Berks County, Pennsylvania

Berks County
	Berks County, Pennsylvania
	The Reading area from the Pagoda
	; Seal
	; Seal
	; Location in the state of Pennsylvania
	; Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 11, 1752
Seat	Reading
Largest city	Reading
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 866 sq mi (2,243 km²); 859 sq mi (2,225 km²); 7 sq mi (18 km²), 0.78%
PopulationEst.; - (2012); - Density	; 413,491; 479/sq mi (184.9/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Berks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 411,442. The county seat is Reading.^[1] Berks County is part of the Reading, PA, metropolitan statistical area and as of 2005, is also considered part of the Philadelphia combined statistical area.

History [edit]

Reading developed during the 1740s when the inhabitants of northern Lancaster County sent several petitions requesting that a separate county be established. With the help of German immigrant Conrad Weiser, the county was formed on March 11, 1752 from parts of Chester County, Lancaster County, and Philadelphia County.

It was named after the English county in which William Penn's family home lay - Berkshire, which is often abbreviated to Berks. Berks County began much larger than it is today. The northwestern parts of the county went to the founding of Northumberland County in 1772 and Schuylkill County in 1811, when it reached its current size. In 2005, Berks County was added to the Delaware Valley Planning Area due to a fast-growing population and close proximity to the other communities.

Geography [edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,242.9 km²). 859 square miles (2,224.8 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.78%) is water. Most of the county is drained by the Schuylkill River, but an area in the northeast is drained by the Lehigh River via the Little Lehigh Creek and areas are drained by the Susquehanna River via the Swatara Creek in the northwest and the Conestoga River (which starts in Berks County between Morgantown and Elverson) in the extreme south.

Adjacent counties [edit]

Schuylkill County (north)
Lehigh County (northeast)
Montgomery County (east)
Chester County (southeast)
Lancaster County (southwest)
Lebanon County (west)

National protected area [edit]

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	30,189	—
1800	32,407	7.3%
1810	43,146	33.1%
1820	46,275	7.3%
1830	53,152	14.9%
1840	64,569	21.5%
1850	77,129	19.5%
1860	93,818	21.6%
1870	106,701	13.7%
1880	122,597	14.9%
1890	137,327	12.0%
1900	159,615	16.2%
1910	183,222	14.8%
1920	200,854	9.6%
1930	231,717	15.4%
1940	241,884	4.4%
1950	255,740	5.7%
1960	275,414	7.7%
1970	296,382	7.6%
1980	312,509	5.4%
1990	336,523	7.7%
2000	373,638	11.0%
2010	411,442	10.1%
Est. 2012	413,491	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[2] 2012 Estimate^[3] through 1960^[4]

As of the 2010 census, the county was 76.9% White non-Hispanic, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

As of the census^[5] of 2010, there were 411,442 people, 154,356 households, and 106,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 479 people per square mile (184.9/km²). There were 164,827 housing units at an average density of 191.9 per square mile (74.1/km²). was 76.9% White non-Hispanic, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[1] Historically there was a large Pennsylvania Dutch population. It is known as part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Berks County also has large and growing Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican communities.

According to Muninetguide the median household income for Berks County, as of 2010, is $54,105. According to patchworknation.org Berks County is classified as a Monied 'Burb. These counties overall are wealthy, highly educated, and have a median household income over $15,000.00 above the national county average. [2]

There were 154,356 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

Arts and culture [edit]

The Reading Public Museum is an art, science, and history museum.

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Berks County.

Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center is south of Reading on land once owned by Jacob Nolde, a prominent Reading businessman and Pennsylvania environmentalist.
French Creek State Park, a former Recreational Demonstration Area, straddles the Berks and Chester County line.

There are two Pennsylvania Historic Sites in Berks County.

Conrad Weiser Homestead near Womelsdorf.
Daniel Boone Homestead near Birdsboro.

The Old Morlatton Village in Douglassville is maintained by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County. The village is composed of four historic structures: White Horse Inn, George Douglass Mansion, Bridge keeper's House, and the Mouns Jones House, constructed in 1716, which is the oldest recorded building in the county. [3]

Government [edit]

County Commissioners [edit]

Berks County Courthouse

Christian Leinbach, Chair Republican
Kevin Barnhardt, Vice Chair Democrat
Mark C. Scott, Republican

Other county offices [edit]

Clerk of Courts, James P. Troutman, Republican
Controller, Sandy Graffius, Republican
Coroner, Dennis J. Hess, Democrat
District Attorney, John T. Adams, Democrat
Prothonotary, Marianne Sutton, Republican
Recorder of Deeds, Frederick Sheeler, Democrat
Register of Wills, Larry J. Medaglia Jr., Republican
Sheriff, Eric Weaknecht, Republican
Treasurer, Nelson H. Long, Republican

Pennsylvania State Senate [edit]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives [edit]

United States House of Representatives [edit]

United States Senate [edit]

Politics [edit]

As of January 2010, there are 248,949 registered voters in Berks County.^[6]

Democratic: 121,828 (48.94%)
Republican: 92,685 (37.23%)
Other parties: 34,436 (13.83%)

The first time since 1964 that a Democrat carried Berks in a Presidential election occurred in November 2008, with Barack Obama receiving 53.9% of the vote to John McCain's 44.7%. The other three statewide winners (Rob McCord for Treasurer, Jack Wagner for Auditor General, and Tom Corbett for Attorney General) also carried it.^[7] While Republicans have controlled the commissioner majority most of the time and continue to control most county row offices, Democrats have become more competitive in Berks in recent years. In the 2012 Presidential election, Mitt Romney carried the county by approximately a one-percent margin, 49.7% to 48.7%.

Municipalities [edit]

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Berks County:

Cities [edit]

Reading

Boroughs [edit]

Adamstown (part of Adamstown is in Lancaster County)
Bally
Bechtelsville
Bernville
Birdsboro
Boyertown
Centerport
Fleetwood
Hamburg
Kenhorst
Kutztown
Laureldale
Leesport
Lenhartsville
Lyons
Mohnton
Mount Penn
New Morgan
Robesonia
St. Lawrence

Townships [edit]

A farm in Windsor Township

Census-designated places [edit]

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Unincorporated communities [edit]

Education [edit]

Colleges and universities [edit]

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public school districts [edit]

Private high schools [edit]

Technical or trade schools [edit]

Transportation [edit]

Major roads and highways [edit]

Notable people [edit]

Gus Yatron, Former United States Congressman from Pennsylvania
William Addams, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania^[8]
Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman (b. 1734 - d. 1820)
James Henry Carpenter (1846–1898) Civil War sailor, officer, founder of Carpenter Technology Corporation
Bodo Otto, Senior Surgeon of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (b. 1711 - d. 1787)
Priscilla Ahn, folk musician and singer-songwriter.
Chad Billingsley, pitcher for the LA Dodgers
Steve Burns, musician and former Blue's Clues host
Bob Cesca, animator, political author and columnist/blogger for The Huffington Post
Jack Coggins, illustrator, author and artist, lived in Boyertown from 1948–2006
Rocky Colavito, former Major League Baseball player
Kerry Collins, professional football player (Panthers, Saints, Giants, Raiders, Titans, and Colts)
Michael Constantine, actor, star of Room 222 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
John Henry Gilmore, Jr., professional football player (Saints, Bears, and Buccaneers)
Kate Gosselin, Gosselin Family, Reality TV stars of Jon & Kate Plus 8
Chad Henne, professional football player (Miami Dolphins) and Graduate of the University of Michigan (4 Year Starter at Quarterback)
Chris Hero, professional wrestler
Joseph Hiester, governor of Pennsylvania 1820-1823
Tommy Hinnershitz 1912-1999. Auto racing pioneer. Member Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Chad Hurley, Co-Founder of YouTube (attended Twin Valley and Albright College)
Kimberly Lutz, Energy Guru and Preservationist (Fleetwood High School Alumna)
Donyell Marshall, Former NBA player and graduate of Reading High School
Kelly McGillis, actress, [Top Gun]
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Architect, American military and political leader 1887-1980
Jillian Murray, model/actress (b. June 4, 1989)
Jacob Nolde, conservationist
Wallace Stevens, major American Modernist poet, October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955.
Sydney Stocker, Educator
Taylor Swift, Grammy Award winning country singer
Nicole Tranquillo, semi-finalist on American Idol.
Ross Tucker, professional football player
John Updike, American writer, 1932-2009.
Carl Furillo, Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers right-fielder.
Thomas Morris (Ohio politician), Democratic politician, served in the United States Senate^[9]

Footnotes [edit]

^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved March 31, 2013.
^ "University of Virginia Library". Retrieved March 31, 2013.
^ http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks%20County.pdf
^ http://www.dos.state.pa.us/elections/lib/elections/055_voter_registration_statistics/currentstats/currentvotestats.xls dos.state.pa.us
^ http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28 electionreturns.state.pa.us
^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
^ "Tolleson, Arizona". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 24, 2012.

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Berks County, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 40°25′N 75°56′W / 40.42°N 75.93°W / 40.42; -75.93

[GR6-1] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.

[2] "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2013.

[3] "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved March 31, 2013.

[4] "University of Virginia Library". Retrieved March 31, 2013.

[5] ttp://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks%20County.pdf

[6] ttp://www.dos.state.pa.us/elections/lib/elections/055_voter_registration_statistics/currentstats/currentvotestats.xls dos.state.pa.us

[7] ttp://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28 electionreturns.state.pa.us

[Marquis_1607-1896-8] Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

[9] "Tolleson, Arizona". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 24, 2012.

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