Northampton Township

Northampton Township is a second-class township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 12 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The population was 39,726 at the 2010 census.

The Township is made up of the following unincorporated communities and census-designated places:

• Churchville
• Holland
• Ivyland
• Richboro

History of Northampton Township

Northampton Township officially became a township on December 14, 1722, covering 26.5 miles.  Although the origin of the name of the Township has never been officially verified, it is believed to have stemmed from the County of Northampton in the English midlands-one hundred miles north of London. 

The first settlers of the Township were English, followed by the Dutch and the French Huguenots.  The Dutch brought with them a deep love for religion and founded churches wherever they settled.  The oldest church in the Township is the Addisville Reformed Church in Richboro, which traces its history to 1710.  Today there are churches of many dominations and a Synagogue servicing the religious needs of the community.  

By the middle of the 19th century, the Township had five small villages: Jacksonville, Richboro, Addisville, Churchville, and Rocksville.  Today, Jacksonville is considered Ivyland, Addisville is Richboro, and Rocksville is Holland. 

The Township began as a farming community, with just a few settlements near crossroads or mills. Not until the late 1800’s, did the villages of Richboro and Churchville grow, as retired farmers decided to build homes "in town."  Many of the homes in the center of Richboro were built as small stores and were homes of retired farmers.  

Life was never dull for farmers or their counterparts on the farm. Activities included big political parades and Memorial Day parades to the local cemetery, church and school picnics, serenades of banging pots and pans at the homes of newlyweds, carnivals and dinners at the firehouse, chautauquas when people gathered to enjoy plays, reading poetry, and listen to and partake in discussions, and of course, the trips to and competition in the county fairs. Today, many landmarks have changed or disappeared, and new activities have replaced the old.  Most of the major roads in Northampton remained unpaved until the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. 

Even though the landscape looks very different from the birth of the Township, Northampton Township has remained a great place to live and call home. Many of Northampton's farms have become housing developments and the township is currently the home of 40,000 inhabitants who enjoy its free library, senior center, parks, nature center, golf courses, athletic fields and shopping centers.