Berks County, Pennsylvania

County in Pennsylvania, United States

"Berks County" redirects here. For the county of England, see Berkshire.

Not to be confused with Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

U.S. county in Pennsylvania

Berks County

U.S. county

The Reading area in Berks County, October 2010

The Reading area in Berks County, October 2010

Official seal of Berks County

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.

Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania
Founded| March 11, 1752
Named for| Berkshire
Seat| Reading
Largest city| Reading
Area

• Total| 866 sq mi (2,240 km2)
• Land| 857 sq mi (2,220 km2)
• Water| 9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  1.1%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 428,849
• Density| 495/sq mi (191/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts| 4th, 6th, 9th
Website| www.co.berks.pa.us

Pennsylvania Historical Marker

Designated| May 12, 1982[1]

Berks County (Pennsylvania German: Barricks Kaundi) is a county located in the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428,849.[2] The county seat is Reading.[3]

The Schuylkill River, a 135-mile-long (217 km) tributary of the Delaware River, flows through Berks County. The county is part of the Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which is also included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area (CSA).

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major roads and highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 National protected area
* 2.4 State protected area
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 Census
* 4 Metropolitan and Combined Statistical Area
* 5 Government
* 5.1 County Commissioners
* 5.2 Other county offices
* 5.3 State Senate
* 5.4 State House of Representatives
* 5.5 United States House of Representatives
* 6 Politics
* 7 Education
* 7.1 Colleges and universities
* 7.2 Public school districts
* 7.3 Private high schools
* 7.4 Technical and trade schools
* 8 Arts and culture
* 9 Media
* 10 Communities
* 10.1 City
* 10.2 Boroughs
* 10.3 Townships
* 10.4 Census-designated places
* 10.5 Unincorporated communities
* 10.6 Population ranking
* 11 Notable people
* 12 See also
* 13 Footnotes
* 14 Further reading
* 15 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

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.[4]

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.

In 2016, former Strausstown borough merged with Upper Tulpehocken township. Strausstown is now a village within Upper Tulpehocken Township.

## Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 857 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5] 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. It has a humid continental climate (Dfa except for some Dfb on Blue Mountain at the northern boundary and on Mount Penn) and the hardiness zone is mostly 6b with 6a in some higher areas and 7a along the Schuylkill in the SE part of the county.

### Major roads and highways[edit | edit source]

* File:I-76.svgFile:Pennsylvania Turnpike logo.svg I-76 / Penna Turnpike
* File:I-176.svg I-176
* File:I-78.svgFile:US 22.svg I-78 / US 22
* File:US 222.svg US 222
* File:Business plate.svg
File:US 222.svg US 222 Bus.
* File:US 422.svg US 422
* File:Business plate.svg
File:US 422.svg US 422 Bus.
* File:PA-10.svg PA 10
* File:PA-12.svg PA 12
* File:PA-23.svg PA 23
* File:PA-29.svg PA 29
* File:PA-61.svg PA 61
* File:PA-73.svg PA 73
* File:PA-100.svg PA 100
* File:PA-143.svg PA 143
* File:PA-183.svg PA 183
* File:PA-272.svg PA 272
* File:PA-345.svg PA 345
* File:PA-401.svg PA 401
* File:PA-419.svg PA 419
* File:PA-501.svg PA 501
* File:PA-562.svg PA 562
* File:PA-568.svg PA 568
* File:PA-625.svg PA 625
* File:PA-645.svg PA 645
* File:PA-662.svg PA 662
* File:PA-724.svg PA 724
* File:PA-737.svg PA 737

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

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

### National protected area[edit | edit source]

* Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

### State protected area[edit | edit source]

* French Creek State Park

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population

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%
2020| 428,849| | 4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2019[2]

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.[10] Historically there is a large Pennsylvania Dutch population. It is known as part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 411,442 people, 154,356 households, and 106,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 479 inhabitants per square mile (185/km2). There were 164,827 housing units at an average density of 191.9 per square mile (74.1/km2).

According to Muninet Guide's 2010 analysis, the median household income for Berks County is $54,105.

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.

Berks County is home to an Old Order Mennonite community consisting of about 160 families, located in the East Penn Valley near Kutztown and Fleetwood.[12] The Old Order Mennonites first bought land in the area in 1949.[13] In 2012, Old Order Mennonites bought two large farms in the Oley Valley. The Old Order Mennonites in the area belong to the Groffdale Conference Mennonite Church and use the horse and buggy as transportation. There are several farms in the area belonging to the Old Order Mennonite community and meetinghouses are located near Kutztown and Fleetwood.[14]

### 2020 Census[edit | edit source]

Berks County Racial Composition[15] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 291,258  | 68%
Black or African American (NH)  | 18,087  | 4.22%
Native American (NH)  | 450  | 0.1%
Asian (NH)  | 6,225  | 1.5%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 61  | 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 13,218  | 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino | 99,550  | 23.21%

## Metropolitan and Combined Statistical Area[edit | edit source]

File:Delawarevalleymap.png

Location of Berks County (Reading, PA) in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA

See also: List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas and List of Combined Statistical Areas

The United States Office of Management and Budget[16] has designated Berks County as the Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census[17] the metropolitan area ranked 10th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 128th most populous in the United States with a population of 413,491. Berks County is also a part of the larger Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Berks County as well as several counties around Philadelphia and in the states of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The Combined Statistical Area is the largest in the State of Pennsylvania and 8th most populous in the United States with a population of 7,067,807.

## Government[edit | edit source]

### County Commissioners[edit | edit source]

File:Berks County Courthouse (Berks County, Pennsylvania - September 2010).jpg

Berks County Courthouse

* Christian Leinbach, Chair Republican
* Kevin Barnhardt, Vice Chair Democrat
* Michael S. Rivera, Republican

### Other county offices[edit | edit source]

* Clerk of Courts, James P. Troutman, Republican
* Controller, Sandy Graffius, Republican
* Coroner, John A. Fielding III, Republican
* District Attorney, John T. Adams, Democrat
* Prothonotary, Jonathan K. Del Collo, Republican
* Recorder of Deeds, Mary Kozak, Republican
* Register of Wills, Larry J. Medaglia Jr., Republican
* Sheriff, Eric Weaknecht, Republican
* Treasurer, A. Dennis Adams, Republican

### State Senate[edit | edit source]

* Judy Schwank, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, District 11
* Bob Mensch, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 24
* Dave Argall, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 29
* Katie Muth, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, District 44

[18]

### State House of Representatives[edit | edit source]

* Barry Jozwiak, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 5
* Jerry Knowles, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 124
* Mark Rozzi, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 126
* Thomas R. Caltagirone, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 127
* Mark Gillen, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 128
* Jim Cox, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 129
* David Maloney, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 130
* Ryan Mackenzie, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 134
* Gary Day, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 187

[18]

### United States House of Representatives[edit | edit source]

* Madeleine Dean, Democratic, Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
* Chrissy Houlahan, Democratic, Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
* Dan Meuser, Republican, Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

## Politics[edit | edit source]

As of August 15, 2022, there are 265,245 registered voters in Berks County.[19]

* Democratic: 112,293 (42.33%)
* Republican: 109,692 (41.35%)
* Independent: 31,274 (11.79%)
* Minor parties: 11,986 (4.52%)

United States presidential election results for Berks County, Pennsylvania[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 109,926  | 53.22% | 93,116  | 45.08%  | 3,511  | 1.70%
2016 | 96,626  | 52.49% | 78,437  | 42.61%  | 9,022  | 4.90%
2012 | 84,702  | 49.63% | 83,011  | 48.64%  | 2,963  | 1.74%
2008 | 80,513  | 44.60%  | 97,047  | 53.76% | 2,951  | 1.63%
2004 | 87,122  | 52.97% | 76,309  | 46.39%  | 1,056  | 0.64%
2000 | 71,273  | 52.68% | 59,150  | 43.72%  | 4,874  | 3.60%
1996 | 56,289  | 46.25% | 49,887  | 40.99%  | 15,542  | 12.77%
1992 | 52,939  | 40.29% | 46,031  | 35.03%  | 32,437  | 24.68%
1988 | 70,153  | 62.39% | 41,040  | 36.50%  | 1,251  | 1.11%
1984 | 74,605  | 65.94% | 37,849  | 33.45%  | 691  | 0.61%
1980 | 60,576  | 56.41% | 36,449  | 33.94%  | 10,360  | 9.65%
1976 | 54,452  | 50.63% | 50,994  | 47.41%  | 2,107  | 1.96%
1972 | 66,172  | 62.35% | 36,563  | 34.45%  | 3,392  | 3.20%
1968 | 50,623  | 46.48% | 49,877  | 45.79%  | 8,424  | 7.73%
1964 | 36,726  | 33.19%  | 73,444  | 66.38% | 476  | 0.43%
1960 | 61,743  | 54.78% | 50,572  | 44.87%  | 391  | 0.35%
1956 | 57,258  | 57.30% | 42,349  | 42.38%  | 320  | 0.32%
1952 | 51,720  | 52.42% | 45,874  | 46.49%  | 1,074  | 1.09%
1948 | 35,608  | 43.57%  | 43,075  | 52.71% | 3,043  | 3.72%
1944 | 35,274  | 43.33%  | 43,889  | 53.91% | 2,247  | 2.76%
1940 | 32,111  | 36.93%  | 53,301  | 61.31% | 1,530  | 1.76%
1936 | 26,699  | 30.23%  | 56,907  | 64.43% | 4,721  | 5.34%
1932 | 27,073  | 37.07%  | 29,763  | 40.76% | 16,187  | 22.17%
1928 | 47,073  | 64.03% | 18,960  | 25.79%  | 7,481  | 10.18%
1924 | 28,186  | 51.35% | 17,220  | 31.37%  | 9,487  | 17.28%
1920 | 22,221  | 47.69% | 18,361  | 39.41%  | 6,009  | 12.90%
1916 | 11,937  | 34.33%  | 19,267  | 55.41% | 3,565  | 10.25%
1912 | 3,032  | 8.77%  | 16,430  | 47.54% | 15,098  | 43.69%
1908 | 13,642  | 41.01%  | 17,381  | 52.25% | 2,245  | 6.75%
1904 | 15,539  | 46.28%  | 16,357  | 48.71% | 1,683  | 5.01%
1900 | 13,952  | 41.53%  | 19,013  | 56.60% | 628  | 1.87%
1896 | 14,318  | 43.28%  | 18,099  | 54.71% | 665  | 2.01%
1892 | 10,077  | 34.76%  | 18,602  | 64.16% | 312  | 1.08%
1888 | 10,626  | 36.65%  | 18,105  | 62.45% | 261  | 0.90%
1884 | 9,587  | 36.46%  | 16,484  | 62.68% | 226  | 0.86%
1880 | 9,225  | 34.99%  | 16,959  | 64.32% | 181  | 0.69%

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.[21] 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, 49.6% to 48.6%, however, in 2016, Donald Trump carried Berks by a much larger margin of 52.9% to 42.7%.[22]

## Education[edit | edit source]

File:Map of Berks County Pennsylvania School Districts.png

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

### Colleges and universities[edit | edit source]

* Albright College
* Alvernia University
* Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
* Penn State Berks
* Reading Area Community College

### Public school districts[edit | edit source]

School districts include:[23]

* Antietam School District
* Boyertown Area School District
* Brandywine Heights Area School District
* Conrad Weiser Area School District
* Daniel Boone Area School District
* Exeter Township School District
* Fleetwood Area School District
* Governor Mifflin School District
* Hamburg Area School District
* Kutztown Area School District
* Muhlenberg School District
* Oley Valley School District
* Reading School District
* Schuylkill Valley School District
* Tulpehocken Area School District
* Twin Valley School District
* Upper Perkiomen School District
* Wilson School District
* Wyomissing Area School District

### Private high schools[edit | edit source]

* Berks Christian School Berks Christian School in Birdsboro
* Blue Mountain Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Tilden Township
* Conestoga Christian School in Morgantown, Pennsylvania
* Fairview Christian School in Reading
* Gateway Christian School in Mertztown
* The King's Academy in Mohrsville
* Berks Catholic High School in Reading
* Lighthouse Christian Academy in Lyons

### Technical and trade schools[edit | edit source]

* Berks Technical Institute
* Pace Institute
* Reading Hospital School of Nursing
* Berks Career and Technology Center (east campus in Oley, west campus in Leesport)

## Arts and culture[edit | edit source]

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

The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps are an all-age drum corps based in Berks County. The corps, founded in 1957, is a charter member Drum Corps Associates and an 11-time DCA World Champion.

Reading is home to one opera company, Berks Opera Company, founded in 2007 as Berks Opera Workshop. They were named Arts and Entertainment Newsmaker of the Year in 2015.

There are two Pennsylvania state parks and a Natural Area 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.
* Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area, part of the William Penn Forest District in Oley.[24]

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.[25]

West Reading in home to the annual Art on the Avenue, which reached its 25th year in 2019.[26]

## Media[edit | edit source]

Berks County has been home to several media sources including:

* Berks Community Television (BCTV)[27]
* Reading Eagle, a daily printed newspaper based in Reading, Pennsylvania
* WEEU, a local AM radio station
* WFMZ, a Local news channel that has offices in Berks County and covers South Eastern Pennsylvania
* WRFY-FM \- (102.5 FM "Y102"), a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Reading, Pennsylvania

## Communities[edit | edit source]

File:Map of Berks County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png

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:

### City[edit | edit source]

* Reading (county seat)

### Boroughs[edit | edit source]

* Adamstown (mostly 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
* Shillington
* Shoemakersville
* Sinking Spring
* Topton
* Wernersville
* West Reading
* Womelsdorf
* Wyomissing

### Townships[edit | edit source]

File:Farmstead in winter, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg

A farm in Windsor Township

* Albany
* Alsace
* Amity
* Bern
* Bethel
* Brecknock
* Caernarvon
* Centre
* Colebrookdale
* Cumru
* District
* Douglass
* Earl
* Exeter
* Greenwich
* Heidelberg
* Hereford
* Jefferson
* Longswamp
* Lower Alsace
* Lower Heidelberg
* Maidencreek
* Marion
* Maxatawny
* Muhlenberg
* North Heidelberg
* Oley
* Ontelaunee
* Penn
* Perry
* Pike
* Richmond
* Robeson
* Rockland
* Ruscombmanor
* South Heidelberg
* Spring
* Tilden
* Tulpehocken
* Union
* Upper Bern
* Upper Tulpehocken
* Washington
* Windsor

### Census-designated places[edit | edit source]

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.

* Alleghenyville
* Alsace Manor
* Amity Gardens
* Baumstown
* Bethel
* Blandon
* Bowers
* Colony Park
* Dauberville
* Douglassville
* Dryville
* Edenburg
* Flying Hills
* Fox Chase
* Frystown
* Gibraltar
* Gouglersville
* Greenfields
* Grill
* Hereford
* Hyde Park
* Jacksonwald
* Kempton
* Kutztown University
* Lincoln Park
* Lorane
* Mertztown
* Mohrsville
* Montrose Manor
* Morgantown
* Mount Aetna
* Muhlenberg Park
* New Berlinville
* New Jerusalem
* New Schaefferstown
* Oley
* Pennside
* Pennwyn
* Rehrersburg
* Reiffton
* Riverview Park
* Schubert
* Shartlesville
* South Temple
* Springmont
* Spring Ridge
* Stony Creek Mills
* Stouchsburg
* Temple
* Virginville
* Walnuttown
* West Hamburg
* West Lawn
* West Wyomissing
* Whitfield

### Unincorporated communities[edit | edit source]

* Brownsville
* Blue Marsh
* Cacoosing
* Geigertown
* Leinbachs
* North Heidelberg
* Pine Swamp
* Plowville
* Pricetown
* Scarlets Mill
* State Hill
* Strausstown
* Wooltown

### Population ranking[edit | edit source]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Berks County.[17]

† county seat

CDP=census designated population

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2010 Census)

|
|
|

1  |  † Reading | City  | 88,082
2  | Wyomissing | Borough  | 10,461
3  | Blandon | CDP  | 7,152
4  | Shillington | Borough  | 5,273
5  | Birdsboro | Borough  | 5,163
6  | Kutztown | Borough  | 5,012
7  | Whitfield | CDP  | 4,733
8  | Hamburg | Borough  | 4,289
9  | Lorane | CDP  | 4,236
10  | Pennside | CDP  | 4,215
11  | West Reading | Borough  | 4,212
12  | Reiffton | CDP  | 4,178
13  | Fleetwood | Borough  | 4,085
14  | Boyertown | Borough  | 4,055
15  | Sinking Spring | Borough  | 4,008
16  | Laureldale | Borough  | 3,911
17  | West Wyomissing | CDP  | 3,407
18  | Amity Gardens | CDP  | 3,402
19  | Jacksonwald | CDP  | 3,393
20  | Riverview Park | CDP  | 3,380
21  | Mount Penn | Borough  | 3,106
22  | Mohnton | Borough  | 3,043
23  | Kutztown University | CDP  | 2,918
24  | Kenhorst | Borough  | 2,877
25  | Womelsdorf | Borough  | 2,810
26  | Flying Hills | CDP  | 2,568
27  | Hyde Park | CDP  | 2,528
28  | Wernersville | Borough  | 2,494
29  | Topton | Borough  | 2,069
30  | Robesonia | Borough  | 2,061
31  | West Hamburg | CDP  | 1,979
32  | Leesport | Borough  | 1,918
33  | Temple | CDP  | 1,877
34  | St. Lawrence | Borough  | 1,809
35  | West Lawn | CDP  | 1,715
36  | Fox Chase | CDP  | 1,622
37  | Lincoln Park | CDP  | 1,615
38  | Grill | CDP  | 1,468
39  | South Temple | CDP  | 1,424
40  | Muhlenberg Park | CDP  | 1,420
41  | Shoemakersville | Borough  | 1,378
42  | New Berlinville | CDP  | 1,368
43  | Oley | CDP  | 1,282
44  | Greenfields | CDP  | 1,170
45  | Alleghenyville | CDP  | 1,134
46  | Bally | Borough  | 1,090
47  | Colony Park | CDP  | 1,076
48  | Stony Creek Mills | CDP  | 1,045
49  | Spring Ridge | CDP  | 1,003
50  | Bernville | Borough  | 955
51  | Bechtelsville | Borough  | 942
52  | Hereford | CDP  | 930
53  | Dauberville | CDP  | 848
54  | Morgantown | CDP  | 826
55  | Pennwyn | CDP  | 780
56  | Springmont | CDP  | 724
57  | Edenburg | CDP  | 681
58  | Gibraltar | CDP  | 680
59  | Mertztown | CDP  | 664
60  | New Jerusalem | CDP  | 649
61  | Montrose Manor | CDP  | 604
62  | Stouchsburg | CDP  | 600
63  | Gouglersville | CDP  | 548
64  | Bethel | CDP  | 499
65  | Walnuttown | CDP  | 484
T-66  | Lyons | Borough  | 478
T-66  | Alsace Manor | CDP  | 478
67  | Shartlesville | CDP  | 455
68  | Douglassville | CDP  | 448
69  | Baumstown | CDP  | 422
70  | Dryville | CDP  | 398
71  | Centerport | Borough  | 387
72  | Mohrsville | CDP  | 383
73  | Frystown | CDP  | 380
74  | Mount Aetna | CDP  | 354
75  | Strausstown | Borough  | 342
76  | Bowers | CDP  | 326
77  | Rehrersburg | CDP  | 319
78  | Virginville | CDP  | 309
79  | Schubert | CDP  | 249
80  | New Schaefferstown | CDP  | 223
81  | Kempton | CDP  | 169
82  | Lenhartsville | Borough  | 165
83  | New Morgan | Borough  | 71

## Notable people[edit | edit source]

* William Addams, congressman from Pennsylvania[28]
* Priscilla Ahn, folk musician and singer-songwriter
* John Barrasso, US Senator
* Douglas Carter Beane, playwright
* Chad Billingsley, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers
* Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman (1734–1820)
* Kenny Brightbill, NASCAR Driver
* Steve Burns, musician and former Blue's Clues host
* James Henry Carpenter (1846–1898), Civil War sailor, officer, founder of Carpenter Technology Corporation
* Jack Coggins, illustrator, author and artist, lived in Boyertown from 1948 to 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
* Amy Cuddy, Harvard psychologist and TED Talks speaker
* Lisa Eichhorn, actress, moved to Reading as a child and graduated from Mt. Penn High School
* Wayne Ellington, NBA Basketball Player
* Carl Furillo (1922–1989), Former Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers right-fielder
* John Henry Gilmore, Jr., professional football player (Saints, Bears, and Buccaneers)
* Jon Gosselin of the Gosselin family, Reality TV stars of Jon & Kate Plus 8
* Kate Gosselin of the Gosselin family, Reality TV stars of Jon & Kate Plus 8
* Keith Haring (1958–1990), artist
* Chad Henne, football player for the Miami Dolphins and University of Michigan
* Chris Hero, professional wrestler
* Joseph Hiester, governor of Pennsylvania 1820–1823
* Tommy Hinnershitz (1912–1999), auto racing pioneer
* Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube (attended Twin Valley and Albright College)
* Mildred Jordan (1901–1982), novelist
* Chip Kidd (born 1964), book jacket designer at Knopf Publishing Group[29]
* Abraham Lincoln (1744-1786), grandfather of 16th U.S. president Abraham Lincoln
* Matt Lytle (born 1975), professional football player
* Donyell Marshall, former NBA player and graduate of Reading High School
* James H. Maurer (1864-1944), Labor leader and two-time Vice Presidential nominee
* Kelly McGillis, actress, [Top Gun/Witness/The Accused]
* Gordon McKellen, Jr., former US figure skating champion and Hall of Fame member
* Morton L. Montgomery (1846–1933), Reading attorney and author of multiple history books about Berks County[30][31]
* Lenny Moore, NFL Hall of Fame
* Thomas Morris, Democratic politician, served in the United States Senate[32]
* Jillian Murray (b. June 4, 1989), model/actress
* Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, architect, founder of Muhlenberg Greene Architects, American military and political leader 1887–1980
* Jacob Nolde, conservationist
* Bodo Otto, Senior Surgeon of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1711–1787)
* William Sands, U.S. Medal of Honor winner (Civil War)[33]
* Martin Cruz Smith, novelist
* Carl Spaatz, World War II general
* Wallace Stevens, major American Modernist poet, October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955
* Taylor Swift (born 1989), Grammy Award-winning country/pop singer-songwriter
* Ross Tucker, professional football player
* John Updike, writer, 1932–2009
* Lonnie Walker, NBA player
* Gus Yatron, former congressman from Pennsylvania

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Berks County, Pennsylvania

## Footnotes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682-1809, 18 vols. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, 1898), vol. 5 1744-1759, pages 133-140, 502-503, Chapter CCCXCII, "An Act for Erecting Part of the Counties Of Philadelphia, Chester and Lancaster into a Separate County," March 11, 1752, confirmed by the King in Council, May 10, 1753, creation of Berks County, digital images, Internet Archive (https://archive.org : July 26, 2018).
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
10. ^ "Census 2010: Pennsylvania - USATODAY.com". USA Today.
11. ^ http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks County.pdf[bare URL PDF]
12. ^ Orth, Richard L.T. (August 23, 2018). "A Look Back in History Mennonite Plain Dutch families call Kutztown area home". BerksMont News. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
13. ^ Shaner, Richard (July 24, 2009). "Kutztown welcomes Old Order Mennonites in 1949". BerksMont News. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
14. ^ Orth, Richard L.T. (September 21, 2016). "A Look Back in History: The Old Order Mennonite Sect at Kutztown also preserving the Historic Oley Valley". BerksMont News. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Berks County, Pennsylvania".
16. ^ "Office of Management and Budget". February 7, 2017.
17. ^ a b "Decennial Census by Decades". Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
18. ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
19. ^ "Voter registration statistics by county". August 17, 2022. dos.pa.gov
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
21. ^ [1] Archived November 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine electionreturns.state.pa.us
22. ^ "Election Results". Retrieved November 16, 2016.
23. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Berks County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2022. \- Text list
24. ^ http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20031119.pdf[bare URL PDF]
25. ^ "Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County – Dedicated to Preserving Berks County Properties". historicpreservationtrust.org.
26. ^ "Art on the Avenue 2018 Photos". BerksLuxury.com. June 16, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
27. ^ Community Television Review. National Federation of Local Cable Programmers. 1986. p. 23.
28. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
29. ^ "Reading Eagle". readingeagle.
30. ^ Montgomery, Morton L. Historical Sketch of Reading Artillerists: Read Upon the Occasion of Their 102d Anniversary in Metropolitan Hall, May 25, 1896. Chicago, Illinois: J.E. Norton & Company, 1897. OCLC 16413450
31. ^ Montgomery, Morton L. History of Berks County in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886. OCLC 11333191
32. ^ "Tolleson, Arizona". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
33. ^ "Sands, William", in "Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (S-Z):. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History, retrieved online October 6, 2018.

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* F.W. Balthaser, The Story of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Reading, PA: Reading Eagle Press, 1925.
* D.B. Brunner, The Indians of Berks County, Pa., Being a Summary of all the Tangible Records of the Aborigines of Berks County, with Cuts and Descriptions of the Varieties of Relics Found within the County. Reading, PA: Eagle Book Print, 1897.
* Morton L. Montgomery, History of Berks County in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886.
* Morton L. Montgomery, History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the Revolution, from 1774 to 1783. Reading, PA: C.F. Haage, printer, 1894.
* Morton L. Montgomery, Political Hand-Book of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1752–1883. Reading, PA: B.F. Owen, 1883.
* Morton L. Montgomery, School history of Berks County in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: J.B. Rodgers Printing Co., 1889.
* Kathy M. Scogna, "The Birth of a County — 1752,". Historical Review of Berks County, Winter 2001–02.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Berks County, Pennsylvania.

* Official website

Places adjacent to Berks County, Pennsylvania

| Schuylkill County | Schuylkill County | Lehigh County

|
|

| North |
Lebanon County |

Berks County, PennsylvaniaEast

| Montgomery County
| South |
Lancaster County |  | Chester County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

County seat: Reading

City|

* Reading

File:Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County.svg

Boroughs|

* Adamstown‡
* Bally
* Bechtelsville
* Bernville
* Birdsboro
* Boyertown
* Centerport
* Fleetwood
* Hamburg
* Kenhorst
* Kutztown
* Laureldale
* Leesport
* Lenhartsville
* Lyons
* Mohnton
* Mount Penn
* New Morgan
* Robesonia
* St. Lawrence
* Shillington
* Shoemakersville
* Sinking Spring
* Topton
* Wernersville
* West Reading
* Womelsdorf
* Wyomissing

Townships|

* Albany
* Alsace
* Amity
* Bern
* Bethel
* Brecknock
* Caernarvon
* Centre
* Colebrookdale
* Cumru
* District
* Douglass
* Earl
* Exeter
* Greenwich
* Heidelberg
* Hereford
* Jefferson
* Longswamp
* Lower Alsace
* Lower Heidelberg
* Maidencreek
* Marion
* Maxatawny
* Muhlenberg
* North Heidelberg
* Oley
* Ontelaunee
* Penn
* Perry
* Pike
* Richmond
* Robeson
* Rockland
* Ruscombmanor
* South Heidelberg
* Spring
* Tilden
* Tulpehocken
* Union
* Upper Bern
* Upper Tulpehocken
* Washington
* Windsor

CDPs|

* Alleghenyville
* Alsace Manor
* Amity Gardens
* Baumstown
* Bethel
* Blandon
* Bowers
* Colony Park
* Dauberville
* Douglassville
* Dryville
* Edenburg
* Flying Hills
* Fox Chase
* Frystown
* Gibraltar
* Gouglersville
* Greenfields
* Grill
* Hereford
* Hyde Park
* Jacksonwald
* Kempton
* Kutztown University
* Lincoln Park
* Lorane
* Maxatawny
* Mertztown
* Mohrsville
* Montrose Manor
* Morgantown‡
* Mount Aetna
* Muhlenberg Park
* New Berlinville
* New Jerusalem
* New Schaefferstown
* Oley
* Penn State Berks
* Pennside
* Pennwyn
* Rehrersburg
* Reiffton
* Riverview Park
* Schubert
* Shartlesville
* South Temple
* Spring Ridge
* Springmont
* Stony Creek Mills
* Stouchsburg
* Strausstown
* Temple
* Virginville
* Walnuttown
* West Hamburg
* West Lawn
* West Wyomissing
* Whitfield

Other
communities|

* Albany
* Amityville
* Barto
* Basket
* Beckersville
* Berne
* Boyers Junction
* Breezy Corner
* Brownsville
* Cacoosing
* Chapel‡
* Clayton
* Dale
* Earlville
* Dreibelbis
* Eagle Point
* Eckville
* Eshbach
* Evansville
* Five Points
* Fredericksville
* Fritztown
* Geigertown
* Greenawald
* Greenfield Manor
* Green Hills
* Grimville
* Hancock
* Harlem
* Henningsville
* Hinterleiter
* Host
* Huffs Church
* Jalappa
* Joanna
* Joanna Heights
* Kempville
* Kirbyville
* Klinesville
* Knauers
* Krumsville
* Kulptown
* Landis Store
* Leinbachs
* Limekiln
* Lobachsville
* Longswamp
* Maiden Creek
* Manatawny
* Maple Grove
* Molltown
* Monocacy Station
* Montello
* Monterey
* Morysville
* Moselem
* Moselem Springs
* New Hensingersville‡
* North Heidelberg
* Pikeville
* Pine Forge
* Pine Waters
* Pleasant Valley
* Pleasantville
* Plowville
* Pricetown
* Quaker City
* Rittenhouse Gap
* Sally Ann
* Scarlets Mill
* Seisholtzville
* State Hill
* Stony Run
* Trexler
* Tuckerton
* Unionville
* Vinemont
* Weavertown
* Windsor Castle
* Wintersville
* Woodchoppertown
* Wyomissing Hills
* Yellow House

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Delegations
* Government
* History
* Geography
* Geology
* Law
* Notable Pennsylvanians
* State parks
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Agriculture
* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gambling
* Politics
* Sports

Metro areas|

* Altoona
* Baltimore-Washington
* Erie
* Harrisburg–York–Lebanon
* Johnstown
* Lancaster
* Lebanon
* Lehigh Valley
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Pittsburgh
* Reading
* Scranton‑Wilkes-Barre
* State College
* Williamsport
* York-Hanover

Largest cities|

* Allentown
* Altoona
* Bethlehem
* Butler
* Chester
* DuBois
* Easton
* Erie
* Greensburg
* Harrisburg
* Hazleton
* Johnstown
* Lancaster
* Lebanon
* McKeesport
* New Castle
* Philadelphia
* Pittsburgh
* Pottsville
* Reading
* Scranton
* Sunbury
* Wilkes-Barre
* Williamsport
* York

Largest
municipalities|

* Abington
* Bensalem
* Bethel Park
* Bristol
* Cheltenham
* Cranberry
* Darby
* Falls
* Hampden
* Haverford
* Hempfield
* Lower Macungie
* Lower Makefield
* Lower Merion
* Lower Paxton
* Manheim
* McCandless
* Middletown
* Millcreek Township
* Monroeville
* Mount Lebanon
* Norristown
* Northampton Township
* North Huntingdon
* Penn Hills
* Radnor
* Ridley
* Ross
* Shaler
* Spring
* State College
* Tredyffrin
* Upper Darby
* Upper Merion
* Warminster
* West Chester
* Whitehall Township
* York Township

Regions|

* Allegheny Mountains
* Allegheny National Forest
* Allegheny Plateau
* Bald Eagle Valley
* Blue Ridge
* Coal Region
* Cumberland Valley
* Delaware Valley
* Dutch Country
* Endless Mountains
* Great Valley
* Happy Valley
* Laurel Highlands
* Lebanon Valley
* Lehigh Valley
* Mahoning Valley
* Main Line
* Nittany Valley
* Northeastern
* Northern Tier
* North Central
* North Penn Valley
* Ohio Valley
* Oil Region
* Oley Valley
* Pennsylvania Highlands
* Penns Valley
* Piedmont
* Pocono Mountains
* Ridge and Valley
* South Central
* Southern
* Susquehanna Valley
* Western
* Wyoming Valley

Counties|

* Adams
* Allegheny
* Armstrong
* Beaver
* Bedford
* Berks
* Blair
* Bradford
* Bucks
* Butler
* Cambria
* Cameron
* Carbon
* Centre
* Chester
* Clarion
* Clearfield
* Clinton
* Columbia
* Crawford
* Cumberland
* Dauphin
* Delaware
* Elk
* Erie
* Fayette
* Forest
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Greene
* Huntingdon
* Indiana
* Jefferson
* Juniata
* Lackawanna
* Lancaster
* Lawrence
* Lebanon
* Lehigh
* Luzerne
* Lycoming
* McKean
* Mercer
* Mifflin
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Montour
* Northampton
* Northumberland
* Perry
* Philadelphia
* Pike
* Potter
* Schuylkill
* Snyder
* Somerset
* Sullivan
* Susquehanna
* Tioga
* Union
* Venango
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Westmoreland
* Wyoming
* York

* v
* t
* e

Delaware Valley

Counties|

* Atlantic
* Berks
* Bucks
* Burlington
* Camden
* Cape May
* Cecil
* Chester
* Cumberland
* Delaware
* Gloucester
* Kent
* Mercer
* Montgomery
* New Castle
* Philadelphia
* Salem

File:Liberty Bell, Independence Hall.jpg

Major cities|

* Philadelphia

Cities and towns
50k-99k|

* Abington
* Bensalem
* Brandywine Hundred
* Bristol
* Camden
* Cherry Hill
* Gloucester Township
* Hamilton
* Lower Merion
* New Castle Hundred
* Pennsauken
* Reading
* Trenton
* Upper Darby
* Vineland
* Wilmington

Cities and towns
30k-50k|

* Atlantic City
* Cheltenham
* Chester
* Deptford
* Dover
* Egg Harbor
* Evesham
* Ewing
* Falls
* Galloway
* Haverford
* Lawrence
* Lower Makefield
* Middletown
* Millville
* Monroe
* Mount Laurel
* Newark
* Norristown
* Northampton
* Radnor
* Ridley
* Warminster
* Washington
* Willingboro
* Winslow

See also|

* Northeast megalopolis

* v
* t
* e

Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Attractions|

* The Pagoda
* Equestrian statue of David McMurtrie Gregg
* Frederick Lauer Monument
* Historic Places
* GoggleWorks
* Reading Public Museum
* Historical Society of Berks County
* Berkshire Mall
* Fairgrounds Square Mall
* Santander Arena
* Santander Performing Arts Center

Transportation|

* BARTA
* Franklin Street station (defunct)
* Inter-City Bus Terminal (closed)
* Reading outer station (defunct)
* Reading Regional Airport
* Schuylkill Valley Metro (cancelled)

Entertainment|

* Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra
* Berks Youth Chorus

Education|

* Reading School District
* Reading High School
* Albright College
* Alvernia University
* Reading Area Community College
* Penn State Berks

Industry|

* Boscov's
* Carpenter Technology Corporation
* Penske Truck Leasing
* Redner's Markets
* Reading Company (defunct)
* Daniels Motor Company (defunct)
* VF Corporation (former)

Sports|

* Reading Fightin Phils
* Reading Royals
* Reading United A.C.

Newspapers|

* Reading Eagle

Radio|

* W207AE
* W222BY
* W225CF
* W249AT
* W253CK
* W257DI
* W279BS
* W279CB
* W292FD
* W296CL
* W300BZ
* WAVT-FM
* WEEU
* WBYN-FM
* WIOV
* WIOV-FM
* WMGH-FM
* WRAW
* WRFY-FM
* HD2
* WXAC
* WYBQ
* WYTL
* WZMV
* WZXB

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