Bucks County, Pennsylvania: Difference between revisions

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| footnotes = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=Pennsylvania|designation1_date=October 29, 1982<ref name="PAHMDB">{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539/search_for_historical_markers |title=PHMC Historical Markers Search |work=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |format=Searchable database |access-date=2014-01-January 25, 2014 |archive-date=March 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321233735/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539/search_for_historical_markers |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

'''Bucks County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 646,538,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US42017|access-date=April 24, 2022|title=Census - Geography Profile: Bucks County, Pennsylvania}}</ref> making it the [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> The county is named after the [[Counties of England|English county]] of [[Buckinghamshire]]. The county is part of the [[Delaware Valley|Southeast Pennsylvania]] region of the state.{{efn|Includes Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh and Northampton Counties}}

The county represents the northern boundary of the [[Philadelphia]]–[[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]]–[[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]], PA–[[New Jersey|NJ]]–[[Delaware|DE]]–[[Maryland|MD]] [[Metropolitanmetropolitan statistical area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], known as the [[Delaware Valley]].

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, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Falls Township]] in present-day Bucks County.

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2015|df=mdy}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }}</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 {{convert|371|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 20.1% were of [[German people|German]], 19.1% [[Irish people|Irish]], 14.0% [[Italian people|Italian]], 7.5% [[English people|English]] and 5.9% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry.

Southern Bucks, colloquially referred to as Lower Bucks, is home to two important [[shopping mall]]s, [[Neshaminy Mall]], [[Oxford Valley Mall]], and [[Sesame Place (Philadelphia)|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 Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|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]].

The Bucks County Library System was founded in 1956 by a resolution of the Bucks County Commissioners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://buckslib.org/about/|access-date=2021-10-October 28, 2021|website=Bucks County Free Library|language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Bucks County Sharks]] [[rugby league]] team played in the [[AMNRL]] from 1997 to 2010 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/rugby_league/Pier_40_Action.shtml |title=AmericanRugbyNews.com Pier 40 Action |access-date=2010-07-July 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727183549/http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/rugby_league/Pier_40_Action.shtml |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> They returned to play in the AMNRL in 2011, until the league's fold in 2014, when they subsequently joined the [[USARL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usarl.com/2015/01/usa-rugby-league-season-v-announced-with-14-teams/ |title=USARL &#124; USA Rugby League &#124; American Rugby League « Uncategorized « USA Rugby League Season V announced with 14 teams |access-date=February 2, 2015-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202164527/http://www.usarl.com/2015/01/usa-rugby-league-season-v-announced-with-14-teams/ |archive-date=February 2, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

*[[Philadelphia International Airport]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phl.org/COVID/Arriving-Passengers|title=Arriving Passengers|publisher=[[Philadelphia International Airport]]|accessdate=January 8, 2023-01-08}} - the page lists "Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery Counties" in its arrival information page</ref>

In presidential elections, Bucks County has been swept up in the overall [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] trend that has swept the Philadelphia area, although the trend in Bucks has been less pronounced than in Delaware and Montgomery counties. It has gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992, though by a margin of fewerless than five percentage points5% in each except for 2008, with three of those eight elections decided by less than 2% (1992, 2012, and 2016). 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 [[American Civil War|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 [[plurality-at-large voting|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>{{Cite web|title=Commissioners {{!}} Bucks County, PA|url=https://www.buckscounty.gov/190/Commissioners|access-date=January 3, 2022-01-03|website=www.buckscounty.gov}}</ref> In 2012, four county employees were sentenced for compensating public employees for political work on behalf of Republican candidates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Bill |title=Fourth Bucks official sentenced in political corruption case|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/suburban_pa/20120229_Fourth_Bucks_official_sentenced_in_political_corruption_case.html |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=February 29, 2012 |access-date=19 October 19, 2023}}</ref>

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>{{Cite web|url=http://buckscountyvotes.org/|title=Bucks Elections|website=buckscountyvotes.org|access-date=2016-11-November 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125174244/http://buckscountyvotes.org/|archive-date=November 25, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption=Chart of Voter Registration|label1=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|value1=41.8368|color1={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|label2=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|value2=41.2735|color2={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|label3=[[Independent (United States)|Independent]]|value3=12.3648|color3={{party color|Independent (United States)}}|label4=[[Third party (United States)|Other Parties]]|value4=4.5449|color4={{party color|Green Party (United States)}}}}As of FebruaryApril 729, 2024, there are 472474,969753 registered voters in Bucks County.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx |access-date=February 7, 2024-02-07 |website=dos.pa.gov}}</ref>

* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]: 197,845898 (41.8368%)

* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]: 195196,194326 (41.2735%)

* [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]: 5859,480228 (12.3648%)

* [[Third party (United States)|Third Party]]: 21,450301 (4.5449%)

! Office<ref>{{Cite web|title=Row Officers {{!}} Bucks County, PA|url=https://www.buckscounty.gov/221/Row-Officers|access-date=January 4, 2022-01-04|website=www.buckscounty.gov}}</ref>

| District Attorney || MatthewJennifer "Matt" WeintraubSchorn ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]

The current Bucks County Sheriff is Frederick "Fred" A. Harran.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheriff {{!}} Bucks County, PA|url=https://www.buckscounty.gov/551/Sheriff|access-date=January 3, 2022-01-03|website=www.buckscounty.gov}}</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>{{cite web |title=Bucks County Sheriff |url=https://www.odmp.org/search?name=&agency=Bucks+County+Sheriff&state=Pennsylvania&cause=&from=1791&to=2019&filter=nok9 |website=Officer Down Memorial Page |accessdate=5 June 5, 2019}}</ref>

| [[Pennsylvania's 140th Representative District|140]] ||[[John GallowayJim Prokopiak(American politician)|John GallowayJim Prokopiak]]||[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Bucks County.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |title=2010 U.S. Census website |access-date=2015-05-May 25, 2015 |df=mdy }}</ref>

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|source 1 = Weather Channel<ref>[http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/achesandpains/climatology/monthly/USPA0420?from=36hr_newslinker2 Average weather for Doylestown] ''Weather Channel'' Retrieved 2 September 2, 2019</ref>

*[[Charles Ellet, Jr.]] (1810-1862), Civil Engineer and Union Army officer.<ref>{{cite book |title=The National Cyclopedia of American Biography. Volume 4 |date=1895 |publisher=James T. White & Company |location=New York |page=360 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ou4pAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA360 |access-date=16 February 16, 2022}}</ref>

* [[Allen Rosenberg (rowing)|Allen Rosenberg]] (1931-2013), rower and rowing coach<ref name="phillyjewishsports1">{{cite web |url=http://www.phillyjewishsports.com/viewInductee.asp?ID=50 |title=Inductions &#124; Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=Phillyjewishsports.com |access-date=November 1, 2011 |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425083144/http://www.phillyjewishsports.com/viewInductee.asp?ID=50 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Ezra Stone]] (1917–1994), actor and director<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buckslocalnews.com/the_advance/estate-of-ezra-stone-and-sara-seegar-goes-up-for/article_0900d0ae-01cb-586e-b945-5f2a0a00392a.html|title=Estate of Ezra Stone and Sara Seegar goes up for auction, show business couple brought celebrity to Bucks County|last=|first=|date=3 October 3, 2013|website=Bucks Local News|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=19 July 19, 2019}}</ref>

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