10/08/2026
For : Originally the Borough of Doylestown was a small town in the country, squarish in shape, carved out of the township in 1838; and the lines between town and country were clear. However, as the town grew, it provided its residents fire protection, paved streets, water and electric lines, and other amenities. Living within the Borough’s boundaries became increasingly desirable and the period of annexation began.
This process, provided by state law, enabled a borough to absorb pieces of surrounding townships. Many township residents feared that annexation would bring higher taxes and the loss of rural character, but those living just outside the borough boundaries began to desire the services of the town. Existing Borough residents worried about the impact on their carefully managed services. The town’s population was expanding and developers began eyeing the farmland surrounding the borough…to make new subdivisions attractive they also wanted access to the infrastructure.
Between 1838 and the mid-20th century there were many petitions filed and ordinances passed to enact the acquisition of township land. These included the annexation of:
acreage of Clemens Farm in 1910;
“the angle formed by North Main Street and East Street” in 1911;
property along Jefferson Street between West Court Street and the railroad tracks in 1913;
the tract to the north of town known as the Doylestown Annex in the 1930’s;
a portion of War Memorial Field in 1947;
land for Doyle Elementary school and the Maplewood community, both in 1957.
With each addition, the Borough’s edges pushed farther into the adjoining countryside, but by the late 20th century, the era of easy annexation had come to an end. The early laws which permitted the conversion of unincorporated border properties into official borough wards were changed. However, the outline of Doylestown Borough had already become an interlocking puzzle with neighboring townships. Today there are even a few streets that cross from borough to township and back again, reflecting the town’s irregular footprint that expanded over time to accommodate the needs of its citizens.
