Exploring Riegelsville: A Community in Pennsylvania

A Day in Riegelsville, Pennsylvania

Last month, I found myself stepping out of my car in the quaint town of Riegelsville, Pennsylvania. As I walked onto the sidewalk in front of the local post office, I was immediately struck by the community’s warmth. Residents frequently visit this spot not only to collect their mail but also to catch up with their neighbors. The first individual I encountered was a young man sporting a T-shirt proudly displaying the name of a beloved pizzeria just around the corner. He looked at me with a friendly smile and said, “Hi! How are you doing today?”

Riegelsville is, first and foremost, a small gem: nestled on the western bank of the Delaware River, this hamlet is home to approximately 800 residents. Many of the locals reside in charming three-bedroom houses, each set on modest lots. The town boasts a single stoplight, a sit-down restaurant, three churches, an American Legion post, a general store, and, of course, that popular pizzeria.

In Riegelsville, the pervasive issue of social isolation that affects many parts of America seems almost nonexistent. Here, people know each other by name and engage in conversation across backyards. I was told that during Hurricane Sandy, when the town’s electricity was knocked out for nearly a week in 2012, residents came together at the firehouse—powered by a generator—to share meals and support one another. “It’s a Hallmark town,” the mayor, Viana Boenzli, remarked to me. “We don’t even have a police department. If we ever need assistance, we just call the state police, but those situations are extremely rare.”

In the 2020 presidential election, the town saw a close contest, with Donald Trump securing 276 votes compared to Joe Biden’s 274. While these numbers did not significantly influence the overall outcome in Pennsylvania, they reflect Riegelsville’s position as a nearly even town in a closely divided county. Bucks County, notable for being the only one of Philadelphia’s four collar counties that has not leaned heavily toward the Democratic Party, adds to the significance of this small town in the larger electoral landscape.

On Maplewood Road in Riegelsville, political sentiments are vividly visible. One house displays a large Trump banner, directly opposite a residence adorned with signs supporting Kamala Harris. This juxtaposition perfectly encapsulates the divided yet engaged nature of the community.

As a journalist, I have been interviewing voters in Pennsylvania for The New York Times since 2008, often focusing on Bucks County, where I grew up. In many ways, Riegelsville serves as a microcosm for understanding the complexities of American politics, all while maintaining a reputation for civilized, even genteel, discourse.

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