Berks County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia : B : BE : BER : Berks County, Pennsylvania
Berks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population was 373,638. Its county seat is Reading6.
- 1 History
- 2 Law and Government
- 2.1 Pennsylvania State Senate
- 2.2 Pennsylvania House Of Representatives
- 2.3 United States House Of Representatives
- 3 Geography
- 4 Demographics
- 5 Municipalities
- 6 Education
- 6.1 Colleges and universities
- 6.2 Public School Districts
- 6.3 Community, Junior and Technical Colleges
- 7 References
- 8 External links
History
Reading developed during the 1740s and the northern inhabitants of 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 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.Law and Government
Pennsylvania State Senate
- Michael A. O'Packe, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 11th Senate District
- James J. Rhoades, Republican, Pennsylvania's 44th Senate District
- John C. Rafferty Jr., Democrat, Pennsylvania's 29th Senate District
- Dabid J. Brightbill, Republican, Pennsylvania's 48th Senate District
Pennsylvania House Of Representatives
- David G.Argall, Republican, Pennsylvania's 124th Legislative District
- Bob Allen, Republican, Pennsylvania's 125th Legislative District
- Dante Santoni Jr., Democrat, Pennsylvania's 126th Legisltive District
- Thomas R. Caltagirone, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 127th Legislative District
- Samuel E. Rohrer, Republican, Pennsylvania's 128th Legislative District
- Sheila Miller, Republican, Pennsylvania's 129th Legislative District
- Dennis E. Leh, Republican, Pennsylvania's 130th Legislative District
- Douglas G. Reichley, Republican, Pennsylvania's 134th Legislative District
- Paul W. Semmel, Republican, Pennsylvania's 187th Legislative District
United States House Of Representatives
- Jim Gerlach, Republican, Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District
- Joseph Pitts, Republican, Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District
- Tim Holden, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,242 km² (866 mi²). 2,224 km² (859 mi²) of it is land and 18 km² (7 mi²) of it (0.78%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Schuykill County (north)
- Lehigh County (northeast)
- Montgomery County (southeast)
- Chester County (south)
- Lancaster County (southwest)
- Lebanon County (west)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 168/km² (435/mi²). There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 68/km² (175/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.18% White, 3.69% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.44% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 9.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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.
Municipalities
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
Census-designated places
Education
Colleges and universities
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
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges
- Berks Technical Institute
- Pace Institute
- Reading Area Community College
References
- Scogna, Kathy M. (winter 2001-2002). [The Birth of a County - 1752]. Historical Review of Berks County.
External links
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