Happy Anniversary: Northampton Township Officially Turns 300 Years Old

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA —It was a cause for celebration Wednesday night —300 years worth to be exact.

The Northampton Township Supervisors recognized the township's 300th anniversary at its meeting Wednesday by dressing in colonial garb, reading the original proclamation, and then signing another one and wheeling out a cake complete with sparklers.

"Three hundred years ago today, Northampton Township was formed as a community," said Supervisors Chairman Adam Selisker, who served as master of ceremonies.

He turned over the ceremony to Northampton Township Historical Commission Chairman Steve Arty, who read the original proclamation in which a petition and a map were presented to the Court of Sessions at Bristol on Dec. 11, 1722.

The proclamation, read in a scroll by Arty, talks about how 21 petitioners were calling for a creation of a township crafted from a large parcel of land between Southampton, other lands, and the Neshaminy Creek.

The petition states that there were 40 settlements "of which are not being ruled," Arty read.

"The district township will be named and known as Northampton and the inhabitants will be served as one just township," he said. "So for this petition, if approved, the petitioners will pray forever ever."

In celebration of the 300th anniversary, supervisors Selisker, Paula Gasper, Kim Rose, and Robert Salzer signed the petition. Supervisor Vice Chairman Barry Moore was absent.

Throughout the year, the township held numerous activities commemorating the 300th anniversary, and, in this final event wheeled out a cake with sparklers to applause and cheers of "Happy Birthday Northampton Township."

"We've had quite a year of celebration," Selisker said. "Three hundred years is remarkable."

He read a long list of people to recognize those who put together the past year's events, including the 300th Anniversary Committee and various township departments and employees.

"Northampton is a great place to live and has been for 300 years," Selisker said.

Wendi Thomas, the retiring 178th District state representative, read a proclamation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She was joined by her replacement Joseph Hogan.

"Northampton Township is a valuable presence in the Commonwealth," Thomas read. "Northampton Township is a community that has always been blessed with steadfast citizens, a concerned community, civic-minded leaders, lasting traditions. and a resilient spirit that has helped it thrive for 300 years and prepared it to meet the challenges of the future."

Hogan said that while he grew up in Levittown, he knew of Northampton from working in Bucks County.

"Here's to another 300 years of a successful and great Northampton," he said.

Watch video of the celebration below.