Doylestown
LOCATION
Doylestown is the county seat of Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. Hwy 202 passes through the city on its way west to New
Hope (about 10 miles east) and across the Delaware into New Jersey; Hwy
202 east terminates at the intersection with Hwy 611 a short distance
west of Doylestown.
Hwy 611 runs south to Philadelphia, which is about 22 miles from Doylestown; Hwy 611 north leads to Easton, PA and beyond.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transport Authority (SEPTA) operates a rail service from Philadelphia to Doylestown;
interconnecting lines reach out into the entirety of southeastern
Pennsylvania, and include the R1 line to the Philadelphia International
Airport (which is about 32 miles away).
The Doylestown Dart runs a bus service throughout the town that
connects to the rail line and to the additional Route 55 bus line.
Doylestown has its own airport for public use, but it is not certified for carrier operations. Aside from Philadelphia International, Doylestown
residents may also travel to the Trenton Mercer Airport (about 23 miles
away) and the Lehigh Valley International (about 32 miles northwest in
Allentown, PA).
BRIEF HISTORY
Part of William Penn's grant from the Lenni Lenape Indians, the Doylestown
area was originally thick woodland interspersed with grassy meadows.
Two Indian trails, one running west/east, the other running
north/south, were used by early settlers and eventually widened to
become crude dirt roads.
William Doyle had property at the intersection of these roads, and in
1745 he built a tavern there for travelers. He was well liked and his
business thrived. The crossroads soon became known as "Doyl's Tavern"
and eventually became "Doylestown". The intersection remains the heart of Doylestown to this day.
By 1750 the settlement consisted of about 6 families living in log
cabins, a blacksmith, a pioneer store, and the tavern, and by 1792, Doylestown was a colonial stagecoach stop.
Its central location meant that Doylestown featured large in the
Revolutionary War. Most local men fought with Washington, and the
Liberty Bell stayed hidden in the settlement on its way from Trenton to
Allentown in the September of 1777. Washington and his troops rested in
Doylestown, where General Lacey had his headquarters, before turning
the tide of the war to the settlers favor.
During the Civil War, the 104th Volunteers Regiment was trained at Doylestown and many lost their lives. A marble obelisk stands in dedication at Doylestown's Main Street intersection.
The early years of the twentieth century saw Doylestown
grow as it replaced Newtown as the seat of county government. It became
a town of professionals, with doctors and lawyers highly represented.
Between 1908 and 1916 local Henry Chapman Mercer built the town's three
castles, which today house a library, museum, and his tiles and
mosaics. Many of Doylestown's lovely buildings are from these prosperous Victorian times.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
With numerous musical companies and a thriving arts scene, Doylestown is quite arguably the cultural hub of Bucks County. There are several excellent museums in historic Doylestown, including the renowned James A. Michener Museum, and a thriving arts scene. The Community Conservatory of Music and the Doylestown
School of Music and the Arts both offer performances and classes in all
the arts. The Children's Cultural Center delights explorers of all
ages. The Writers Room draws people from all over Bucks County with its
excellent writing workshops, readings, and support services.
Doylestown residents enjoy several top quality annual
events together, including the award winning Oktoberfest and the superb
(and free) "Sounds of Summer" concert series, which drew 10,000 last
year.
The city has well planned parks and recreational amenities and the beautiful Nockamixon State Park is just 9 miles from Doylestown.
Locals enjoy boating and fishing on Lake Nockamixon and there is a huge
swimming pool for summer swimming. In winter everyone gets bundled up
to go ice skating and ice fishing on the lake and skiing on the
surrounding grounds.
EDUCATION
Schools in Doylestown
are run by the Central Bucks School District, which encompasses 16
elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 3 high schools. An additional
community school runs excellent summer programs for children.
There are two arts and music schools in Doylestown: the Community Conservatory of Music and the Doylestown School of Music and the Arts.
The Delaware Valley College in Doylestown
has degree programs in a wide range of subjects and vocations, and
additional higher education options include Pennsylvania State
University-Penn State Abington (about 13 miles away), the Bucks County
Community College (about 14 miles away in Newtown), Beaver College
(about 15 miles away in Glenside), Montgomery County Community College
(about 15 miles away in Blue Bell), La Salle University and
Philadelphia University (both about 20 miles away in Philadelphia), and
the College Of New Jersey (about 22 miles away in Ewing, NJ).
More Info On:
YardleyLower Makefield
Newtown
New Hope
Doylestown
