Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania
Township
Andalusia a NRHP site in Bensalem
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Elevation	102 ft (31.1 m)
Coordinates	40°06′46″N 74°56′36″W / 40.11278°N 74.94333°W / 40.11278; -74.94333Coordinates: 40°06′46″N 74°56′36″W / 40.11278°N 74.94333°W / 40.11278; -74.94333
Area	21.0 sq mi (54.4 km2)
- land	20.0 sq mi (52 km2)
- water	1.0 sq mi (3 km2), 4.76%
Population	61,500 (2011)
Density	2,926.7/sq mi (1,130.0/km2)
Mayor	Joseph DiGirolamo (R)
Timezone	EST (UTC-5)
- summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	19020, 19053
Area code	215 and 267
Location of Bensalem Township in Bucks County
Location of Bensalem Township in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Website: http://www.bensalemtwp.org/

Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States which borders the northeast section of Philadelphia. The township is composed of many communities, including Bensalem, Trevose, Oakford, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, and Andalusia. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 60,427, which makes it the largest municipality in Bucks County, and the ninth largest in Pennsylvania. The township, which was founded in 1692, is almost as old as Pennsylvania itself, which was founded in 1682.

The origins of Bensalem likely comes from references made by settler Joseph Growden, who named his estate as Manor of Bensalem' in honor of William Penn, the son of peace and the Semitic term for peace . Originally named Salem, the word Ben was added in 1701.

Bensalem is the southernmost township in Bucks County and is bordered by Philadelphia to the west and south, Croydon and the rest of Bristol Township to the east and northeast, Hulmeville and Middletown Township to the north, and Feasterville, Trevose, and Oakford in Lower Southampton Township to the northwest. Across the Delaware River in Burlington County, New Jersey to the southeast, there are Beverly, Delanco Township, and Edgewater Park Township.