Berks County, Pennsylvania
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. The county seat is Reading. 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 William Penn's family home of 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 Planning Area due to a fast-growing population and close proximity to the other communities.
County Commissioners
Mark C. Scott, Chairman, Republican
Kevin Barnhardt, Democrat
Christian Leinbach, 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
Michael A. O'Pake,Democrat,Pennsylvania Senate, District 11
Dave Argall,Republican,Pennsylvania Senate, District 29
John C. Rafferty Jr.,Republican,Pennsylvania Senate, District 44
Mike Folmer,Republican,Pennsylvania Senate, District 48
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Jerry Knowles,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
Sam Rohrer,Republican,Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 128
Jim Cox,Republican,Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 129
David R. Kessler,Democrat,Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 130
Doug Reichley,Republican,Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 134
Gary Day,Republican,Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 187
United States House of Representatives
Jim Gerlach,Republican,Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Charlie Dent,Republican,Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district(Hereford 2 only)
Joseph Pitts,Republican,Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district
Tim Holden,Democrat,Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district
United States Senate
Arlen Specter,Democrat
Bob Casey, Jr.,Democrat
Geography
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
Schuykill County(north)
Lehigh County(northeast)
Montgomery County(east)
Chester County(southeast)
Lancaster County(southwest)
Lebanon County(west)
National protected area
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Demographics
As of the census 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 11.8%. 35.1% were of German, 8.6% Italian, 7.1% Irish, 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 (from Pennsylvania Deutsch or German) 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 average income for a Berks County is $72,694There 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.
Politics
As of January 2010, there are 248,949 registered voters in Berks County.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. 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 November 2006, Democrat David Kessler won the State House election in the traditionally-Republican 130th district of eastern Berks.
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:
Cities
Reading
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.
Colleges and universities
Albright College
Alvernia University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Penn State Berks
Reading Area Community College
Public school districts
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
Berks Christian School
Blue Mountain Academy
Fairview Christian School
Holy Name High School
Kings Academy
Reading Central Catholic High School
Technical or trade schools
Berks Technical Institute
Pace Institute
Reading Hospital School of Nursing
Notable residents
Gus Yatron, FormerUnited States Congressmanfrom Pennsylvania
William Addams,United States Congressmanfrom Pennsylvania
Priscilla Ahn, folk musician and singer-songwriter.
Chad Billingsley, pitcher for the LA Dodgers
Steve Burns, musician and formerBlue's Clueshost
Bob Cesca, animator, political author and columnist/blogger forThe 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, and Titans)
Michael Constantine, actor, star ofMy Big Fat Greek Wedding.
John Henry Gilmore, Jr., professional football player (Saints, Bears, and Buccaneers)
Kate Gosselin, Gosselin Family,Reality TVstars ofJon & 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 ofPennsylvania1820-1823
Tommy Hinnershitz1912-1999. Auto racing pioneer. Member Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Chad Hurley, Co-Founder of YouTube
Alexander Jay and family, voted best family in the county
Kelly McGillis, actress,[Top Gun]
Jillian Murray, model/actress (b. June 4, 1989)
Jacob Nolde, conservationist
Wallace Stevens, major American Modernist poet, October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955.
Taylor Swift, Grammy Award winning country singer
Nicole Tranquillo, semi-finalist onAmerican Idol.
Ross Tucker, professional football player
John Updike, American writer, 1932-2009.
Recreation
The Reading Public Museum is an art, science, and history museum.There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Berks County.Nolde Forest Environmental Education Centeris south ofReadingon land once owned byJacob Nolde, a prominent Reading businessman and Pennsylvania environmentalist.
French Creek State Park, a formerRecreational Demonstration Area, straddles the Berks and Chester County line.
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.