County
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The Cities and communities of Berks County, Pennsylvania*
Bally, Barto, Baumstown, Bechtelsville, Beckersville, Berkley, Bernville, Bethel, Birdsboro, Blandon, Boyertown
Caernarvon, Centerport, Clayton, Colebrookdale
Dauberville, Douglassville, Dryville
Earlville, East Greenwich, Eckville, Edenburg
Fleetwood, Fort Spitzenberg, Friptown, Fritztown,
Geigertown, Gibralter, Grimville
Hamburg, Hereford, Host, Huffs Church
Joanne
Kempton, Kenhorst, Klinesville, Krumsville, Kutztown
Laureldale, Leesport, Lenhartsville, Limekiln, Lobachsville, Longswamp, Lorane, Lyons
Maiden Creek, Maxatawny, Mertztown, Mohnton, Mohrsville, Monocacy Station, Moselem, Moselem Springs, Mount Aetna, Mount Penn
New Berlinville, New Jerusalem, New Morgan, New Schaefferstown
Palm, Pineville, Pleasantville, Pricetown
Reading, Rehrersburg, Robesonia
Scarlets Mill, Schubert, Seisholtzville, Shanesville, Shartlesville, Shillington, Shoemakersville, Sinking Spring, State Hill, St. Lawrence, Stonersville, Stouchsburg, Strausstown
Virginville
Walnuttown, Wernersville, West Lawn, West Reading, Womelsdorf, Wyomissing
Yellow House
*This list of cities may not be complete
If you have information about any of these unlinked communities, please send it to us and we will add a page for that community.
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Information &
Facts about Berks County, Pennsylvania
Population:
1790 - 30,189
1860 - 93,818
1970 - 296,382
1980 - 312,543
1990 - 336,523
1991 - 340,953
1992 - 343,073
1993 - 345,874
1994 - 348,441
1995 - 350,169
1996 - 351,933
1997 - 353,925
1998 - 355,956
2000 - 373,638
Density: 389.5 persons per square mile (1990)
Time Zone:
Berks County is in the eastern time zone and participates
in Daylight Savings time during the late spring, summer and early
fall.
Location:
Berks County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nearby counties are: Lehigh, Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Schuylkill Counties
Philadelphia is about 56 miles to the southeast; Baltimore, 97
mites south; and New York, 125 miles northeast.
Geography:
Lush woodlands and rich, rolling farmlands are accented by the County's major natural land formations--the Blue Mountain ridge (elevations to 1,500 feet above sea level) in the north, the South Mountain ridge (800 to 1,200 feet) to the west and along the southern side of the Schuylkill River, and the soft hills of the Piedmont Lowlands (200 to 500 feet) in the south.
Size:
864 square miles in an approximate diamond shape
History:
Founded: 1748
Incorporated: 1752
A history page
for the county
Here is an excerpt from the above history page:
"The first European settlement in the County was made in
1701 by the Swedes near the mouth of the Manatawny Creek. This
was soon followed, further upstream and into the rich Oley Valley,
by the French Huguenots after 1704, the Germans in 1712, and the
English after 1720. The other early settlers were Quakers, German
Amish, Mennonites and English. The English also settled throughout
the Maidencreek Valley, and, after 1730, along the Allegheny and
Hay Creeks, south of the Schuylkill."
Founded in 1748 by Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, the founder of the state of Pennsylvania. The Penns came from the County of Berks or Berkshire in England. It was incorporated from parts of Lancaster, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties in 1752. The present boundaries of Berks County were established in 1811 when land was taken from Berks to form Schuylkill County. The county quickly became known as an agricultural center and later on as a manufacturing center. It particularly catered to the textiles and clothing industries. It continues to excel in this field as it is now known as the "outlet capital of the world."
The one factor which contributed most to the early growth of the
county was the Schuylkill River and canal system. The flat-bottomed
boats carried agricultural and, later, manufactured goods to Philadelphia
markets. The Reading Railroad (yes- same as on Monopoly board)
helped Berks County to move forward rapidly.
Historical Society
of Berks County
940 Centre Avenue
Reading, Pennsylvania 19601
Phone 610 375-4375
Fax 610 375-4376
Email: history@berksweb.com
Historic Sites for Berks County
Genealogy:
Berks County Genealogical Society
Phone: 610-921-4970
Email: genealogy@berkscounty.com
Genealogy links for Berks County PA area - good list of links
Berks County Historical Society
940 Centre Avenue
Reading, Pennsylvania 19601
Phone 610 375-4375
Fax 610 375-4376
US GenWeb Project page
for Berks County
Government:
Reading is the county seat of Berks County
Berks County
633 Court St
Reading, PA 19601-4302
Administration Phone: 610-478-6404
Chief Clerk Phone: 610-478-6136
Courthouse: 610-478-6100
Fax: 610-478-6139
Organizations:
Berks County Chamber of Commerce
601 Penn St., Suite 101
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: 610-376-6766
Fax: 610-376-4135
Reading/Berks County Visitors Bureau
352 Penn St.
Reading, PA 19602.
Phone: 610-375-4085
Toll-free: 800-443-6610.
Fax: 610-375-9606
Email: info@readingberkspa.com
Berks Ballet Theatre
1701 Fairview Street
Reading, PA 19606
Phone: 610-373-8302
Libraries:
Berks County Public Library
100 South Fifth Street
Reading. PA 19602
Phone - 610-655-6350
Reference - 610-655-6355
Administration - 610-655-6365
Schools:
An Education page for Berks County
Attractions:
Things to see and do in the Berks County area
Take a Virtual Tour of Berks County
Berks County Visitor Information and more
Reading is known as the Outlet Capital of the World. See this Outlet page for Berks County
Covered Bridges in Berks County and surrounding states
Hopewell Furnace
- National Historic Site
2 Mark Bird Lane
Elverson, PA 19520,
Phone: 610-582-8773
Phone: 610-582-2093
It is one of the finest examples of an early 19th century Iron
Plantation
Daniel Boone Homestead
500 Daniel Boone Rd.
Birdsboro, PA 19508
Phone: 610-582-4900
The site of the birth of the great American frontiersman in 1734,
the Daniel Boone Homestead interprets the life of early English
and German settlers in eastern Berks County. the site includes
the Boone House, Blacksmith Shop, Barn, Bertolet Log House, Sawmill,
Visitor Center, picinc area and trails
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This page was last updated on 29 August 2006 at 5:04 pm
This page was created 10 October 2001
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