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Bucks County, Pennsylvania

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Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Template:Maplink Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is named after the English county of Buckinghamshire. The county is part of the Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn

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 Template:Convert southeast of Allentown, the state's third-largest city, and Template:Convert north of Philadelphia, the state's largest city.

History

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Founding

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File:Mercer Museum.JPG
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

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Template:See also 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

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

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

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

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<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:Convert. 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

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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 in the state behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Montgomery counties.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 census

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Bucks County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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

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File:LevittownPA.jpg
Aerial view of Levittown, Template:Circa

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 Template:Convert away).Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is projected by 2020 that one out of four people in Bucks County will work in biotechnology.

Notable businesses

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Tourism

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File:Schofield Ford Covered Bridge.jpg
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.
File:New Hope & Ivyland 40.JPG
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.<ref>Waymarking GPS page about history of Schofield Ford Bridge Retrieved October 13, 2010</ref>

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

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Colleges and universities

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Public school districts

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File:Map of Bucks County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Bucks County public school districts

K-12 school districts include:<ref>Template:Cite map - Text list</ref> Template:Div col

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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.

Previously the Easton Area School District covered Riegelsville in Bucks County.<ref>Template:Cite map - Text list</ref> In 2012 the Pennsylvania State Board of Education approved moving Riegelsville into the Palisades School District, and this was to be effective 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Public charter schools

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  • Bucks County Montessori Charter School
  • Center Student Learning Charter School
  • School Lane Charter School

Private schools

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Community, junior, and technical colleges

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Libraries

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The Bucks County Library System was founded in 1956 by a resolution of the Bucks County Commissioners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

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Fine and performing arts

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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.

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.

Film

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Media

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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

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Rugby league

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The Bucks County Sharks rugby league team played in the AMNRL from 1997 to 2010 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They returned to play in the AMNRL in 2011, until the league's fold in 2014, when they subsequently joined the USARL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Little League

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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

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The county is a part of PIAA's District I, and has seen many schools capture multiple state titles.

American Legion baseball

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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

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Parks and recreation

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Pennsylvania state parks

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File:Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park.jpg
Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park

There are six Commonwealth-owned parks in Bucks County:

County parks

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File:Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park from dam.jpg
Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park

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Historic properties

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File:Pennsbury Manor 01.JPG
Pennsbury Manor in Falls Township

County recreation sites

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  • 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

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County nature centers

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  • 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

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Airports

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

Public transportation

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Major roads and highways

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File:2022-09-14 10 47 30 View north along Interstate 95 at the western terminus of Interstate 295 (Delaware Expressway) from the overpass for Ford Road in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.jpg
I-95 northbound at its interchange with I-295 and I-276/Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks County

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Politics and government

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Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot 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 caught 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 every presidential election from 1992 to 2020, 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 victory margin of 0.07% or 291 votes. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, four county employees were sentenced for compensating public employees for political work on behalf of Republican candidates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bucks County is represented in U.S. Congress by Template:Ushr, (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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The 2024 elections were mired in controversy in Bucks County, culminating in widespread condemnation of Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia (D), who was filmed on video stating that the "rule of law doesn't matter anymore in this country" in the context of a decision made by the county's Board of Elections to violate the PA State Supreme Court's ruling regarding which provisional ballots can and cannot be counted.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

Voter registration

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Template:Pie chartAs of November 4, 2024, there are 493,581 registered voters in Bucks County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County commissioners

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

County row officers

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Office<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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

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The current Bucks County Sheriff is Frederick "Fred" A. Harran.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

State senate

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

State House of Representatives

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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

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District Representative Party
1 Brian Fitzpatrick Republican

United States Senate

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Senator Party
Dave McCormick Republican
John Fetterman Democratic

Communities

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File:Map of Bucks County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
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

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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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.

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Unincorporated communities

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‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties Template:Div col end

Historic communities

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Police agencies and services

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Bucks County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Bensalem Township 62,707
2 Bristol Township 54,291
3 Levittown CDP 52,699
4 Middletown Township 46,040
5 Northampton Township 39,915
6 Falls Township 34,716
7 Warminster Township 33,603
8 Lower Makefield Township 33,180
9 Warrington Township 25,639
10 Buckingham Township 20,851
11 Lower Southampton Township 20,599
12 Newtown Township 19,895
13 Doylestown Township 17,971
14 Hilltown Township 16,284
15 Upper Southampton Township 15,269
16 Warwick Township 14,851
17 Plumstead Township 14,012
18 Richland Township 13,837
19 New Britain Township 12,327
20 Milford Township 10,243
21 Croydon CDP 10,014
22 Bristol Borough 9,861
23 Morrisville Borough 9,809
24 Quakertown Borough 9,359
25 Perkasie Borough 9,120
26 Fairless Hills CDP 9,046
27 Upper Makefield Township 8,857
28 Solebury Township 8,709
29 † Doylestown Borough 8,300
30 Bedminster Township 7,541
31 Richboro CDP 6,378
32 Newtown Grant CDP 5,855
33 East Rockhill Township 5,819
34 West Rockhill Township 5,439
35 Churchville CDP 5,348
36 Springfield Township 5,175
37 Telford (lies partially in Montgomery County) Borough 4,928
38 Sellersville Borough 4,567
39 Chalfont Borough 4,253
40 Village Shires CDP 3,946
41 Tinicum Township 3,818
42 Warminster Heights CDP 3,726
43 Brittany Farms-The Highlands CDP 3,695
44 Trevose CDP 3,460
45 Nockamixon Township 3,379
46 Woodbourne CDP 3,301
47 Wrightstown Township 3,286
48 Woodside CDP 3,133
49 Feasterville CDP 3,066
50 New Britain Borough 2,836
51 New Hope Borough 2,612
52 Yardley Borough 2,605
53 Plumsteadville CDP 2,553
54 Penndel Borough 2,515
55 Tullytown Borough 2,282
56 Newtown Borough 2,268
57 Haycock Township 2,200
58 Dublin Borough 2,177
59 Eddington CDP 1,996
60 Spinnerstown CDP 1,671
61 Langhorne Borough 1,643
62 Langhorne Manor Borough 1,496
63 Richlandtown Borough 1,260
64 Cornwells Heights CDP 1,251
65 Bridgeton Township 1,234
66 Milford Square CDP 1,137
67 Durham Township 1,094
68 Hulmeville Borough 982
69 Ivyland Borough 955
70 Trumbauersville Borough 904
71 Riegelsville Borough 849
72 Silverdale Borough 804

Climate

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Piedmont Region

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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 ≤ Template:Convert, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ Template:Convert, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ Template:Convert 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 > Template:Convert. 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 < Template:Convert. The plant hardiness zone at Haycock Mountain, elevation Template:Convert, is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name="USDA">Template:Cite web</ref> The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between Template:Convert 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.

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Atlantic Coastal Plain Region

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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 > Template:Convert, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ Template:Convert, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ Template:Convert 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 > Template:Convert. 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 < Template:Convert. The plant hardiness zone in Andalusia, Bensalem Twp, elevation Template:Convert, is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name="USDA" /> The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between Template:Convert 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.

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Ecology

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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).<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

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Official seal

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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

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References

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Template:Geographic Location Template:Bucks County, Pennsylvania Template:Pennsylvania Template:Delaware Valley Template:Authority control

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