The township borders the northeastern section of Philadelphia and includes the communities of Andalusia, Bensalem, Bridgewater, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, Flushing, Oakford, Siles, Trappe, and Trevose.

At the September 1692 session of Bucks County Court, a jury of thirteen men was formed to define boundaries of divisions that had been created up to that time.

Long-time residents claim that the high crime rate is due to Parx Casino which brings in a plethora of non-residents, in addition to its shared border with Philadelphia.

Neighborhoods of concern include Calico Corner (Nottingham), and "Top of The Ridge Trailer Park", which has seen its fair share of crimes and homicides.

[14] In 2022 Bensalem once again made national headlines; after a violent brawl broke out in a local Golden Corral restaurant over a single piece of steak.

Parx Casino contains the Xcite Center, which hosts concerts, entertainment performances, comedy acts, and boxing and MMA matches.

It serves as a place of high ceremonies and meditation for a community of Buddhist monks who came to Bensalem from Thailand in the 1980s.

[18] For the 2002 M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs, starring Mel Gibson, a stage set was built inside a warehouse on State Road for many of the interior shots.

[19][20] The NBC pilot episode for Outlaw, starring Jimmy Smits filmed scenes in Andalusia March 22–23, 2010.

[2] Benjamin Franklin would often travel to Bensalem to visit his friend, Joseph Galloway, at Growden Mansion.

A local legend maintains that Franklin performed his famous kite-flying experiment in Bensalem, at the mansion, to prove that lightning was the same as static electricity.

Bensalem is home to the Philadelphia Gun Club, which hosts one of the few trap pigeon shoots in the United States.

[30] The Bensalem (formerly Philadelphia) Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 351, at U.S. Route 1) is in the Trevose section of the township.

In addition, the eastbound Street Road interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 352), which is E-ZPass only, serves Bensalem.

The eastern terminus of the ticket system along the turnpike is located at the Neshaminy Falls toll plaza, east of the Street Road interchange.

[32] Two SEPTA Regional Rail lines serve Bensalem Township, providing service to Center City Philadelphia.

The West Trenton Line stops at the Trevose and Neshaminy Falls stations in the northern part of the township.

The Trenton Line stops at the Cornwells Heights and Eddington stations in the southern part of the township.

[34][35] CSX Transportation's Trenton Subdivision freight railroad line runs through the northern portion of the township.

[30][33] The Delaware River passes along the southeastern border of Bensalem Township and provides access for shipping.

The Northeast Philadelphia Airport, located a couple miles away, provides general aviation services.

[36] Electricity and natural gas in Bensalem Township is provided by PECO Energy Company, a subsidiary of Exelon.

[43] In 1987, the people of Bensalem voted to become a second-class township with a mayor-council form of government consisting of a five-member council and a mayor.

Founded in 1969, Roman Catholic Saint Ephrem School serving Grades Pre-K to 8 has students from Bensalem and the surrounding area.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced in 2011 that Our Lady of Fatima School was closing as the number of students had declined.

Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) occur once every few years, particularly during nor’easters from December through February.