BUCKS COUNTY
DEMOGRAPHICS
According to the 2002 United States Census Bureau, Bucks County Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 605,379 people. Bucks County is about 607 square miles.
The racial makeup of Bucks county is 92.5% white, 3.3% African American, 0.1% American Indian, 2.3% Asian, 2.3% Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000 there were 225,498 housing units with a homeownership rate of 77.4%. There are 218,725 households. The median income for a Bucks County household is $59,727. 4.5% of the Bucks County population lives below poverty.
Newtown
Located in the middle of Bucks County, Newtown Township is known as “a good place to live, shop and worship…” Founded in 1682 by William Penn, who traveled 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia, to a track of tree-lined land bordering a creek flowing to the Delaware River, and declared “This is where I propose to build my ‘new town’”, Newtown has been the Seat of Culture providing a one-of-a-kind destination that melds history, the arts and the humanities for the benefit of the community and its visitors.
In addition to Newtown’s beautiful views comprising of rolling hills, vast fields, and gorgeous trees, Newtown also offers many activities including, but not limited, to fine shopping, galleries, arts, culture and dining. Along Newtown Borough’s historic Main Street small boutique-style shops include: Aprile Style, Gap Body, David J. Witchell Salon, Blossom, Angel Heart & Shoe Café. In addition to excellent retail shopping, Newtown boasts of outstanding cuisine, the list consists of restaurants with different ethnicities as well as different price ranges.
Yardley Borough
Yardley Overview
Yardley Borough is conveniently located along the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Yardley is an easy commute to Philadelphia, Princeton or New York, by car or public transportation. Yardley is accessible to I-95, Route 1 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Yardley Borough has a population of 2,529.
Many people think of Yardley borough as a one street town. There are restaurants, Cramer’s Bakery, Starbucks, antique shops and more. In the wintertime, ice skaters can be found at nearby Lake Afton. There is a path overlooking the Delaware River which bikers and hikers love. There are over 11 wonderful fields for soccer, baseball, and football on River Road called Macclesfield Park. On weekend games there is a concession stand.
YARDLEY HISTORY
Yardley was settled by William Yeardley (original spelling), a Quaker minister seeking religious freedom. Before leaving England, he secured a 519 acre land grant located along the Delaware River, from William Penn, paying ten pounds sterling. In 1682, he emigrated to America with his wife, three sons, and a servant. They settled on Dolington Road where they built their first home, a log cabin, and later “Prospect Farm,” a stone house. William Yardley and his family died in a smallpox epidemic in 1702-03. The Yardley family descendents occupied the land for more than 150 years.
A nephew, Thomas Yardley, came to America in 1704 to settle his uncle’s estate. He remained in America and married Ann Biles at Pennsbury Manor, siring 10 children. He established Yardley’s first ferry at the foot of the current Letchworth Avenue in 1710. This area developed into an important link between New Jersey and roads to Philadelphia and became known as Yardley’s Ferry.
Later Thomas Yardley purchased an additional 500 acres including a grist mill, mill pond, and buildings. Lake Afton supplied the water for the mill.
Today Lake Afton has its own population of ducks and provides all year recreation with warm weather fishing and winter ice skating.
Upon Thomas Yardley’s death, his property was divided among his children. One of his son’s, also named Thomas Yardley rebuilt and expanded the grist mail. Since he and his wife, Mary, were childless, they began to sell off property. When this “young” Thomas died in 1803, his mills, tavern, and ferry were the beginnings of the village of Yardleyville. Early industries included a spoke and handle factory, sawmill, plate and plaster mill, and flour mills.
Early in the 19th century, a town plan was prepared and Yardley began to grow. Much of the heart of Yardley, where the historic district is located today, has retained the integrity of the past. Over 200 structures make up the Yardley historic district. Most were originally built between the mid and late 19th century and are frame, single family residences. The first post office, established in 1828, used the name "Yardleyville." The Old Library on Lake Afton, a Victorian Gothic structure, was built in 1878. Today it houses a collection of photographs, books, documents, and artifacts relating to Yardley’s history that is available to Yardley visitors.
A significant period of growth in Yardley occurred following the opening of the Canal (1830-1850). Mule teams pulled specially built barges through a system of locks round the clock along the Delaware River. After the Canal was opened, Yardley became a commercial distribution center for the surrounding agricultural farmland of Lower Makefield Township. Yet another strong impetus for growth occurred when the railroad ran a line and opened a station just south of the existing village (1870-1890). The name became "Yardley" again at the time the Reading Railroad came through the area in 1876. During the Civil War, Yardley was a station for the Underground Railroad, an escape route for slaves. Known hiding places were under the eaves of the Continental Hotel (now the Continental Tavern), in bins of warehouses on the Delaware Canal, and at the General Store.
Yardley Borough was incorporated on March 4, 1895.
Bucks County underwent huge changes in the 20th century. Until the middle of the century, the surrounding countryside was still relatively open and in agricultural use. As the population expanded, industry and commerce invaded agricultural domains. Shopping malls, schools, and highways were built to meet the needs of the growing population. Foresight by local officials and concerned citizens assured that much remaining land was preserved. Bucks County boasts over 7,000 acres of Parkland, 4000 acres of farmland, and state parks and gameland totaling more than 4,300 acres.
In 1940 the canal and towpath became the Theodore Roosevelt State Park and was declared an historic landmark in 1978. It was later renamed Delaware Canal State Park. The towpath is a popular recreational destination utilized for biking, walking, and jogging.
This all contributes to a wide selection of real estate options in Yardley—whether your taste is in historic and charming older properties or newer, modern developments, I can show you Yardley homes that will meet your needs and taste.
Higher Learning in Yardley
Locally, Yardley residents are very close to the Bucks County Community College. Bucks CC is a two year college founded in 1964 located in Newtown. Bucks County Community College is committed to serving the region by providing top-notch, affordable higher education and offers a wide range of academic programs, services and facilities right in our neighborhood.
The Bucks County Center campus of LaSalle University of Philadelphia is located in nearby Newtown, as well as Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. The college of New Jersey is only a couple of miles from Yardley in Ewing, N.J. Thomas Edison State College in about six miles away in Trenton, N.J. Mercer County Community College is located in West Windsor, N.J. and Pennsylvania State University, Abington is in Abington, PA.
Princeton University and Rider University are quite close to Yardley. Philadelphia and New York offer a full spectrum of many more world-renowned universities and smaller colleges—all within a relatively short distance from Yardley.
Accomodations in Yardley
If you’re coming from out of town and looking for a home in Yardley, there is one hotel right in the Yardley area. The Hampton Inn & Suites Newtown, 1000 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA 19067, is easily accessible from I-95 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They offer cribs, hair dryers, refrigerators, rollaway beds, laundry/valet services, and a guest Laundromat. Amenities include complimentary continental breakfast, free local calls, in-room coffee maker, iron/board, 2-line phones with dataport, and TV with cable.
Other hotels are available in nearby towns or in Philadelphia.
Yardley Places of Worship
Here is a listing of places of worship in Yardley. There are many others in nearby areas. If you find a Yardley place we’ve missed, please let Debbie Spaulder know and it can be added.
• Beth El Conservative Synagogue - Yardley Pennsylvania
375 Stony Hill Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Believers Fellowship - Yardley Pennsylvania
1101 Glen Oak Drive, Yardley PA 19067
• Bible Fellowship Evangelical Free Church- Yardley Pennsylvania
725 Oxford Valley Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Chabad Lubavitch of Bucks County - Yardley Pennsylvania
1224 Ward Drive, Yardley PA 19067
• Community Baptist Church - Yardley Pennsylvania
129 Pennsylvania Avenue, Yardley PA 19067
• Congregation Kol Emet - Yardley Pennsylvania
1429 Wayne Circle, Yardley PA 19067
• Cornerstone Bible Fellowship - Yardley Pennsylvania
905 Big Oak Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Educational Synagogue Yardley - Yardley Pennsylvania
31 West College Avenue, Yardley PA 19067
• First Baptist Church Yardley - Yardley Pennsylvania
48 South Canal Street, Yardley PA 19067
• Kol Emet Yardley Reconstructionist - Yardley Pennsylvania
1360 Oxford Valley Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Lubavitcher Center Bucks City - Yardley Pennsylvania
1444 Yardley Newtown Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Lutheran Church of the Resurrection – Yardley, Pennsylvania 1700 Makefield Road, Yardley, PA 19067
• St Andrews Episcopal Church - Yardley Pennsylvania
47 West Afton Avenue, Yardley PA 19067
• Woodside Presbyterian Church - Yardley Pennsylvania
1667 Edgewood Road, Yardley PA 19067
• Yardley Friends Meeting - Yardley Pennsylvania
65 North Main Street, Yardley PA 19067
• Yardley United Methodist Church – Yardley, Pennsylvania 300 Langhorne Road, Yardley, PA 19067
Lower Makefield Township
Makefield Township was divided from Makefield into Lower and Upper in 1753. Makefield is thought to be an Americanization of Macclesfield, the home of the founder in Cheshire, England. The Township of Makefield was founded in 1692. The original five townships were Bensalem, Bristol, Falls, Makefield and Middletown. The northern portion of the township was split off to form Upper Makefield in 1738.
William and Jane Yardley were among the first settlers on the land. The census of 1693 recorded a population 100 people, primarily devoted to farming. By 1810, small villages were developing and the population had swelled to 1089. The area remained predominantly agricultural until after the Second World War when the township became a suburban community of residential homeowners.
The award winning Pennsbury School District serves Yardley/Lower Makefield. The outstanding schools have continued to draw families to the area
The population of the Lower Makefield township has almost doubled since 1980. As of the census of 2000, Lower Makefield has 32,681 people, 11,706 households, and 9,388 families residing in the township. The population density is 1,821.8/mi. There are 11,931 housing units.
The racial makeup of the Lower Makefield township is 93.32% White, 1.81% African American, 0.07% Native American, 3.72% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,706 households out of which 40.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% are married couples living together, 5.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% are non-families. 16.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.13.
In Lower Makefield Township the population is spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in Lower Makefield Township is $98,090, and the median income for a family is $106,908. Males have a median income of $80,329 versus $47,138 for females. The per capita income for Lower Makefield Township is $43,983. 2.7% of the population and 1.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.8% are under the age of 18 and 3.7% are 65 or older.
Developments
There are many Yardley townhouse developments, Tanglewood, Yardley Corners, Sutphin Pines, Brookstone and Makefield Glen to name a few. Sutphin Pines, Makefield Glen and Tanglewood feature swimming pools and tennis courts. Yardley Corners is situated around beautiful ponds and landscapes.
Some of the newer single family devlopments in Yardley, Pennsylvania are Prospect Farms, Devonshire and Dolington Estates. Some of the 20+ year old developments are Yardley Hunt and Mirror Lake Farms. Yardley Hunt is located near the Lower Makefield Township library and Lower Makefield swimming pools and Schullyer Road tennis courts. Yardley Hunt is a 500 home development in Yardley. Mirror Lake Farms and Dolington Estates feature Bucks County homes on 1 acre+ lots.
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