 William and Jane Yardley were among the first settlers on the land to be known later as Makefield. The Yardleys were friends of William Penn, and were in his "inner circle" since Jane (Heath)Yardley's brother in law, James Harrison, was an advisor to William Penn and steward of Pennsbury. William and Jane Yardley and sons surveyed their land in September 1682 and named it "Prospect Farm" on December 20, 1682. Later in the winter of 1702-03 most of the Yardley family died of small pox with the exception of the wives of the Yardley brothers Enoch and Thomas. Thomas Yardley's wife Hester was later remarried to Richard Hough, who is credited with naming Makefield Township.
Hough, a provincial councilor, may have chosen the name Makefield as an Americanization of the name "Macclesfield," his native home in Cheshire, England. The Township of Makefield was founded in 1692 when Bucks County appointed a grand jury to divide the county into townships. The original five townships were Bensalem, Bristol, Falls, Makefield and Middletown. Forty-five years later the northern portion of the township was split off to form Upper Makefield.
The 1693 census recorded a population of 100 persons and was essentially devoted to farming. By 1810 the population had grown to 1089 persons, and small villages were forming. The Reading Railroad came to Lower Makefield in 1876, but the area remained largely agricultural. However, all that changed after World War II when the township's eighteen square miles were transformed to a suburban community of residential homeowners.
It was with great foresight that the Township's founding fathers created the first Zoning Ordinance in 1939 and the first Comprehensive Township Master Plan in 1954. Continuous updating of these documents has provided for growth in an orderly fashion to preserve the quality of life in Lower Makefield. The township is located in the southeastern portion of Bucks County , Pennsylvania and covers an area of 18 square miles. The township is adjacent to the west bank of the Delaware River, immediately upstream from the Borough of Morrisville and across the river from the City of Trenton and Mercer County, New Jersey. Additionally, the Township is bordered by Falls Township on the south, Middletown and Newtown Townships on the west, Upper Makefield Township on the north and the Borough of Yardley on the east. Lower Makefield is approximately 25 northeast of Philadelphia.
The township is characterized by gently rolling hills with flat lowlands flanking the Delaware River. Economically, the township is residential and agricultural in nature; there are large estates, attractive housing developments and operational farms. The Yardley/Lower Makefield Township areas are served by the award winning Pennsbury School District . Pennsbury schools are consistently among the highest rated in Pennsylvania and are one of the reasons so many people want to live in its district. The community boasts a fabulous youth sports program. A wide range of community sports and leisure organizations offer Lower Makefield Township residents recreational opportunities on a year round basis. Most of these groups are run entirely by volunteers. Application for registration with many of the groups is done through an on-line system. Some sports and recreation offered are football, baseball, softball, T-ball, soccer, community pool, community college programs, and seniors groups.
If you are interested in spectator sports, the Eagles , Phillies , Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers are less than an hour away. There is an excellent minor league baseball team and minor league hockey team in Trenton, New Jersey. Those games can be reached within 15 or 20 minutes and are very reasonably priced. Makefield Highlands Golf Club - The only true links-style golf course in the Tri-State area, Makefield Highlands will treat you with our unique layout, fescue-lined fairways, and meticulous course conditions. Rolling fairways, strategically placed hazards, and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside combine to create a golf course you’ll be proud to call your home club! Lower Makefield Community Park - The Lower Makefield Community Park may be the mother of all community recreation centers. Always clean and well-manicured, the park features four lighted tennis courts, a lighted basketball court, a lighted softball field, three Little League baseball fields, a sand volleyball court, a nature trail, and a picnic area with restrooms. What is perhaps the jewel in park's crown, however, is the sprawling Kids Kingdom Playground. At its center is a large, wooden, ship-shaped play structure connecting to everything from slides and rope swings to poles and tire bridges. There are lots of places for kids to climb, jump, and swing in the multi-level structure, and many places for children to hide, making it somewhat disconcerting to parents anxious to keep an eye on their kids at all times. The structure has stairways leading up to the top and a few alcoves for playing. There is a sandbox area on one side of the structure, and a separate sandbox and play area for the under five crowd. The playground also offers swings for children of all ages. The Community Park's restrooms are located directly behind the playground. The playground is handicapped accessible via a ramp at its entrance, which is beside a large, off-street parking lot. Just across the parking lot is the Township of Lower Makefield Community Pool, featuring a lighted, Olympic-sized pool with a diving area, a middle-sized and kiddie pool, and a snack bar. While access to the township pool facilities requires membership, the rest of the Lower Makefield Community Park is free and open to the public.
There are also various festivals held in Lower Makefield Township throughout the year, and businesses hold events as well. You can find your way through a corn maze (5 acres long) in the fall, visit the farmer’s market from June through September, and keep your eye out for other events held by businesses all year! Alley Cat Pet Services – Pet sitting service that caters to your pets’ needs At Your Service Pet Nannies - Whether you are traveling for business, away on vacation or work long hours and need someone to take your dog out for a daily walk, At Your Service Pet Nannies of Bucks County will always be "At Your Service."
Cat Tales, Inc. - Cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life! Contact us, or contact another local humane society, animal shelter or SPCA.Alley Cat Pet Services – Pet sitting service that caters to your pets’ needs Cat Tales, Inc. - Cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life! Contact us, or contact another local humane society, animal shelter or SPCA. Soup to Nuts Caterers,
(215)321-7980 Dunkin Donuts
(215) 860-3211
1050 Stony Hill Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Shady Brook Farm
(215) 968-1670 931
Stony Hill Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Starbucks
(215) 493-7315
1621 Big Oak Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Einstein Brothers Bagels
(215) 321-6500
1615 Big Oak Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Tcby
(215) 369-7487
669 Heacock Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA La Campgnola
(215) 428-9275
307 W Trenton Ave, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Portobello's Ristorante Italiano
(215) 321-7775
676 Stony Hill Rd, Lower Makefield Twp, PA Christine's “Christines is a spacious and romantic gourmet Italian restaurant.”
(215) 369-2930
385 Oxford Valley Rd, Ste 101, Lower Makefield Twp, PA
Tax Considerations >Capital Gains Exemptions Home sellers are always interested in their tax deduction options. If you recently sold a home without meeting the basic ownership and use criteria for waiving capital gains tax, you might still be able to claim reduced exemptions if you meet certain other criteria.
Homeowners who had to sell because of a change in place of employment can qualify for reduced tax. You must prove that the job change occurred while you owned and used the home as your primary residence, and that your new job is located at least 50 miles farther from your residence than your previous place of employment.
A reduced exclusion from capital gains tax may also be granted for health reasons. If your motivation for selling your house was to obtain diagnosis, treatment or cure for a disease or injury to you or a family member, you can apply for an exclusion. Unforeseen circumstances such as death, unemployment, divorce or natural disasters may also reduce your capital gains tax. Consult a tax professional for advice about your unique circumstance.
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What are the financial benefits of having a home near a body of water?
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The mere presence of water within 300 feet increases a home's value by 22 percent. |
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