{"history":[],"article":{"id":"7554862a-fc84-4e85-8ce7-1389ac4fb8ec","title":"Bristol, Pennsylvania","slug":"bristol-pennsylvania","content":":::summary\n**Name:** Bristol, Pennsylvania \n**Settlement Type:** [Borough](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-towns-and-boroughs-in-pennsylvania) \n**Image Skyline:** Delaware River Bristol.JPG \n**Image Caption:** Lions Park on the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) in Bristol \n**Image Seal:** Bristol Seal.jpg \n**Image Map:** File:Bucks County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bristol Highlighted.svg \n**Map Caption:** Location of Bristol Borough in [Bucks County, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania) \n**Pushpin Map:** Pennsylvania#USA \n**Pushpin Label:** Bristol \n**Pushpin Map Caption:** Location of Bristol Borough in [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) \n**Coordinates:** 40.10333°N, -74.85139°W \n**Subdivision Type:** Country \n**Subdivision Name:** United States \n**Subdivision Type 1:** [State](https://bliptext.com/articles/u-s-state) \n**Subdivision Name 1:** [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) \n**Subdivision Type 2:** [County](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-counties-in-pennsylvania) \n**Subdivision Name 2:** [Bucks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania) \n**Established Title:** Settled \n**Established Date:** 1681 \n**Leader Title:** Mayor \n**Leader Name:** Ralph DiGuiseppe III \n**Unit Pref:** Imperial \n**Area Total Sq Mi:** 1.96 \n**Area Land Sq Mi:** 1.70 \n**Area Water Sq Mi:** 0.26 \n**Elevation Ft:** 20 \n**Population As Of:** [2020](https://bliptext.com/articles/2020-united-states-census) \n**Population Total:** 9861 \n**Population Density Sq Mi:** 5807.42 \n**Timezone 1:** [Eastern (EST)](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-time-zone) \n**Utc Offset 1:** 5 \n**Timezone 1 Dst:** [EDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-daylight-time) \n**Utc Offset 1 Dst:** 4 \n**Postal Code Type:** [ZIP Code](https://bliptext.com/articles/zip-code) \n**Postal Code:** 19007 \n**Area Codes:** [215, 267, and 445](https://bliptext.com/articles/area-codes-215-267-and-445) \n**Website:** http://www.bristolborough.com/ \n**Blank Name:** [FIPS code](https://bliptext.com/articles/federal-information-processing-standards) \n**Blank Info:** 42-08760 \n**Area Total Km 2:** 5.07 \n**Area Land Km 2:** 4.40 \n**Area Water Km 2:** 0.67 \n**Population Density Km 2:** 2242.41 \n:::\n\n# \n**Bristol** is a [borough](https://bliptext.com/articles/borough-pennsylvania) in [Bucks County, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania), United States.\nIt is located 23 mi northeast of [Center City Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/center-city-philadelphia), opposite [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey), on the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river).\nBristol was settled in 1681 and first incorporated in 1720.\nAfter 1834, it became very important to the development of the [American Industrial Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/technological-and-industrial-history-of-the-united-states) as the terminus city of the [Delaware Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-canal), providing [greater Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-valley) with the day's high quality [anthracite](https://bliptext.com/articles/anthracite) coal from the [Lehigh Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/lehigh-canal) via [Easton](https://bliptext.com/articles/easton-pennsylvania).\nThe canal and a short trip on the Delaware River also gave the town access to the [mineral](https://bliptext.com/articles/mineral) resources available in [Connecticut](https://bliptext.com/articles/connecticut), [New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-jersey), and [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) via each of the [Morris Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/morris-canal), the [Delaware and Hudson Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-and-hudson-canal), and the [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-and-raritan-canal), and connected the community to those markets and trade from [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) City.\nAlthough its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making it the third-oldest borough in [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) after [Chester](https://bliptext.com/articles/chester-pennsylvania) and [Germantown](https://bliptext.com/articles/germantown-philadelphia).\nIt had 7,104 residents in 1900; 9,256 in 1910; 10,273 in 1920; and 11,895 in 1940.\nThe most recent [2010 census](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-census-2010) showed its population at 9,726.\nIts current [mayor](https://bliptext.com/articles/mayor) is Joseph A. Saxton.\nIt is served by [SEPTA](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa)'s [Trenton Line](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-line).\nBristol is located 70.9 mi southeast of [Allentown](https://bliptext.com/articles/allentown-pennsylvania) and 22.4 mi northeast of [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia).\n\n# History\n[Samuel Clift](https://bliptext.com/articles/samuel-clift) founded the Borough of Bristol, having received a land grant from [Edmund Andros](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmund-andros), who was then [governor of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/governor-of-new-york).\nThe grant became effective on March 14, 1681 ([new style](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-style)) or March 4, 1681 (old style) at the same time as [William Penn](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-penn)'s Charter from [Charles II](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-ii-of-england) became effective.\nClift was required by the grant to maintain ferry service across the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) to [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey), and to run a public house or inn.\nThe inn later became known as the George II.\n[Bristol](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol) Borough was settled in 1681, and named after [Bristol](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol), England.\nIt was originally used as a port and dock.\nIt is rich in history, with many historic and restored houses along the streets of Radcliffe and Mill.\nIn 1697, the [Pennsylvania Provincial Council](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-provincial-council) ordered that a town be laid out in the location.\nA petition was submitted by Joseph Bond, Anthony Burton, John Hall and William Wharton to the Council for incorporation, and was granted in 1702.\nUntil 1725, Bristol Borough served as county seat of [Bucks County](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania).\nFrom its earliest days, it was a center of textile mills, [foundries](https://bliptext.com/articles/foundry), milling, and miscellaneous manufacturing.\nWith the building of the 60 mi long, forty feet wide, and five feet deep [Delaware Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division), it became a transshipment gatewayDelaware Canal was later organized and known as the [Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division)](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division).\nconnecting the [anthracite](https://bliptext.com/articles/anthracite) barges floating down the [Lehigh Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/lehigh-canal)'s end terminal at Easton to Philadelphia.\nBristol Borough was chosen to terminate the Delaware Canal because it already had regular shipping connections to other parts of Philadelphia and Delaware River ports by both the era's typical [animal powered](https://bliptext.com/articles/animal-power) barges and coastal/inland shipping vessels.\nIts docks also had regular ferry services to New Jersey and other points east from as early as 1681 until 1931.\nDeveloped by [John Fitch](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-fitch-inventor), Bristol was the home of the first steamboat ferry service taking up to 30 passengers bound for [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia) and other ports on the [Delaware](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river)Steam boat service between Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia also played a key role in community development, since many lines had historic sailing ship ferry stops in Bristol.\nIn 1740, William Davis established a shipyard in Bristol, building small vessels such as schooners and sloops.\nOne such vessel was the Morning Glory, noted as the fastest sailing craft on the Delaware.\nIn 1800, John Reed acquired the shipyard.\nThe expense of digging the canal was justifiable as the banks of the Delaware southerly from Easton were less suitable, there was insufficient real estate for extensive additional docks, so the legislature figured the Delaware Canal avoided the need to transship barge loads of coal to boats, drastically saving costs and time.\nSince Bristol Borough's long established docks were accessible to the Delaware River, the town also became the Delaware Canal's southern (main distribution) terminal end.Both the Delaware and the Lehigh canals operated over 100 years, into the 1930s, and Bristol Borough saw most of that traffic once the canal was online; though some coal shipped from Easton.\nCanal traffic diminished as the Railroad age matured, but shipping bulk goods by water transport has decided economic advantages, so the canals lasted until the economic crash in the [Great Depression](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-depression).\nConsequently, later, the [Pennsylvania Railroad](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-railroad) would also connect to the anthracite flowing through the canals, to the riverine barge and boat traffic, and to provide rail depots servicing the manufacturies.\nEven before the canal, Bristol Borough was located along a main land route to New York City, Trenton, and New England so with construction of the canal and railroads, it became a major center of transportation and an even more attractive location for industry.\nBy the 1880s, Bristol Borough was home to many factories, including companies manufacturing wall paper and carpet. In World War I, the Bristol Borough docks had sufficient space for a shipyard to construct twelve building slips for the construction of merchant vessels.\nIn 1917 [Averell Harriman](https://bliptext.com/articles/averell-harriman) organized the Bristol Borough shipyards founding the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation (later called Merchant-Sterling) and given the U-boat menace, would land a contract to build 40 identical cargo ships for the war.\nThe residential area that developed around the shipyards was soon named [Harriman, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/harriman-pennsylvania), and most of the housing built therein is still in use today.\nIn 1922 Harriman was annexed by Bristol Borough.\nMost of the shipping was finished too late to enter World War I, but some of the shipyard's output was used post-war in relief and troop support missions.\nThe majority of the contracts were canceled in 1919, and the ship yards rapidly became excess real estate.\nBetween the world wars, the eighty-acres of the shipyard were let out to various concerns, including one area converted to building amphibious planes—the [flying boats](https://bliptext.com/articles/flying-boat) technology which was the heart and soul of long distance air travel until the technological advances theretofore the middle years of [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nDuring World War II the old shipyards were used to build those and other airplanes, but most of the manufacturing in WW-II was not directly war related.\nIn 1961, Bristol Borough gained national attention when the song \"[Bristol Stomp](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-stomp)\", by [The Dovells](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-dovells) hit #2 on the [Billboard](https://bliptext.com/articles/billboard-magazine) pop chart.\nThe song remains a local favorite, and it is often played at ceremonies, parades, and sporting events.\nThe Merchant Shipbuilding site returned to the news in the 1990s when the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority using state and federal funding targeted the area as a priority for urban redevelopment.\nGiven its riverfront location, the old shipbuilding site was ranked highest in priority, and on 20 October 2000 various legislators and officials held a press conference at the former shipyard heralding the construction of the residential development already under way, known as the 'Riverfront North Project', and publicizing how derelict portions of the slipways were being removed.\nThe project also established a park with four monuments celebrating the town's past in the redevelopment.\nToday the preserved elements of the shipyard, and other buildings once important in Bristol Borough's past service are enshrined and celebrated in the [Bristol Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-historic-district), [Bristol Industrial Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-industrial-historic-district), and tourism sites celebrating the town's history and rich ethnic diversity.\nVarious annual festivals, in particular keep a multi-ethnic cultural identity alive and well.\nHistoric sites in the town such as the [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division), [Dorrance Mansion](https://bliptext.com/articles/dorrance-mansion), [General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation](https://bliptext.com/articles/general-stores-and-mold-loft-building-harriman-yard-of-the-merchant-shipbuilding-corporation), [Grundy Mill Complex](https://bliptext.com/articles/grundy-mill-complex), [Harriman Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/harriman-historic-district), [Jefferson Avenue School](https://bliptext.com/articles/jefferson-avenue-school) and [Jefferson Land Association Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/jefferson-land-association-historic-district) are listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-register-of-historic-places).\nDelaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal is also designated a [National Historic Landmark District](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-historic-landmark).\nIn March 2023, there was a [chemical spill in the Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/2023-delaware-river-chemical-spill), caused by an equipment failure at the [Trinseo](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinseo) chemical plant in Bristol.\n# [The historic King George II Inn, founded in 1681 in downtown Bristol, the oldest United States–based inn | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/King///George///Inn.JPG]\n# [House on Mill Street, constructed in 1781 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/200///Mill///Bristol.JPG]\n# [Grundy Mills Complex, a former textile mill in Bristol | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Grundy///Mills///Complex.jpg]\n# [Bristol Borough's Harriman Historic District | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Harriman///historic///district.jpg]\n# [Bristol Borough Hall | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Bristol%2C///PA///borough///hall%2C///March///2024.jpg]\n\n# Demographics\nAs of a 2014 estimate, the borough was 69.2% Non-Hispanic White, 16.4% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.2% Asian, 3.5% Some other race, and 3.4% were Two or more races.\n15.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry\nAs of the 2010 census, the borough was 81.1 White, 9.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 3.5% were two or more races.\n14.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.\nThere are 661 veterans living in Bristol Borough.\nThere were 9,726 people, 4,237 households, and 3,926 families residing in the borough.\nThe population density was 6,016.5 PD/sqmi.\nThere were 4,207 housing units at an average density of 2,550.8 /sqmi.\nThere were 4,004 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were [married couples](https://bliptext.com/articles/marriage) living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families.\n33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.\nThe average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.20.\nIn the borough the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older.\nThe median age was 36 years.\nFor every 100 females, there were 90.6 males.\nFor every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.\nThe median income for a household in the borough in 2016 was $42,962.\nMales had a median income of $28,653 versus $19,278 for females.\nAbout 8.2% of families and 16% of the population were below the [poverty line](https://bliptext.com/articles/poverty-line).\n\n# Geography\nBristol Borough is located at 40.10333°N, -74.85139°W (40.103382, -74.851448).\nAccording to the [U.S. Census Bureau](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-census-bureau), the borough has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, of which 1.6 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi (10.81%) is water.\n\n# Education\nThe [Bristol Borough School District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-borough-school-district) comprises two public schools: Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School (K-6) and Bristol High School (7-12).\nOther schooling opportunities in Bristol are offered through the Roman Catholic parish school of St. Mark Church (K-8), located in the borough.\nConwell-Egan Roman Catholic School in [Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/fairless-hills-pennsylvania) provides private/parochial schooling for children in grades 9-12.\nHigher education in Bristol Borough includes [Pennco Tech](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennco-tech).\n\n# Climate\nAccording to the [Köppen climate classification](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-ppen-climate-classification) system, Bristol has a [humid subtropical climate](https://bliptext.com/articles/humid-subtropical-climate) (Cfa).\nCfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F and no significant precipitation difference between seasons.\nAlthough most summer days are slightly humid in Bristol, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with [heat index](https://bliptext.com/articles/heat-index) values > 110 °F.\nSince 1981, the highest air temperature was 103.1 °F on 07/06/2010, and the highest daily average mean [dew point](https://bliptext.com/articles/dew-point) was 75.5 °F on 08/13/2016.\nThe average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in [thunderstorm](https://bliptext.com/articles/thunderstorm) activity.\nSince 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.15 in on 08/27/2011.\nDuring the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 5.1 °F.\nSince 1981, the coldest air temperature was -5.8 °F on 01/22/1984.\nEpisodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [wind chill](https://bliptext.com/articles/wind-chill) values < -5 °F.\nThe average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 24 in and 30 in.\n[Ice storms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-storm) and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) occur once every few years, particularly during [nor’easters](https://bliptext.com/articles/nor-easter) from December through February.\n\n# Transportation\nAs of 2017 there were 27.31 mi of public roads in Bristol, of which 6.17 mi were maintained by the [Pennsylvania Department of Transportation](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-department-of-transportation) (PennDOT) and 21.14 mi were maintained by the borough.\n[U.S. Route 13](https://bliptext.com/articles/u-s-route-13-in-pennsylvania) passes southwest-northeast through Bristol on Bristol Pike, heading southwest toward [Bensalem](https://bliptext.com/articles/bensalem-pennsylvania) and [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia) and northeast toward [Levittown](https://bliptext.com/articles/levittown-pennsylvania) and [Trenton, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-new-jersey).\nUS 13 connects to the [Pennsylvania Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-turnpike) (Interstate 95) at the Delaware Valley interchange north of Bristol, just west of the [Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river-turnpike-toll-bridge) over the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) that connects the [Pennsylvania Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-turnpike) to the [New Jersey Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-jersey-turnpike).\n[Pennsylvania Route 413](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-route-413) passes north-south along the western edge of Bristol, heading north on Veterans Highway toward [Langhorne](https://bliptext.com/articles/langhorne-pennsylvania) and south to the [Burlington-Bristol Bridge](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-bristol-bridge) over the Delaware River that leads to [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey).\nPA 413 connects to [Interstate 95](https://bliptext.com/articles/interstate-95-in-pennsylvania) at an interchange north of Bristol.\nThe [Bristol station](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-station-septa) is served by [SEPTA Regional Rail](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-regional-rail)'s [Trenton Line](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-line) that provides service between [Center City Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/center-city-philadelphia) and the [Trenton Transit Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-transit-center).\nTrains along [Amtrak](https://bliptext.com/articles/amtrak)'s [Northeast Corridor](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-corridor) pass through Bristol but do not stop; the nearest [Amtrak](https://bliptext.com/articles/amtrak) station is in Trenton.\n[SEPTA](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa) provides [Suburban Bus](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-suburban-bus) service to Bristol along [Route 128](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-route-128), which runs between the [Neshaminy Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/neshaminy-mall) and the [Oxford Valley Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/oxford-valley-mall), and [Route 129](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-route-129), which runs between the Frankford and Knights Bus Loop in [Northeast Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-philadelphia) and the [Oxford Valley Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/oxford-valley-mall).\n[TMA Bucks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tma-bucks) operates the [Bristol Rushbus](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-rushbus), which offers peak-hour shuttles between a connection with the Trenton Line train at the Bristol station and certain businesses in Bristol.\n\n# Ecology\nAccording to the [A. W. Kuchler](https://bliptext.com/articles/a-w-kuchler), among U.S. [potential natural vegetation](https://bliptext.com/articles/potential-natural-vegetation) types, Bristol would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [Oak](https://bliptext.com/articles/oak) (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [Hardwood](https://bliptext.com/articles/hardwood) Forest (25).\nThe [plant hardiness zone](https://bliptext.com/articles/plant-hardiness-zone) is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 5.1 °F.\nThe spring bloom typically begins by April 7 and fall color usually peaks by November 4.\n\n# Notable people","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T18:14:29.751Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T18:14:29.751Z","search_vector":"'bristol':1 'pennsylvania':2","search_content":" \n**Name:** Bristol, Pennsylvania \n**Settlement Type:** [Borough](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-towns-and-boroughs-in-pennsylvania) \n**Image Skyline:** Delaware River Bristol.JPG \n**Image Caption:** Lions Park on the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) in Bristol \n**Image Seal:** Bristol Seal.jpg \n**Image Map:** File:Bucks County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bristol Highlighted.svg \n**Map Caption:** Location of Bristol Borough in [Bucks County, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania) \n**Pushpin Map:** Pennsylvania#USA \n**Pushpin Label:** Bristol \n**Pushpin Map Caption:** Location of Bristol Borough in [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) \n**Coordinates:** 40.10333°N, -74.85139°W \n**Subdivision Type:** Country \n**Subdivision Name:** United States \n**Subdivision Type 1:** [State](https://bliptext.com/articles/u-s-state) \n**Subdivision Name 1:** [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) \n**Subdivision Type 2:** [County](https://bliptext.com/articles/list-of-counties-in-pennsylvania) \n**Subdivision Name 2:** [Bucks](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania) \n**Established Title:** Settled \n**Established Date:** 1681 \n**Leader Title:** Mayor \n**Leader Name:** Ralph DiGuiseppe III \n**Unit Pref:** Imperial \n**Area Total Sq Mi:** 1.96 \n**Area Land Sq Mi:** 1.70 \n**Area Water Sq Mi:** 0.26 \n**Elevation Ft:** 20 \n**Population As Of:** [2020](https://bliptext.com/articles/2020-united-states-census) \n**Population Total:** 9861 \n**Population Density Sq Mi:** 5807.42 \n**Timezone 1:** [Eastern (EST)](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-time-zone) \n**Utc Offset 1:** 5 \n**Timezone 1 Dst:** [EDT](https://bliptext.com/articles/eastern-daylight-time) \n**Utc Offset 1 Dst:** 4 \n**Postal Code Type:** [ZIP Code](https://bliptext.com/articles/zip-code) \n**Postal Code:** 19007 \n**Area Codes:** [215, 267, and 445](https://bliptext.com/articles/area-codes-215-267-and-445) \n**Website:** http://www.bristolborough.com/ \n**Blank Name:** [FIPS code](https://bliptext.com/articles/federal-information-processing-standards) \n**Blank Info:** 42-08760 \n**Area Total Km 2:** 5.07 \n**Area Land Km 2:** 4.40 \n**Area Water Km 2:** 0.67 \n**Population Density Km 2:** 2242.41 \n \n\n# \n**Bristol** is a [borough](https://bliptext.com/articles/borough-pennsylvania) in [Bucks County, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania), United States.\nIt is located 23 mi northeast of [Center City Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/center-city-philadelphia), opposite [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey), on the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river).\nBristol was settled in 1681 and first incorporated in 1720.\nAfter 1834, it became very important to the development of the [American Industrial Revolution](https://bliptext.com/articles/technological-and-industrial-history-of-the-united-states) as the terminus city of the [Delaware Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-canal), providing [greater Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-valley) with the day's high quality [anthracite](https://bliptext.com/articles/anthracite) coal from the [Lehigh Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/lehigh-canal) via [Easton](https://bliptext.com/articles/easton-pennsylvania).\nThe canal and a short trip on the Delaware River also gave the town access to the [mineral](https://bliptext.com/articles/mineral) resources available in [Connecticut](https://bliptext.com/articles/connecticut), [New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-jersey), and [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) via each of the [Morris Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/morris-canal), the [Delaware and Hudson Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-and-hudson-canal), and the [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-and-raritan-canal), and connected the community to those markets and trade from [New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-state) City.\nAlthough its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making it the third-oldest borough in [Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania) after [Chester](https://bliptext.com/articles/chester-pennsylvania) and [Germantown](https://bliptext.com/articles/germantown-philadelphia).\nIt had 7,104 residents in 1900; 9,256 in 1910; 10,273 in 1920; and 11,895 in 1940.\nThe most recent [2010 census](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-census-2010) showed its population at 9,726.\nIts current [mayor](https://bliptext.com/articles/mayor) is Joseph A. Saxton.\nIt is served by [SEPTA](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa)'s [Trenton Line](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-line).\nBristol is located 70.9 mi southeast of [Allentown](https://bliptext.com/articles/allentown-pennsylvania) and 22.4 mi northeast of [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia).\n\n# History\n[Samuel Clift](https://bliptext.com/articles/samuel-clift) founded the Borough of Bristol, having received a land grant from [Edmund Andros](https://bliptext.com/articles/edmund-andros), who was then [governor of New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/governor-of-new-york).\nThe grant became effective on March 14, 1681 ([new style](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-style)) or March 4, 1681 (old style) at the same time as [William Penn](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-penn)'s Charter from [Charles II](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-ii-of-england) became effective.\nClift was required by the grant to maintain ferry service across the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) to [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey), and to run a public house or inn.\nThe inn later became known as the George II.\n[Bristol](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol) Borough was settled in 1681, and named after [Bristol](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol), England.\nIt was originally used as a port and dock.\nIt is rich in history, with many historic and restored houses along the streets of Radcliffe and Mill.\nIn 1697, the [Pennsylvania Provincial Council](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-provincial-council) ordered that a town be laid out in the location.\nA petition was submitted by Joseph Bond, Anthony Burton, John Hall and William Wharton to the Council for incorporation, and was granted in 1702.\nUntil 1725, Bristol Borough served as county seat of [Bucks County](https://bliptext.com/articles/bucks-county-pennsylvania).\nFrom its earliest days, it was a center of textile mills, [foundries](https://bliptext.com/articles/foundry), milling, and miscellaneous manufacturing.\nWith the building of the 60 mi long, forty feet wide, and five feet deep [Delaware Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division), it became a transshipment gateway Delaware Canal was later organized and known as the [Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division)](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division).\nconnecting the [anthracite](https://bliptext.com/articles/anthracite) barges floating down the [Lehigh Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/lehigh-canal)'s end terminal at Easton to Philadelphia.\nBristol Borough was chosen to terminate the Delaware Canal because it already had regular shipping connections to other parts of Philadelphia and Delaware River ports by both the era's typical [animal powered](https://bliptext.com/articles/animal-power) barges and coastal/inland shipping vessels.\nIts docks also had regular ferry services to New Jersey and other points east from as early as 1681 until 1931.\nDeveloped by [John Fitch](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-fitch-inventor), Bristol was the home of the first steamboat ferry service taking up to 30 passengers bound for [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia) and other ports on the [Delaware](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) Steam boat service between Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia also played a key role in community development, since many lines had historic sailing ship ferry stops in Bristol.\nIn 1740, William Davis established a shipyard in Bristol, building small vessels such as schooners and sloops.\nOne such vessel was the Morning Glory, noted as the fastest sailing craft on the Delaware.\nIn 1800, John Reed acquired the shipyard.\nThe expense of digging the canal was justifiable as the banks of the Delaware southerly from Easton were less suitable, there was insufficient real estate for extensive additional docks, so the legislature figured the Delaware Canal avoided the need to transship barge loads of coal to boats, drastically saving costs and time.\nSince Bristol Borough's long established docks were accessible to the Delaware River, the town also became the Delaware Canal's southern (main distribution) terminal end. Both the Delaware and the Lehigh canals operated over 100 years, into the 1930s, and Bristol Borough saw most of that traffic once the canal was online; though some coal shipped from Easton.\nCanal traffic diminished as the Railroad age matured, but shipping bulk goods by water transport has decided economic advantages, so the canals lasted until the economic crash in the [Great Depression](https://bliptext.com/articles/great-depression).\nConsequently, later, the [Pennsylvania Railroad](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-railroad) would also connect to the anthracite flowing through the canals, to the riverine barge and boat traffic, and to provide rail depots servicing the manufacturies.\nEven before the canal, Bristol Borough was located along a main land route to New York City, Trenton, and New England so with construction of the canal and railroads, it became a major center of transportation and an even more attractive location for industry. \nBy the 1880s, Bristol Borough was home to many factories, including companies manufacturing wall paper and carpet. In World War I, the Bristol Borough docks had sufficient space for a shipyard to construct twelve building slips for the construction of merchant vessels.\nIn 1917 [Averell Harriman](https://bliptext.com/articles/averell-harriman) organized the Bristol Borough shipyards founding the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation (later called Merchant-Sterling) and given the U-boat menace, would land a contract to build 40 identical cargo ships for the war.\nThe residential area that developed around the shipyards was soon named [Harriman, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/harriman-pennsylvania), and most of the housing built therein is still in use today.\nIn 1922 Harriman was annexed by Bristol Borough.\nMost of the shipping was finished too late to enter World War I, but some of the shipyard's output was used post-war in relief and troop support missions.\nThe majority of the contracts were canceled in 1919, and the ship yards rapidly became excess real estate.\nBetween the world wars, the eighty-acres of the shipyard were let out to various concerns, including one area converted to building amphibious planes—the [flying boats](https://bliptext.com/articles/flying-boat) technology which was the heart and soul of long distance air travel until the technological advances theretofore the middle years of [World War II](https://bliptext.com/articles/world-war-ii).\nDuring World War II the old shipyards were used to build those and other airplanes, but most of the manufacturing in WW-II was not directly war related.\nIn 1961, Bristol Borough gained national attention when the song \"[Bristol Stomp](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-stomp)\", by [The Dovells](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-dovells) hit #2 on the [Billboard](https://bliptext.com/articles/billboard-magazine) pop chart.\nThe song remains a local favorite, and it is often played at ceremonies, parades, and sporting events.\nThe Merchant Shipbuilding site returned to the news in the 1990s when the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority using state and federal funding targeted the area as a priority for urban redevelopment.\nGiven its riverfront location, the old shipbuilding site was ranked highest in priority, and on 20 October 2000 various legislators and officials held a press conference at the former shipyard heralding the construction of the residential development already under way, known as the 'Riverfront North Project', and publicizing how derelict portions of the slipways were being removed.\nThe project also established a park with four monuments celebrating the town's past in the redevelopment.\nToday the preserved elements of the shipyard, and other buildings once important in Bristol Borough's past service are enshrined and celebrated in the [Bristol Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-historic-district), [Bristol Industrial Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-industrial-historic-district), and tourism sites celebrating the town's history and rich ethnic diversity.\nVarious annual festivals, in particular keep a multi-ethnic cultural identity alive and well.\nHistoric sites in the town such as the [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-canal-delaware-division), [Dorrance Mansion](https://bliptext.com/articles/dorrance-mansion), [General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation](https://bliptext.com/articles/general-stores-and-mold-loft-building-harriman-yard-of-the-merchant-shipbuilding-corporation), [Grundy Mill Complex](https://bliptext.com/articles/grundy-mill-complex), [Harriman Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/harriman-historic-district), [Jefferson Avenue School](https://bliptext.com/articles/jefferson-avenue-school) and [Jefferson Land Association Historic District](https://bliptext.com/articles/jefferson-land-association-historic-district) are listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-register-of-historic-places).\nDelaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal is also designated a [National Historic Landmark District](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-historic-landmark).\nIn March 2023, there was a [chemical spill in the Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/2023-delaware-river-chemical-spill), caused by an equipment failure at the [Trinseo](https://bliptext.com/articles/trinseo) chemical plant in Bristol.\n# [The historic King George II Inn, founded in 1681 in downtown Bristol, the oldest United States–based inn | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/King///George///Inn.JPG]\n# [House on Mill Street, constructed in 1781 | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/200///Mill///Bristol.JPG]\n# [Grundy Mills Complex, a former textile mill in Bristol | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Grundy///Mills///Complex.jpg]\n# [Bristol Borough's Harriman Historic District | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Harriman///historic///district.jpg]\n# [Bristol Borough Hall | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Bristol%2C///PA///borough///hall%2C///March///2024.jpg]\n\n# Demographics\nAs of a 2014 estimate, the borough was 69.2% Non-Hispanic White, 16.4% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.2% Asian, 3.5% Some other race, and 3.4% were Two or more races.\n15.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry\nAs of the 2010 census, the borough was 81.1 White, 9.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 3.5% were two or more races.\n14.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.\nThere are 661 veterans living in Bristol Borough.\nThere were 9,726 people, 4,237 households, and 3,926 families residing in the borough.\nThe population density was 6,016.5 PD/sqmi.\nThere were 4,207 housing units at an average density of 2,550.8 /sqmi.\nThere were 4,004 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were [married couples](https://bliptext.com/articles/marriage) living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families.\n33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.\nThe average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.20.\nIn the borough the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older.\nThe median age was 36 years.\nFor every 100 females, there were 90.6 males.\nFor every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.\nThe median income for a household in the borough in 2016 was $42,962.\nMales had a median income of $28,653 versus $19,278 for females.\nAbout 8.2% of families and 16% of the population were below the [poverty line](https://bliptext.com/articles/poverty-line).\n\n# Geography\nBristol Borough is located at 40.10333°N, -74.85139°W (40.103382, -74.851448).\nAccording to the [U.S. Census Bureau](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-census-bureau), the borough has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, of which 1.6 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi (10.81%) is water.\n\n# Education\nThe [Bristol Borough School District](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-borough-school-district) comprises two public schools: Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School (K-6) and Bristol High School (7-12).\nOther schooling opportunities in Bristol are offered through the Roman Catholic parish school of St. Mark Church (K-8), located in the borough.\nConwell-Egan Roman Catholic School in [Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania](https://bliptext.com/articles/fairless-hills-pennsylvania) provides private/parochial schooling for children in grades 9-12.\nHigher education in Bristol Borough includes [Pennco Tech](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennco-tech).\n\n# Climate\nAccording to the [Köppen climate classification](https://bliptext.com/articles/k-ppen-climate-classification) system, Bristol has a [humid subtropical climate](https://bliptext.com/articles/humid-subtropical-climate) (Cfa).\nCfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F and no significant precipitation difference between seasons.\nAlthough most summer days are slightly humid in Bristol, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with [heat index](https://bliptext.com/articles/heat-index) values > 110 °F.\nSince 1981, the highest air temperature was 103.1 °F on 07/06/2010, and the highest daily average mean [dew point](https://bliptext.com/articles/dew-point) was 75.5 °F on 08/13/2016.\nThe average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in [thunderstorm](https://bliptext.com/articles/thunderstorm) activity.\nSince 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.15 in on 08/27/2011.\nDuring the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 5.1 °F.\nSince 1981, the coldest air temperature was -5.8 °F on 01/22/1984.\nEpisodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [wind chill](https://bliptext.com/articles/wind-chill) values < -5 °F.\nThe average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 24 in and 30 in.\n[Ice storms](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-storm) and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) occur once every few years, particularly during [nor’easters](https://bliptext.com/articles/nor-easter) from December through February.\n\n# Transportation\nAs of 2017 there were 27.31 mi of public roads in Bristol, of which 6.17 mi were maintained by the [Pennsylvania Department of Transportation](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-department-of-transportation) (PennDOT) and 21.14 mi were maintained by the borough.\n[U.S. Route 13](https://bliptext.com/articles/u-s-route-13-in-pennsylvania) passes southwest-northeast through Bristol on Bristol Pike, heading southwest toward [Bensalem](https://bliptext.com/articles/bensalem-pennsylvania) and [Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/philadelphia) and northeast toward [Levittown](https://bliptext.com/articles/levittown-pennsylvania) and [Trenton, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-new-jersey).\nUS 13 connects to the [Pennsylvania Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-turnpike) (Interstate 95) at the Delaware Valley interchange north of Bristol, just west of the [[Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river)–Turnpike Toll Bridge](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river-turnpike-toll-bridge) over the [Delaware River](https://bliptext.com/articles/delaware-river) that connects the [Pennsylvania Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-turnpike) to the [New Jersey Turnpike](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-jersey-turnpike).\n[Pennsylvania Route 413](https://bliptext.com/articles/pennsylvania-route-413) passes north-south along the western edge of Bristol, heading north on Veterans Highway toward [Langhorne](https://bliptext.com/articles/langhorne-pennsylvania) and south to the [Burlington-Bristol Bridge](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-bristol-bridge) over the Delaware River that leads to [Burlington, New Jersey](https://bliptext.com/articles/burlington-new-jersey).\nPA 413 connects to [Interstate 95](https://bliptext.com/articles/interstate-95-in-pennsylvania) at an interchange north of Bristol.\nThe [Bristol station](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-station-septa) is served by [SEPTA Regional Rail](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-regional-rail)'s [Trenton Line](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-line) that provides service between [Center City Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/center-city-philadelphia) and the [Trenton Transit Center](https://bliptext.com/articles/trenton-transit-center).\nTrains along [Amtrak](https://bliptext.com/articles/amtrak)'s [Northeast Corridor](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-corridor) pass through Bristol but do not stop; the nearest [Amtrak](https://bliptext.com/articles/amtrak) station is in Trenton.\n[SEPTA](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa) provides [Suburban Bus](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-suburban-bus) service to Bristol along [Route 128](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-route-128), which runs between the [Neshaminy Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/neshaminy-mall) and the [Oxford Valley Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/oxford-valley-mall), and [Route 129](https://bliptext.com/articles/septa-route-129), which runs between the Frankford and Knights Bus Loop in [Northeast Philadelphia](https://bliptext.com/articles/northeast-philadelphia) and the [Oxford Valley Mall](https://bliptext.com/articles/oxford-valley-mall).\n[TMA Bucks](https://bliptext.com/articles/tma-bucks) operates the [Bristol Rushbus](https://bliptext.com/articles/bristol-rushbus), which offers peak-hour shuttles between a connection with the Trenton Line train at the Bristol station and certain businesses in Bristol.\n\n# Ecology\nAccording to the [A. W. Kuchler](https://bliptext.com/articles/a-w-kuchler), among U.S. [potential natural vegetation](https://bliptext.com/articles/potential-natural-vegetation) types, Bristol would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [Oak](https://bliptext.com/articles/oak) (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [Hardwood](https://bliptext.com/articles/hardwood) Forest (25).\nThe [plant hardiness zone](https://bliptext.com/articles/plant-hardiness-zone) is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 5.1 °F.\nThe spring bloom typically begins by April 7 and fall color usually peaks by November 4.\n\n# Notable people","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}