Berks County, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Berks County, Pennsylvania | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 11, 1752 |
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| 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% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
373,638 435/sq mi (168/km²) |
| Website: www.co.berks.pa.us | |
Berks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the population was 373,638. The population in 2006 was estimated at 401,149 by the US Census Bureau. Its 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.
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[edit] 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 Conrad Weiser, the county was formed on March 11, 1752 from parts of Chester County, Lancaster County, and Philadelphia County and named after William Penn's family home of situated in Reading, Berkshire, England. 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 due to a fast-growing population and close proximity to the other Delaware Valley counties.
[edit] Law and government
[edit] Pennsylvania State Senate
- Michael A. O'Pake, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, District 11
- James J. Rhoades, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 44
- John C. Rafferty Jr., Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 29
- Mike Folmer, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 48
[edit] Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- David G.Argall, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 124
- Tim Seip, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 125
- Dante Santoni Jr., Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 126
- Thomas R. Caltagirone, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 127
- Samuel E. Rohrer, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 128
- Jim Cox, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 129
- David Kessler, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 130
- Douglas G. Reichley, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 134
- Carl W. Mantz, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 187
[edit] United States House of Representatives
- Jim Gerlach, Republican, Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
- Charlie Dent, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
- Joseph Pitts, Republican, Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district
- Tim Holden, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district
[edit] United States Senate
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,242 km²).859 square miles (2,224 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (18 km²) of it (0.78%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Schuykill County (north)
- Lehigh County (northeast)
- Montgomery County (southeast)
- Chester County (south)
- Lancaster County (southwest)
- Lebanon County (west)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile (168/km²). There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile (68/km²). The racial makeup of the county in 2004 was 82.5% White, 4.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanics/Latinos made up 11.8%. 35.1% were of German, 8.6% Italian, 7.1% Irish, 6.8% American and 5.4% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 87.6% spoke English, 8.1% Spanish and 1.0% Pennsylvania Dutch as their first language. Historically there was a large Pennsylvania Dutch population and it is known as a part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
There were 141,570 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
[edit] Politics
As of November 2007, there are 238,188 registered voters in Berks County [1].
- Democratic: 106,085 (44.54%)
- Republican: 97,086 (40.76%)
- Other Parties: 35,017 (14.70%)
[edit] Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Berks County:
[edit] Cities
[edit] Boroughs
[edit] Townships
[edit] Unincorporated or 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.
[edit] Education
[edit] Colleges and universities
- Albright College
- Alvernia College
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
- Penn State Berks
- Reading Area Community College
[edit] Public School Districts
- Antietam School District
- Boyertown 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
[edit] Private High Schools
- Holy Name High School
- Reading Central Catholic High School
- Fairview Christian School
- Blue Mountain Academy
- Berks Christian School[2]
[edit] Technical or Trade Schools
- Berks Technical Institute
- Pace Institute
- Reading Hospital School of Nursing
[edit] Notable residents
- William Addams, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania, resided in Berks County.[3]
- Joseph Hiester, governor of Pennsylvania 1820-1823
- Jack Coggins, Illustrator, Author and Artist, lived in Boyertown from 1948 until his death in 2006.
- Jacob Nolde, conservationist
- Taylor Swift, Grammy-nominated country singer
- Nicole Tranquillo, semi-finalist on American Idol.
- John Updike, American writer, born 1932.
- Kerry Collins, Professional Football Player (Panthers, Saints, Giants, Raiders, and Titans)
- Chad Henne, Professional Football Player (Miami Dolphins) and Graduate of the University of Michigan (4 Year Starter at Quarterback)
[edit] Recreation
The Reading Public Museum is an art, science, and history museum in Reading.
There are 2 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 that straddles the Berks and Chester County line.
[edit] References
- Scogna, Kathy M. (winter 2001-2002). The Birth of a County - 1752. Historical Review of Berks County.
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- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
[edit] External links
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