The Durham boat
The cargo boats built here carried Washington’s crossing — a direct line from this township to the Delaware crossing downstream.
The County’s North End
Living in Durham Township, Bucks County
The northernmost township in Bucks County — iron furnace history, the boat that carried Washington’s army, and the quietest miles of the Delaware.
Durham Township is where Bucks County runs out. Organized in 1775, it occupies the extreme northern corner of the county, bounded by the Delaware River to the east and Northampton County to the north, with Springfield Township to the west and Nockamixon to the south. It is one of the least populated municipalities in the county and one of the most historically consequential.
The history is industrial and it is national. The Durham Furnace made iron here from the colonial era, and the Durham Boat Company built the heavy cargo boats that carried Washington’s army across the Delaware on Christmas night in 1776. Those boats were built in this township. Today what remains is a landscape of wooded hills, creek valleys, and a village scale that has barely changed.
Why People Love It
Why Durham Township is a great place to live
Durham Furnace history
Colonial iron-making shaped the township, and the furnace and mill sites remain part of its identity.
The quietest Delaware miles
River frontage at the county’s far north, well above the traffic of the New Hope corridor.
Palisades schools
The small river-township district known for its compact scale and community identity.
Schools
Schools in Durham Township
Palisades School District
Durham Township is served by the Palisades School District, which also covers Bridgeton, Nockamixon, Springfield, and Tinicum townships plus Riegelsville Borough. It is a small district built around the upper river communities, with Palisades High School in Kintnersville.
- Palisades’ compact scale keeps students known by name through graduation.
- Palisades High School in Kintnersville serves the river communities.
- The district’s rural setting builds outdoor and agricultural learning into community life.
Emergency Services
Who answers the call in Durham Township
Police
Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M (Dublin barracks) — like the neighboring upper river townships, Durham has no municipal department. Coverage arrangements are set by the municipality and can change — confirm for the exact address before you buy.
Fire & EMS
Like nearly all of Bucks County, fire protection here is delivered by volunteer fire companies, with EMS by local squads and hospital-based units — all dispatched through the county 911 center in Ivyland.
Nearest emergency room
St. Luke’s network campuses in the Lehigh Valley, with Easton closest.
Graham's Local Picks
Where I'd send you first in Durham Township
Hand-picked from the Durham Township businesses I actually know — not a directory dump, just the short list I give clients.
History
The Durham Grist Mill
The village mill at the heart of the township’s story.
Dining & History
Riegelsville Inn
The 1838 inn at the foot of the Roebling bridge, minutes northeast.
Outdoors
Delaware Canal towpath
The quietest stretch of the towpath, at the county’s far north.
Community & Events
Community life in Durham Township
Durham is village-scale and history-conscious: a small population, a strong local historical society tradition, and a civic life built on the fire company, the township building, and the Palisades school calendar. Everyone knows the furnace story, and most residents can tell you about the boats.
Township history traditions
The furnace, mill, and boat-building past anchor local identity.
Palisades community calendar
The small district’s events knit the river townships together.
River and creek seasons
The Delaware and Cooks Creek set the rhythm of the year.
Living Here
What to expect when you move to Durham Township
The people & the pace
Expect deep quiet, wooded hills, and a drive to almost everything — which is precisely the appeal. Durham suits buyers who want space, history, and river-country isolation, with Easton and the Lehigh Valley closer than Doylestown.
The homes
The stock is rural and historic — stone farmhouses, village houses near the furnace and mill, wooded properties on acreage, and a small number of river-oriented homes. Wells and on-lot septic systems are the norm, and older stone construction rewards a thorough inspection. Values generally sit well below the county’s southern and River Road markets.
Getting around
Route 611 runs the river corridor — Easton in roughly 15 minutes, with I-78 there serving New York-bound drivers in about 75–90 minutes. The Lehigh Valley’s employment centers are 20–30 minutes; Doylestown is roughly 40 minutes south, and Philadelphia well over an hour.
Questions People Ask
Durham Township, PA — frequently asked questions
Is Durham Township, PA a good place to live?
Yes — Durham offers the county’s quietest northern countryside, deep colonial history, Delaware River frontage, and Palisades schools, with Easton and the Lehigh Valley closer than most of Bucks County.
What is Durham Township known for?
The Durham Furnace, which made iron from the colonial era, and the Durham Boat Company — the boats built here carried Washington’s army across the Delaware in December 1776.
What school district is Durham Township in?
Durham Township is served by the Palisades School District, along with Bridgeton, Nockamixon, Springfield, and Tinicum townships and Riegelsville Borough.
Where is Durham Township located?
In the extreme north of Bucks County, bounded by the Delaware River and New Jersey to the east, Northampton County to the north, Springfield Township to the west, and Nockamixon Township to the south.
Do Durham Township homes have wells and septic systems?
Almost all do. Well and on-lot septic testing is standard diligence throughout the township.
Thinking about buying or selling in Durham Township?
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