Morrisville dates to 1624, and 28% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 93% of U.S. towns · #144 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
3 places in town are on the National Register, among them the Summerseat, a National Historic Landmark. Below: 11 old photos and papers, maps from 1947 on, and the census since 1810.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Morrisville is more historic than 93% of U.S. towns, #144 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Morrisville’s overall grade.
Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Morrisville’s 3.1 sits near the middle of its state (61% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 3 listings outnumber those of 65% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1624.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±9.5 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Morrisville’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The earliest known settlement in what is now Morrisville, was a trading post of the Dutch West India Company operating from 1624 to 1627 on an island in the Delaware River. In its early days, the area was known as Crewcorne and was a part of Falls Township. Later, one of the first ferries to cross the Delaware was established at the site. By the late 18th century, a settlement was forming at the ferry crossing then known as Colvin's Ferry. The settlement incorporated into a borough in 1804, taking the name of Morrisville, after Founding Father Robert Morris. In that same year, the first bridge began being built across the Delaware connected Morrisville to Trenton. It would welcome traffic in 1806.
Passages that mention Morrisville, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania1876 · page 660Read the page →
Read the text
The bridge between Morrisville and Trenton was the first built across the Delaware. The charter was granted in 1801, the bridge commenced in 1804, and opened to travel January 30th, 1806. Before its completion a freshet proved that the abutments were too low, and they were raised about one-fourth higher than contemplated. The length was eleven hundred feet, and the cost $180,- 000. The opening of the bridge to travel was made a restive occasion. A large concourse of citizens marched in procession across
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania1876 · page 662Read the page →
Read the text
an elegant manner," and to draw on the treasury for a sum not exceeding $100,000. Congress adjourned to New York soon afterward, and we hear no more of the committee. It is said that the high land to the west of Morrisville was the chosen location if the purpose of the resolution had been carried out. We found in a bag of old papers what purported to be a draft of the proposed Federal district, but some of the lines were too indistinct for it to be copied, which embraced the site of Morrisville and adjacent country. About
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Morrisville, decade by decade
7 decades in the archive, from the 1800s to the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1624, according to Wikidata. the census of 1810 counted 266 people here.
How does Morrisville rank for history?
Morrisville is more historic than 93% of U.S. towns, #144 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Morrisville?
Three places: the Summerseat (listed 1971), the Trenton City/Calhoun Street Bridge (1975) and the Gershom Craft House (1986).
How old are the homes in Morrisville?
28% of Morrisville’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.5 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1955.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (11), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
★ Landmark
c. 1811
1891
1893
1893
1917
