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Newtown Borough municipal offices are located at 23 North State Street, Newtown PA 18940; phone: 215-968-2109.
Historical Note
After William Penn had laid out Philadelphia, his "great town", in 1682, he traveled north through a vast tract of land he had purchased from the local Indians. Some 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia, in the middle of trees that bordered a creek flowing to the Delaware River, he allegedly announced "This is where I propose to build my 'new town' ". No documentation supports this tale but, two years later in 1684, William Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme, devised a plan for a new settlement initially called New Township. Straddling what is now called Newtown Creek, the site included 640 acres. In time, the name was shortened to Newtown.
Single Family Homes
Less than 10 boro residences have lots 1 acre or larger. The median is approximately one-quarter acre. Curiously, the homes with the largest square footage of living space are all on properties of less than an acre. Home sizes range from hundreds of square feet to more than 5,500 sq. ft.; the median is approximately 2,000 sq. ft. The age of single family home inventory covers the pre-Revolutionary War through approximately 2000. Median age is approximately 1928.
The Newtown Historic District (initial nomination) was placed on the National Register in 1979. Text, below, is excerpted from a copy of the original nomination document.
Newtown Historic District
The following text was transcribed from a copy of the original 1979 document nominating "The Newtown Historic District" to the National Register of Historic Places.
Agriculture
Until recently Newtown's development has been
inextricably linked to farming and supporting activities.
Surveyed in 1683 and 1684 by Thomas
Holme under instruction of William Penn, the layout
was a prime example of Penn's theories of town
planning — each purchaser having a lot in the
townstead as well as a plantation in the outlying art
with a common center for the use of all.
Settlement followed almost immediately and the
fertile land surrounding the village was cleared and
placed under cultivation early. By the 1700s
Newtown's approximately 6,000 acres had been subdivided
into 30 active farms. The agricultural orientation became most important during the 19th century
when many retired farmers moved to Newtown and built the spacious Victorian houses so common
along State Street and Washington Avenue.
Newtown was the site of the county-wide agricultural fair that was initiated in the early 1800s and held
annually for the greater part of the century. An agricultural implements foundry also operated in Newtown
during the later half of the 19th century.
Architecture
Newtown is a living museum of architectural history.
It possesses examples of major architectural
styles dating from the late 17th to 20th century. The
18th century buildings are generally grouped on
what was the court house tract; even today they give
the impression of the original small colonial village.
Buildings of later architectural style extend
from the original village in general chronological
order to the periphery of the district. Although the
district is large (230 buildings), it offers a pleasing
visual impact because of the groupings of similar
style buildings and the relatively few intrusions (39).
Art
Edward Hicks, one of America's foremost primitive
artists, established residence in Newtown in
1811. He lived on Court Street until 1821 when he
purchased land on Penn Street., where he built a
stone home and shop. This remained his home until
his death in 1849. It was during this residence in
Newtown that most of his major canvases were
painted. He also painted signs for various local business
enterprises and the one made for the Newtown
Library Company still hangs in the library building.
Both of the houses in which he resided are
standing today and are part of the historic district.
He is buried in the Friends Burial Ground on Court
Street, located only a few hundred yards from his former home.
Commerce
The commercial center of early 18th century Newtown was on land just south of the court house tract.
James Yates, first settler of this land, sold small lots to persons wanting them for improvement. A grist
mill, first store, blacksmith shop and two tanyards were early commercial enterprises. With the flourishing
of the courthouse years, Newtown grew into an important village and by 1784 had a population
of 497 white and 28 black inhabitants. A summary of the Taxable Inhabitants made by Benjamin
Taylor, assessor, on November 20, 1807, lists the following occupations:
4 Blacksmiths, 5 Attorneys, 1 Miller, 3 Shopkeepers, 1 Printer, 2 Carpenters, 5 Innkeepers, 5 Masons, 1 Butcher, 3 Tanners, 7 Shoemakers, 1 Physician, 1 Wheelwright, 1 Silversmith, 3 Tailors, 1 Schoolmaster, 1 Cook, 1 Harness Maker, 65 Farmers, 4 Weavers, 1 Hatter.
Military
Because of its accessibility as a transportation center,
Newtown was selected as an important supply
depot for the Continental army during the various
campaigns in New Jersey. The town was also the
headquarters of General Washington and several of
his top officers before and after the Battle of Trenton
and it was from Newtown that Washington wrote
and informed Congress of this important victory.
Newtown served as a prison form some 1,000 Hessian
soldiers taken at the battle. The officers were
quartered at inns and private houses; the soldiers in
the Meeting House and the jail.
Lord Stirling remained behind in Newtown since he was suffering from rheumatism. General Washington
placed him in command of the post in order to secure the ferries and upper part of the County
against any surprise attack. The building which he used as headquarters is located within the district.
The only actual local combat during the war occurred on February 9, 1778, on South State Street near
the Court House when a small company of invading British soldiers seeking supplies after a raid on the
Jenks Fulling Mill encountered a group of revolutionary
soldiers. One was killed and a number injured.
A bronze plaque mounted on a stone maker
on the property of the "Bird In Hand," in the historic
district marks this site.
In April 1778, a 10 day conference was held at
Newtown to arrange a cartel for the exchange of
prisoners of war. Elias Boudinot, Esquire, Commissioner
of Prisoners for the Americans, was accompanied
by several high-ranking officers including
Colonel Alexander Hamilton. Sir William Howe
appointed several officers to represent the British
at this meeting in Newtown.
Politics
Moving the county seat from Bristol to Newtown
in 1725 greatly enhanced the growth and prosperity
of the village. Not only were all court matters
conducted here, but elections for the entire county
were held in Newtown until 1786. Officials and citizens
involved in the activities of county government
came to Newtown and provided a steady flux of
visitors. In order to meet their needs, new businesses
were established which included several important
early taverns still standing today in the district. The
taverns became the focal point of social and political
interactions. For example, Anthony Siddon's
tavern contained a Grand Jury Room and a Sheriff's
Room, and the County Commissioners are known to have met at the tavern of Margaret Thornton.
During the 80 year period that Newtown remained the county seat, it played a pivotal role in the
formative years of Bucks County.
Religion
Organized in 1734, the Newtown Presbyterian congregation was among the first 100 of its sect in this
country. Although many of Newtown's early settlers were Quakers, it was not until 1817 that construction
started on the first Meeting House. Edward Hicks and others actually organized the Newtown
Friends Meeting and were influential in the construction of their place of worship. Although it is reported
that an active Episcopalian congregation existed as early as 1766, the first actual construction of
a brick church, standing today in the district, was in 1832. The Methodist Church was built in 1846, St.
Andrew's Catholic Church in 1874, and the John Wesley AME Zion Church in 1897.
Newtown Borough municipal offices are located at 23 North State Street, Newtown PA 18940; phone: 215-968-2109.
Transportation
Newtown was the hub or central point of an extensive road network existing during the 18th century.
The first road from Bristol to Newtown was opened in 1693. In 1703 it was extended from Newtown to
Buckingham and by 1745 it had reached Durham Furnace. This road was a major transportation artery
from south to north through through the county from its inception, and today, 286 years later, is still a
major artery from Bristol to and points north. A more extensive system developed when Newtown
became the county seat so that by the 1770s it had become an important transportation center. At the
time of the Revolution the following roads were in existence: Bristol Road, Durham Road to the furnace,
roads to Bakers, Coryell's, and Yardley's ferries, Swamp Road to Mitchell's Mill, Jenk's Fulling
Mill Road, and Frost Lane. Most of them still follow the same pattern as in the 18th century.
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