Bucks County, PA
With a rich history in the arts and culture, and convenient location with access to Philadelphia, New York City, the Poconos and the Jersey Shoreline, the 622 square miles of Historic Bucks County, PA offers residents great communities to live, work, raise a family or retire to! Bucks County is the fourth most populous county in Pennsylvania with a population of over 625,000! Within the County, there are 31 townships, 23 boroughs, 18 census-designated places and five unincorporated communities. For more information about Bucks County go to www.BucksCounty.org
Bucks County was founded in 1682 by William Penn. He named the county after Buckinghamshire, his family home in England. His family home, Pennsbury Manor, has been rebuilt on the original estate and hosts events and is available for tours! Bucks County is very proud of it’s 12 historic covered bridges that have been preserved over the years. Tour the covered bridges by visiting the “Visit Bucks” website for an itinerary with “turn by turn driving directions”
Bucks County is home to five colleges, 15 public school districts and eight private schools. Residents and visitors regularly enjoy the 16 county and state parks that total 7,500 acres! There is also 475 miles of trails for hikers to enjoy and bike paths throughout much of the county! Bucks County is also a golfer’s haven with 28 public and private courses.
Bucks County’s “Official Symbols:”
Flower: Violet
Bird: Cardinal
Mammal: Cotton Tail Rabbit
Tree: Dogwood
Fish: Catfish
Rock: Diabase
Interesting facts about Bucks County
- Recently renovated, The Doylestown Inn, originally constructed in 1871 is a landmark property in Doylestown, the countyseat of Bucks County. Throughout it’s lifespan the property has housed a hattery, a cigar shop, a shoe store, a restaurant and even operated as a speakeasy during prohibition. Now a charming, eleven guestroom boutique hotel featuring The Hattery Stove & Still, a cutting-edge restaurant and bar with an “antique industrial” design that offers a modern-American tavern menu,
- The Logan Inn in New Hope is the oldest continuously running inn in Bucks County. Established in 1727, it offered its services to George Washington and his men and is said to be home to at least four ghosts.
- Sesame Place in Langhorne is the only amusement park in America solely themed after the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. The park has more than 25 rides and is open every year from late-April through December.
- John Fitch built the first steam-powered boat in the U.S. in Warminster in 1785. It traveled nearly 3,000 miles in 1790, transporting passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Trenton. A six-foot long, steam operated model of the first steamboat can now be seen at the John Fitch Steamboat Museum in Warminster.
- The movie Signs, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Mel Gibson, was filmed and takes place in Bucks County. The scenes in the bookstore and pizza shop were filmed in Newtown and the scenes of the house and cornfield were shot on 40 acres of land belonging to Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. The pharmacy scene was shot in Morrisville.
- In 1777, General Washington had his headquarters at The Moland House in Hartsville, where it is believed that the “Betsy Ross” flag was first flown. Guided tours of The Moland House are available on the second Sunday of every month.
- The Bucks County Playhouse opened on July 1, 1939 and over the next 70 years hosted the Who’s Who of Hollywood and Broadway legends including Grace Kelly, Angela Lansbury Bea Arthur, Walter Matthau and many more.
- The massive stone walls and warden’s house that reside on the grounds of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, began as the Bucks County Prison back in 1884. The museum is now home to a world class collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings.
- Bucks County is home to the Bucks County Wine Trail, comprised of nine wineries, each with their own distinct charm and specialty wines. The gentle rolling hills, deep well-drained soils, and moderate climate combine to make Bucks County one of the premier grape growing regions of the East Coast.
***Information provided by “Visit Bucks” and BucksCounty.org
Montgomery County, PA
Montgomery County is the third largest county in Pennsylvania, the second wealthiest county in the Commonwealth and the 51st wealthiest in the United States. It is in the southeast part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The county seat, Norristown, is 20 miles west of the City of Philadelphia. With just under 800,000 people living in its 487 square miles, Montgomery County is home to scores of major employers in pharmaceuticals, banking, manufacturing, healthcare and education.
Montgomery County also maintains 75 miles of roads and 133 bridges; has developed over 60 miles of multi-use trails throughout the county; and cares for seven county parks and five historic sites. For a wonderful overview of what Montgomery County has to offer residents and visitors alike, check out this video produced by the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Valley Forge National Historic Park is one of the destinations Montgomery County is most known for as it draws visitors from all over the world and residents have the opportunity to enjoy it on a daily basis! Montgomery County is also home to the King of Prussia Mall, the largest retail space in the U.S., now serving as a destination for 25 million visitors per year, four million of whom arrive in the November-December timeframe alone. They come to enjoy the experience of shopping for fashion’s most famous designers! Learn more at www.ValleyForge.org
Historic and luxurious Inns such as the William Penn Inn and the Joseph Ambler Inn are options for visitors as well as many other motels and hotels throughout the County. Some enjoy the Valley Forge Casino Resort for entertainment…or the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
There are 23 School Districts throughout Montgomery County. Some of the towns include: King of Prussia, Abington, Skippack, Willow Grove, Horsham, Plymouth Meeting, Blue Bell, Lansdale, Norristown, Bryn Athyn, Jenkintown, Ambler, Harleysville and Souderton.
For more information visit www.montcopa.org