Berks County, Pennsylvania

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Berks County, Pennsylvania
The Reading area from the Pagoda

Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded March 11, 1752
Seat Reading
Largest city Reading
Area
 • Total 866 sq mi (2,243 km2)
 • Land 859 sq mi (2,225 km2)
 • Water 7 sq mi (18 km2), 0.78%
Population (Est.)
 • (2012) 413,491
 • Density 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.[1] The county seat is Reading.[2] 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

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

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,242.9 km2), of which 859 square miles (2,224.8 km2) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km2) (0.78%) is water.[3] 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

 Schuylkill County Schuylkill County Lehigh County
Lebanon County Montgomery County
   Berks County, Pennsylvania  
Lancaster County Chester County

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179030,189
—
180032,4077.3%
181043,14633.1%
182046,2757.3%
183053,15214.9%
184064,56921.5%
185077,12919.5%
186093,81821.6%
1870106,70113.7%
1880122,59714.9%
1890137,32712.0%
1900159,61516.2%
1910183,22214.8%
1920200,8549.6%
1930231,71715.4%
1940241,8844.4%
1950255,7405.7%
1960275,4147.7%
1970296,3827.6%
1980312,5095.4%
1990336,5237.7%
2000373,63811.0%
2010411,44210.1%
Est. 2012413,4910.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
2012 Estimate[1]

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. Historically there was a large Pennsylvania Dutch population. It is known as part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

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.

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

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.

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Berks County.

There are two Pennsylvania Historic Sites in Berks County.

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.

Government

County Commissioners

Berks County Courthouse
  • Christian Leinbach, Chair Republican
  • Kevin Barnhardt, Vice Chair Democrat
  • Mark C. Scott, Republican

Other county offices

  • 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

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Politics

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

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

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

Boroughs

Townships

A farm in Windsor Township

Census-designated places

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

Education

Colleges and universities

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public school districts

Private high schools

Technical or trade schools

  • Berks Technical Institute
  • Pace Institute
  • Reading Hospital School of Nursing

Transportation

Major roads and highways

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 
  5. ↑ http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks%20County.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.dos.state.pa.us/elections/lib/elections/055_voter_registration_statistics/currentstats/currentvotestats.xls dos.state.pa.us
  7. ↑ http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28 electionreturns.state.pa.us
  8. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  9. ↑ http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/sheer-genius.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ "Tolleson, Arizona". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 24, 2012. 

Further reading

External links

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

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