formed from a division of Nockamixon Township. The division was signed in 1890
saying that the larger section would be called Nockamixon and the smaller
section Bridgeton. A special election was held around June of that year to elect
it's first officials.
Bristol Township ---
Bristol Borough --Is
the largest town which is found on the Delaware River. It is northeast of
Philadelphia and southeast of Doylestown. It is one of the oldest boroughs. It
became a borough in 1720. Formerly known as
Buckingham.
Buckingham Township - Both the
present Buckingham and Solebury Townships were originally called Buckingham.
Somewhere between 1700 and 1703 was when the two townships were separated.
Buckingham ------ A town
located in central Buckingham Township. Was known as Bogarts Tavern during the
Revolution War.
Chalfont Borough -- Is located
in the southwestern part of New Britain Township. It was first called Butler or
Butlers Mill.
Doylestown Borough ---
Became a borough in 1838. It has also been the County seat since 1813. Land that
the borough in was originally owed by the Free Society of Traders to London.
Borough was named by the Doyle family. One of the earliest Bucks County papers
was the Doylestown imprint. The Post Office was established in 1802. and
Charles Stewart was the first postmaster.
Doylestown Township -Is surrounded by
New Britain, Plumstead, Buckingham, Warrington and Warwick Township.
A petition was enter in 1818 to the August Term of Court and granted in 1819.
The first election was held in 1819.
Dublin Borough - Was incorporated in
1912 from parts of Hilltown and Bedminster Townships.
Durham Township - Was established in
1775 before that was known as The Durham Tract. The Durham Furnace Company
made large amounts of shot and shells used during the Revolutionary War.
Falls Township -- Surrounded by Lower
Makefield, Bristol and Middletown Townships. 1692 is was laid out as a legal
subdivision.
Haycock Township - Located in the northern part
of Bucks Co. The township not established until 1762. Earlier efforts were made beginning
around 1743.
Hilltown Township - Is on the
Montgomery County line. Surrounded by East and West Rockhill, Bedminster, New
Britain in Bucks County and Hatfield and Franconia Townships in Montgomery
Counties. It is thought the town was organized around 1722. Manor of Perkasie
was originally included. First settle by the Welsh and later Germans. The
Hilltown Baptist Church was founded in 1737 by Rev. William Thomas.
Hulmeville Borough - Is located on
Neshaminy Creek. It's first went by the name of Milford, followed by Hulmeville.
Formed from part of Middletown Township in 1872.
Ivyland Borough - Was
incorporated in 1903. from part of Warminster Township.
Langhorne Borough - Was incorporated
in 1874 from parts of Middletown Township. In earlier times was know as Four
Lanes End. because it was located at the juncture of four different roads.
Langhorne Manor Borough - Established in 1890
First owners were a family by the name of Langhorne.
Makefield Township - Was divided
from Makefield into Lower and Upper in 1753. Early families were English Friends
who worship in the Falls Monthly Meeting house until around 1750 when in 1752
the Makefield Meeting house was built.
Middletown Township - Surrounded
by Lower Makefield, Falls, Bristol, Bensalem and Northampton Townships. Formed
in 1692. Known as Middle Lots, Middle Township.
Milford Township - Located in northwest corner
of the county. Became a township in 1734. First call Lower Milford. Was divided
into Upper and Lower Milford in 1752 where Upper Milford became part of
Northampton and in 1812 was incorporated into Lehigh County.
Morrisville Borough - Was developed
in 1804 from Falls Township. First postmaster was Mark Hapenny. Named after
Robert Morris.
- Borough of Morrisville
- Morrisville Posted By: Carol Eddleman Date: August 18 2001 Morrisville is
a pleasant village directly opposite Trenton. The population in 1830 was
531, in 1840, 405. It was incorporated as a borough in 1804. It has the
advantage of an extensive water-power from the Delaware, and several
important public improvements passing through it--the Delaware canal, and
Philadelphia and Trenton railroad. The bridge across the Delaware here, is
1,100 feet long, 36 feet wide, consisting of 5 arches, supported on piers.
The floor is supported by perpendicular iron rods depending from the arches.
It is not devoid of historical interest. It was finished as early as the
year 1806 at an immense cost--and was regarded by engineers, both in this
country and Europe, as one of the finest specimens of bridge architecture,
of wood, in the world. The flood of 1841, described on a preceding page,
which left it unharmed, bore testimony to its superiority over the frail
structures of modern years. The annexed view from the Jersey side shows this
bridge, with its ancient front, and its quaint roof. Morrisville took its
name from Robert Morris, the distinguished patriot and financier. He resided
here for some time in a splendid mansion-house. The estate was afterwards
purchased by the French royalist, Gen. Victor Moreau, who spent about three
years of exile here. The neighbors remember him as a kind-hearted sociable
man, who delighted in roaming about the banks of the river, fishing and
hunting. The mansion took fire, and was consumed. The general returned to
Europe, joined the allied armies, and was killed at Dresden. The grounds
still remain in a rather dilapidated condition, and the immense
carriage-house, which looks like a state arsenal, is used as a workshop by
the railroad co. (Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1843, pp.
169-70.)
New Britain Township - Founded in
1723
- New Britain Municipal information
site also contains a brief History
New Britain Borough - Incorporated into a
borough in 1928. Was formerly a village in New Britain Township
New Hope Borough - Incorporation from
part of Solebury Township 1837. Located
on the Delaware River.
Newtown Borough - Was incorporated in
1838.
- Newtown Borough Homepage
- Newtown Posted By: Carol Eddleman Date: August 18 2001 Newtown
is a pleasant village on a small branch of the Neshaminy, ten miles
northwest from Bristol. It contains about 120 dwellings, a Friends'
meeting-house, and a Presbyterian church. It was for some years, until 1813,
the county seat; and the public buildings still remain. Population about
600. Newtown has been settled many years. Rev. James Boyd was pastor of the
Presbyterian church, in connection with that at Bensalem, for 45 years. The
church was founded in 1769; repaired in 1818. The annexed view, reduced from
a larger painting by Mr. Hicks of New York, was taken from a point east of
the town. While the American army were guarding the river, from Coryell's
ferry to Bristol, in 1776, Gen. Washington had his head-quarters at Newtown,
in the house now belonging to Dr. Lee, on the west side of the creek; Gen.
Mercer was at the house of Mr. Keith, a little out of town; and Gen. Greene
at the large brick house, now Mr. Hough's hotel. One of the aged and
respectable citizens of this place is Edward Hicks, a distinguished Quaker
preacher of the Hicksite persuasion. Both Mr. Hicks's father and grandfather
were attached to the British interest during the revolution. His grandfather
made no secret of his attachment to that side, and was proscribed; his fine
property was confiscated, and he fled to Nova Scotia, where he was murdered
by a highway robber. Edward, however, is a warm whig, (as regards the
revolution) and a great admirer of Gen. Washington's character. In addition
to his other accomplishments, he adds that of painting. A specimen of his
self-acquired skill in the fine arts, as well as of his high-souled
patriotism, may be seen on the tavern-sign in the village. It is no ordinary
specimen of village art, but is really the spirited production of a skilful
artist. On one side is represented the crossing of the Delaware, after
Sully's design' but, with true historical accuracy, the general is
represented as mounted upon a chestnut-sorrel horse, and not upon a white
horse, as is usual in paintings of that scene. It seems that the
distinguished white charger, so well known to all, was a great favorite with
the commander-in-chief; and being somewhat in years, the general selected
for the arduous service of that night a younger and more vigorous animal. On
the other side of the sign is the declaration of independence, after
Trumbull's design. Mr. Hicks relates that Gen. Washington left Newtown the
same night that he crossed the Delaware. He also says that the night
preceding Gen. Mercer told Mrs. Keith that he had dreamed of being attacked
and overpowered by a huge black bear. A few days afterwards he was indeed
attacked and killed, at Princeton, by the British or Hessians. Soothsayers
may draw their own inferences. (Source: History of Bucks County,
Pennsylvania, 1843, pp. 170-1.)
Newtown Township -
Nockamixon Township - Is bound by
Springfield, Durham, Bridgeton, Tinicum, and Haycock township. Became a township
in 1742
Northampton Township - Located
in the south west part of Bucks County. Surrounded by Warwick, Wrightstown,
Newtown, Middletown and Southampton and Warminster Township. It is thought
to have become a township around 1722.
Penndel Borough - Was from a part of
Middletown Township. It was incorporated in 1889 as Attleboro. The name
Penndel was adopted in 1948.
Perkasie Borough - Came from
part of East Rockhill Township in 1876. Lies in the boundaries of the Manor of
Perkasie one of William Penn's manors.
Plumstead Township - Township border
the Delaware Rive. Was attempt to organize was in 1715 but is seems the Court
took no action so it was petition again in 1725.
Quakertown Borough - Created in 1854
from Part of Richland Township. First settlers were English Quakers.
Richland Township - Located in the interior
northwestern part of the county. The first white settlers called it Great Swamp. Also been
called 'Rich Lands", because the land was found to be very fertile. The first
petition for organization into a township was granted in 1734.
Richlandtown Borough - Located in the northern
part of the county between Richland township between Quakertown and Pleasant
Valley. Other names that the area was suppose to have been call were Flatland,
Ducktown, Frogtown and Mattsville. The borough was incorporated in 1890.
Riegelsville Borough - Located in the
northeastern part of the county. Was incorporated in 1916 from Durham Township.
Post Office was established in 1847 and Tobias Worman was the first
postmaster. Has also been called Shank's Ferry.
Rockhill Township ---- Originally called
Rockhill Township. Broke off into East and West Rockhill The original township was
established in 1740 and divided in 1890.
Sellersville Borough -Incorporated in
1874.
Silverdale Borough - Located in the western part
of the county was erected in 1896. Other names were Portland, and Lawndale.
Solebury Township - Located in central
northeastern Bucks County. Bordered by Plumstead, Upper Makefield, Buckingham,
Township and the Delaware River. Originally Buckingham and Solebury were one
township. Earliest settlers in the area were Friends. Organized around
1703.
Southampton Township - Was recognized
in 1703. Surrounded by Warminster, Northampton, Bensalem, and Middletown
Townships, and Philadelphia./Montgomery County Line. Named after Southampton, Hampshire
England. Early settlers were English, later by Holland Dutch. The township was
divide in 1928.
Springfield Township - Borders along
Berks and Northampton Counties and Durham, Nockamixon, Haycock, Richland, and
Milford Townships. Has the Highest elevation in the country. Established as a
township in 1743.
Telford Borough - Is one of two in PA both of which border
each other. One in Bucks County and the other in Montgomery County. Petition
to incorporate in Bucks county was presented in 1886
Tinicum Township - Located in the northeastern
part of the county. Triangular in shape. Was organized in 1738. Border by
Nockamixon, Bridgeton, Plumstead, Bedminster Township and the Delaware River.
Trumbauersville Borough - is the largest town In Milford
Township near Lehigh County. One time called Eagle Hotel., and Charlestown.
Was incorporated as a borough in 1908.
Warminster Township -- Located in the
southwestern part of the county. Border by Warrington, Warwick, Northampton,
Southampton Township and Moreland and Horsham Townships in Montgomery County. It became it own township in 1712.
"
1711-1986 By
Paul C. Bailey
Warrington Township ---- Established
as a township in 1734. Border by New Britain, Doylestown, Warminster, Warwick
township and the Montgomery County Line.
Warwick Township ----- Called Middlebury
before it became a township. Organization in 1733. Located in the mid interior of the
county.
Wrightstown Township ----- It is
thought to have be organized around 1703. border by Buckingham, Upper
Makefield, Newtown, Northampton and Warwick Townships.
Yardley Borough ---
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