About Bucks County
Founded in 1682 by William Penn, Bucks County is one of Pennsylvania's three original counties. Home to more than 627,000 residents, Bucks County presents a quality of life that very few regions in the United States enjoy. Our residents appreciate a rich cultural and artistic heritage, and a unique geographic location along the Delaware River, one of the nations' few Wild and Scenic Rivers. Our county possesses a vibrant farming and rural community, even in the midst of the largely urbanized east coast, as well as maintaining the region’s largest county park system.
Along with these quality of life factors, it also possesses many of the critical elements which determine business location and expansion, including housing quality and availability, ease of commuting, safe communities, superior local schools, access to regional and national art and cultural centers, and world class higher educational institutions.
Nationally renowned as a place of scenic beauty, artistic culture and bucolic charm, Bucks County is blessed with the diversity of weather all four seasons can bestow. Our 31 townships and 23 boroughs each contribute their own vibrant threads to our diverse cultural fabric. And our school districts offer some of the finest educational opportunities in the United States. Further, our nationally recognized Community College system is strategically located to serve every portion of our county, in every area from Associate Degrees to skill certification to workforce development.
In addition, county government maintains almost 9,000 acres of parks and recreation property, including eight parks, large lakes for sailing and fishing, eight recreation sites, three education-oriented nature centers, a horse park, a grass-strip airport and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, which continues to marvel visitors today in the tile-making tradition of Henry Chapman Mercer. Further, our 115 county-maintained bridges include twelve distinct “covered” bridges – which are treasured links to our transportation past.
With direct and multiple access to both the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I -95, access to the major north south route of America’s rail system, a deep water port and both international and regional air access, Bucks County enjoys a competitive advantage with ready access to markets of both producers and consumers.....resources that are increasingly vital to companies competing in a global economy, where the ability to get products to customers overnight, or receiving just-in-time supplies can prove the difference between profitability and failure.
In addition both the Commonwealth and Bucks County are 'business friendly' environments, whose tax climate and regulatory regimes encourage new private investment as well as being located in the geographic center of the burgeoning life sciences expansion within the Greater Philadelphia region.
Public School Districts & Technical Schools
Bensalem Township School District
Bensalem Township
www.bensalemsd.org
Bristol Township School District
Bristol Township
www.btsd.us
Central Bucks School District
Buckingham Township, Chalfont Borough, Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Township, New Britain Borough, New Britain Township, Plumstead Township, Warrington Township, Warwick Township
www.cbsd.org
Morrisville Borough School District
Morrisville Borough
www.mv.org
New Hope-Solebury School District
New Hope Borough and Solebury Township
www.nhsd.org
Pennridge School District
Bedminster Township, Dublin Borough, East Rockhill Township, Hilltown Township, Perkasie Borough, Sellersville Borough, Silverdale Borough, West Rockhill Township
sites.google.com/a/pennridge.us/pennridge-school-district
Quakertown School District
Haycock Township, Milford Township, Quakertown Borough, Richland Township, Richlandtown Borough, Trumbauersville Borough
www.qcsd.org
Bristol Borough School District
Bristol Borough
www.bbsd.org
Centennial School District
Ivyland Borough, Upper Southampton Township, Warminster Township
www.centennialsd.org
Council Rock School District
Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Northampton Township, Upper Makefield Township, Wrightstown Township
www.crsd.org
Neshaminy School District
Hulmeville Borough, Penndel Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township
www.neshaminy.org
Palisades School District
Riegelsville Borough, Bridgeton Township, Durham Township, Nockamixon Township, Springfield Township, Tinicum Township
www.palisadessd.org
Pennsbury School District
Falls Township, Lower Makefield Township, Tullytown Borough, Yardley Borough
www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us
Bucks County Technical High School
610 Wistar Road
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
www.bcths.com
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
2740 York Road (Route 263)
Jamison, PA 18929
www.mbit.org
Upper Bucks County Technical School
3115 Ridge Road
Perkasie, PA 18944
www.ubtech.org
Colleges & Universities
Bucks County Community College
Campuses in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie
www.bucks.edu
Cairn University
Langhorne Manor Borough
www.cairn.edu
Holy Family University
Satellite campus in Newtown Township
www.holyfamily.edu
Strayer University
Satellite campus in Trevose
www.strayer.edu
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown
www.delval.edu
LaSalle University
Satellite campus in Newtown Township
www.lasalle.edu
Philadelphia University
Satellite campus in Trevose
www.philau.edu
University of Phoenix
Satellite campus in Middletown Township
www.phoenix.edu
- Chestnut Hill College
- Drexel University
- Holy Family University
- La Salle University
- Penn State University
- Princeton University
- Rutgers University Temple University
- Saint Joseph's University
- Temple University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Villanova University
The Bucks County Board of Commissioners is comprised of three commissioners, two majority and one minority, who are elected to four-year terms. The commissioners are responsible for the adoption and administration of the county operating budget, along with oversight of one of the largest workforces in the county (more than 2,400 employees). The county seat is located in Doylestown Borough. Below is a list of county services:
Board of Elections/Voting Machines
Housing and Community Development
Consumer Protection
Guardian ad Litem
Military Affairs
Planning Commission
Area Agency on Aging
Children and Youth
Health Department
Mental Health/Development Programs
Neshaminy Manor
Board of Assessment
Finance
Human Resources
Information Technology
Purchasing
Tax Claim
Asset Management/County Properties
Capital Projects
Facilities Maintenance
Parks and Recreation
Roads and Bridges
Emergency Communications
Police Training
Security
Emergency Health Services
Emergency Management Agency
Fire Marshal
Office of Open Records
Bucks County Row Officers
Each of the county's 10 Row Officers is elected at large in the county for a four-year term. As specified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law, row officers include the following:
Controller
Coroner
District Attorney
Prothonotary
Register of Wills
Sheriff
Treasurer
Municipal, State & Federal Officials
Each year the Bucks County Planning Commission prepares the Municipal Directory which provides an annual update of government officials serving Bucks County. The directory contains elected and appointed municipal officials, joint planning organizations, commissioner appointed advisory boards, authorities, and commissions, school districts, elected and appointed judicial officials, county, state, and federal elected officials, with maps of legislative districts.
Hospital
3300 Tillman Drive
Bensalem, PA 19020
www.rothmanspecialtyhospital.com
Other area healthcare facilities:
- Capital Health Regional Medical Center (Trenton, NJ)
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Einstein Medical Center
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Hahnemann University Hospital
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Lehigh Valley Hospital
- Temple University Hospital
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Taxes
Businesses and residents in Bucks County are subject to taxes levied by local (municipal, county, & school district), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Federal government. Local taxes collected are gained from the assessed fair-market value of real estate as determined by the Bucks County Board of Assessment; however municipal governments may also collect other types of taxes or fees (i.e., occupational, mercantile/business privilege).
The following links provide guidance on municipal & school district, county, state, and federal governing tax structures:
Tax Incentives
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website provides useful information on the State’s tax incentive programs available to companies interested in expanding in or locating to Bucks County. Additionally, the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County website expands further on the State's tax incentives offering information on the following programs:
- Bucks County Enterprise Zone
- Keystone Innovation & Opportunity Zones
- Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA)
Top 50 Largest Employers in Bucks County
2nd Quarter, 2017
Combined Government Ownerships
Ranked by number
- Central Bucks School District
- Giant Food Stores LLC
- St Mary Medical Center
- Doylestown Hospital
- County of Bucks
- Northtec LLC
- Woods Services
- Wal-Mart Associates Inc
- Excel Companion Care LLC
- Grand View Hospital
- Pennsbury School District
- Council Rock School District
- Wawa Inc
- Neshaminy School District
- Bensalem Township School District
- Federal Government
- Always Best Care
- Pennridge School District
- Greenwood Table Games Services Inc
- State Government
- Bucks County Community College
- Bristol Township School District
- Acme Markets Inc
- Home Depot USA Inc
- Kohls Department Stores Inc
- Bucks County Intermediate Unit
- Centennial School District
- Ann's Choice Inc
- Target Corporation
- Sesame Place
- Prime Healthcare Services Lower Bucks
- Thrift Drug Inc
- Comcast Cablevision Corp (PA)
- Aria Health
- Vertical Screen Inc
- Quakertown Community School District
- Lowe's Home Centers Inc
- Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy LLC
- Source4Teachers LLC
- Aurora Home Care Inc
- Caresense Health LLC
- Vitacare Home Health Inc
- Ashfield Healthcare LLC
- Marmaxx Operating Corporation
- Publicist Touchpoint Solutions
- U-Haul Co of Pennsylvania
- Aon Service Corporation
- Family Dining Inc
- Worth and Company Inc
- Pennswood Village
*State Government includes all state employment except Pennsylvania State University, SEPTA, System of Higher Education, PA College of Technology, and PHEAA.
Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 4th Quarter, 2017
Transportation
Bucks County is within easy reach of the largest population centers, markets and consumers east of the Mississippi. Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Philadelphia, Princeton, and New York, are all within an hour and a half drive. Bucks County’s position in the northeast corridor makes it well suited for many types of commercial activities. Major highways such as I-95, I-78, Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276 and I-476 (Blue Route), U.S. Routes 1, 13, and 202, as well as state routes 309, 313, 332, 413, and 611, provide important access to and across Bucks County. The roughly 60-mile long county, bounded on the east by the Delaware River also enjoys tremendous rail access (NS & CSX sites) to North American Markets and a safe and secure deep water port for shipment of goods around the world.
After more than two decades, the resources needed to complete the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95 Interchange have been assembled and construction has now begun. Lower Bucks County already enjoys tremendous transportation advantages, in roads, rail, and deep water port facilities. This major initiative is the capstone that will propel Lower Bucks County into the 1st Tier of National Transportation Hubs. Becoming the home of the connection between I-95, the most important North/South interstate east of the Mississippi and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the most dependable direct link between the Midwest and the markets of the east coast, Lower Bucks County will enjoy a competitive and comparative economic advantage unmatched by any locality in the Greater Delaware Valley...the New Key in the Keystone State. For more information on this exciting project please click here.
Click here for Bucks County's Transportation Facilities Map and the Transportation Improvement Projects and Critical Corridors Map. For additional transportation-related information please visit the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's (DVRPC) website.
Airports
The Philadelphia International Airport located south of Bucks County, the Lehigh Valley International Airport to the north in Allentown, and the Trenton-Mercer Airport in Trenton, New Jersey are three of the more frequently used airports in the Bucks County area. These airports are generally within an hour drive of most Bucks County communities. The Bucks County Airport Authority operates three general service airports: Van Sant in Erwinna, Quakertown Airport in Quakertown, and the Doylestown Airport near Doylestown. Below is a list of other local air travel facilities:
Local Air Travel
- Trenton Mercer Airport, West Trenton, NJ, (TTN)
- Princeton Airport
- Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown, PA, (ABE)
- Doylestown Airport, Doylestown, PA, (DYL)
- Pennridge Airport, Perkasie, PA, (N70)
- Northeast Philadelphia Airport, Philadelphia, PA, (PNE)
- Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA (PHL), also includes PNE info.
- Quakertown Airport, Quakertown, PA (UKT)
- Vansant Airport, Erwinna, PA, (9N1)
- Perkiomen Valley, Collegeville, PA, (N10)
- Total RF Heliport, Bensalem, PA, (00A)
- Horsham Valley, Heliport, Horsham, PA, (N48)
- Valley Forge Heliport, Norristown, PA, (0P0)
- Penns Landing Heliport, Philadelphia, PA
Public & Private Transit
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) provides outstanding and nationally recognized superior commuter rail and bus service to Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties (click here for the Bucks County Public Transit Map). Philadelphia serves as a hub in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. The Transportation Management Association of Bucks County (TMA Bucks) provides fixed route bus service linking employees to established SEPTA routes. Carol R. Bieber Tourways, Trans-Bridge Lines, Susquehanna Trailways, and Greyhound Lines Bus Company all provide regional bus service to destinations located outside of the County.
Goods Movement - Rail & Water
Bucks County is a major transportation hub for goods movement and distribution along the eastern seaboard.
Rail
Conrail provides freight service over an expansive rail network shared by CSX and Norfolk Southern. There are five local short line railroads including the East Penn Railroad, New Hope-Ivyland Railroad, SMS/Penn-Jersey Rail Lines, Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad, and Tyburn Railroad on privately owned lines or lines owned by SEPTA or Amtrak.
Water
There are three active port facilities along the Delaware River: Kinder-Morgan Port of Bucks County and GROWS Bulk Port, both located in Falls Township and Riverside Concrete in Bristol Township. These ports accommodate ocean-going vessels with a draft up to 38.5 feet (11.75m) and specialize in bulk and break-bulk commodities (i.e., noncontainerzied cargoes) such as metals, salt, and project cargo.
Utilities
Bucks County's utility infrastructure meets the needs of current and future businesses. The Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) provides regulation of utilities in the Commonwealth. Listed below are electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water & sewer providers.
Electricity
The county is well served by three electricity providers: PPL, Inc., PECO Energy, and Met-Ed a First Energy Company.
Natural Gas
Natural gas service is available in many areas of Bucks County, provided by PPL, Inc., PECO Energy, and UGI.
Telecommunications
Service providers have installed modern fiber optic, broadband, and cellular technologies within the region. Local telephone service is provided by Comcast Xnfinity, Frontier Communications, and Verizon. All major long-distance and cellular service providers are available in Bucks County.
Water & Sewer
Please click here for Bucks County’s Water and Sewer Service listing by municipality.
Contact Us
(267) 880-6071
inquiries@buckscountyida.com
11 Welden Drive - Suite 100
Doylestown, PA 18901