:Berks County, Pennsylvania

Reading developed during the 1740s when 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.The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1809, 18 vols. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Wm. Stanley Ray, 1898), [https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge06martgoog vol. 5 1744-1759], pages 133-140, 502-503, Chapter CCCXCII, "An Act for Erecting Part of the Counties Of Philadelphia, Chester and Lancaster into a Separate County," March 11, 1752, confirmed by the King in Council, May 10, 1753, creation of Berks County, digital images, Internet Archive (https://archive.org : July 26, 2018).

It was named after Berkshire the English county in which William Penn's family home lay, of which the original town of Reading is the county town and which is traditionally abbreviated "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.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|866|sqmi}}, {{convert|857|sqmi}} of which is land and {{convert|9.2|sqmi}} (1.1%) of which is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

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 county's extreme south. It has a humid continental climate (Dfa except for some Dfb on Blue Mountain at the northern boundary.) The hardiness zone is mostly 7a with 6b in some higher northern and eastern areas. [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/]

• Schuylkill County (north)
• Lehigh County (northeast)
• Montgomery County (east)
• Chester County (southeast)
• Lancaster County (southwest)
• Lebanon County (west)

• Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson

• French Creek State Park
• Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center

File:2022-08-16 16 20 06 View east along Interstate 78 and U.S. Route 22 (William Penn Highway) from the overpass for Power Drive in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg/US Route 22 eastbound in Berks County]]

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• {{jct|state=PA|I|76|PATP}}
• {{jct|state=PA|I|176}}
• {{jct|state=PA|I|78|US|22}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|222}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US-Bus|222|dab1=Reading}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US|422}}
• {{jct|state=PA|US-Bus|422|dab1=Reading}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|10}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|12}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|23}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|29}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|61}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|73}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|100}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|143}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|183}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|272}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|345}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|401}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|419}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|501}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|562}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|568}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|625}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|645}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|662}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|724}}
• {{jct|state=PA|PA|737}}

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{{US Census population

|1790= 30189

|1800= 32407

|1810= 43146

|1820= 46275

|1830= 53152

|1840= 64569

|1850= 77129

|1860= 93818

|1870= 106701

|1880= 122597

|1890= 137327

|1900= 159615

|1910= 183222

|1920= 200854

|1930= 231717

|1940= 241884

|1950= 255740

|1960= 275414

|1970= 296382

|1980= 312509

|1990= 336523

|2000= 373638

|2010= 411442

|2020= 428849

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412035529/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 12, 2013}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 5, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 5, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 5, 2015}} 2010–2019

}}

As of the 2010 census, the county was 76.9% white non-Hispanic, 4.9% black, 0.3% Indian, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA|title=Census 2010: Pennsylvania |website=USA Today}} Historically there is a large Pennsylvania Dutch population. It is known as part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. More recently there is a large Puerto Rican population centered in the city of Reading. There were 411,442 people, 154,356 households, and 106,532 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|479|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 164,827 housing units at an average density of {{convert|191.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

According to Muninet Guide's 2010 analysis, the median household income for Berks County is $54,105.

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.

Berks County is home to an Old Order Mennonite community consisting of about 160 families, located in the East Penn Valley near Kutztown and Fleetwood.{{cite news|last=Orth|first=Richard L.T.|title=A Look Back in History Mennonite Plain Dutch families call Kutztown area home|work=BerksMont News|date=August 23, 2018|url=https://www.berksmontnews.com/opinion/a-look-back-in-history-mennonite-plain-dutch-families-call/article_3a8ae87a-b672-5680-bc0c-ba2cffb4d0fe.html|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926052254/https://www.berksmontnews.com/opinion/a-look-back-in-history-mennonite-plain-dutch-families-call/article_3a8ae87a-b672-5680-bc0c-ba2cffb4d0fe.html|url-status=dead}} The Old Order Mennonites first bought land in the area in 1949.{{cite news|last=Shaner|first=Richard|title=Kutztown welcomes Old Order Mennonites in 1949|work=BerksMont News|date=July 24, 2009|url=http://www.berksmontnews.com/article/BM/20090724/OPINION03/307249992|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016123938/http://www.berksmontnews.com/article/BM/20090724/OPINION03/307249992|url-status=dead}} In 2012, Old Order Mennonites bought two large farms in the Oley Valley. The Old Order Mennonites in the area belong to the Groffdale Conference Mennonite Church and use the horse and buggy as transportation. There are several farms in the area belonging to the Old Order Mennonite community and meetinghouses are located near Kutztown and Fleetwood.{{cite news|last=Orth|first=Richard L.T.|title=A Look Back in History: The Old Order Mennonite Sect at Kutztown also preserving the Historic Oley Valley|work=BerksMont News|date=September 21, 2016|url=http://www.berksmontnews.com/article/BM/20160921/NEWS/160929999|access-date=October 15, 2017}}

{{See also|List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|List of Combined Statistical Areas}}

File:Delawarevalleymap.png]]

The Office of Management and Budget{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb|title=Office of Management and Budget|date=February 7, 2017}} has designated Berks County as the Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/ |title=Decennial Census by Decades |access-date=February 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206105214/http://www.census.gov/2010census/ |archive-date=December 6, 2013 }} the metropolitan area is the 10th-most populous in Pennsylvania and the 128th-most populous in the U.S. with a population of 413,491.

Berks County is part of the larger Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area (CSA), the largest in Pennsylvania and eighth-most populous in the nation with a population of 7,067,807.

File:Berks County Courthouse (Berks County, Pennsylvania - September 2010).jpg]]

• Judy Schwank, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, District 11
• Tracy Pennycuick, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 24
• Dave Argall, Republican, Pennsylvania Senate, District 29
• Katie Muth, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, District 44{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Berks|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=May 23, 2017}}

• Barry Jozwiak, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 5
• David H. Zimmerman, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 99
• Jamie Barton, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 124
• Mark Rozzi, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 126
• Manny Guzman Jr., Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 127
• Mark Gillen, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 128
• Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 129
• David Maloney, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 130

• Madeleine Dean, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
• Chrissy Houlahan, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
• Dan Meuser, Republican, Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

U.S. Senate

• Dave McCormick, Republican
• John Fetterman, Democrat

As of September 21, 2023, there were 253,186 registered voters in Berks County.{{cite web |last=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=July 17, 2023 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Documents/currentvotestats.xls |access-date=July 20, 2023 |website=dos.pa.gov}} dos.pa.gov

• Republican: 107,690 (42.53%)
• Democratic: 104,430 (41.24%)
• Independent: 30,154 (11.91%)
• Minor parties: 10,912 (4.31%)

Berks County is strongly Republican, but is still competitive. As of 2023, the Republican Party maintained a total registration edge over Democrats in Berks County. At the top of the Pennsylvania ticket in November 2022, Berks County split its votes, supporting Democrat Josh Shapiro for governor and Republican Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the county was Barack Obama in 2008.

{{PresHead|place=Berks County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|116,677|91,125|2,624|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|109,926|93,116|3,511|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|96,626|78,437|9,022|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|84,702|83,011|2,963|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|80,513|97,047|2,951|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|87,122|76,309|1,056|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|71,273|59,150|4,874|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|56,289|49,887|15,542|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|52,939|46,031|32,437|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|70,153|41,040|1,251|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|74,605|37,849|691|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|60,576|36,449|10,360|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|54,452|50,994|2,107|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|66,172|36,563|3,392|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|50,623|49,877|8,424|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|36,726|73,444|476|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|61,743|50,572|391|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|57,258|42,349|320|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|51,720|45,874|1,074|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|35,608|43,075|3,043|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|35,274|43,889|2,247|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|32,111|53,301|1,530|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|26,699|56,907|4,721|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|27,073|29,763|16,187|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|47,073|18,960|7,481|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|28,186|17,220|9,487|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|22,221|18,361|6,009|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|11,937|19,267|3,565|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,032|16,430|15,098|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|13,642|17,381|2,245|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|15,539|16,357|1,683|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|13,952|19,013|628|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|14,318|18,099|665|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|10,077|18,602|312|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|10,626|18,105|261|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|9,587|16,484|226|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|9,225|16,959|181|Pennsylvania}}

|}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Berks County, Pennsylvania|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}}}

{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|108,058|89,063|6,521|Pennsylvania}}

|}

The first time since 1964 that a Democrat carried Berks in a Presidential election occurred in 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116081121/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?ElectionID=28|archive-date=November 16, 2012|website=electionreturns.state.pa.us|title=2008 General Election - Pennsylvania Department of State - Elections Info}} 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, 49.6% to 48.6%, however, in 2016, Donald Trump carried Berks by a much larger margin of 52.9% to 42.7%.{{cite web|url=http://elections.co.berks.pa.us/results/default.aspx|access-date=November 16, 2016|title=Election Results}}{{Pie chart|thumb=left|caption=Chart of Voter Registration|label1=Republican|value1=42.53|color1={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|label2=Democratic|value2=41.36|color2={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|label3=Independent|value3=11.78|color3={{party color|Independent (United States)}}|label4=Other Parties|value4=4.32|color4={{party color|Green Party (United States)}}}}

• Albright College
• Alvernia University
• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
• Penn State Berks
• Reading Area Community College

File:Map of Berks County Pennsylvania School Districts.png

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42011_berks/DC20SD_C42011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720230545/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42011_berks/DC20SD_C42011.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Berks County, PA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42011_berks/DC20SD_C42011_SD2MS.txt Text list]

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• 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

{{div col end}}

• Berks Catholic High School in Reading
• Berks Christian School in Birdsboro
• Blue Mountain Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Tilden Township
• Conestoga Christian School in Morgantown, Pennsylvania
• Fairview Christian School in Reading
• Gateway Christian School in Mertztown
• Lighthouse Christian Academy in Lyons
• The King's Academy in Mohrsville
• Pine Forge Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Pine Forge

• Berks Technical Institute
• Pace Institute
• Reading Hospital School of Nursing
• Berks Career and Technology Center (east campus in Oley, west campus in Leesport)

In July of 1985, after a year long study, a 97-page report titled Public Library Service for Berks County was released, recommending a "county-wide system of federated libraries...and to operate a center supportive of all the libraries in the system." Following this report, the Berks County Public Library System was officially established by the Berks County Board of Commissioners in 1986.{{Cite web |title=System History {{!}} Berks County Public Libraries |url=https://www.berkslibraries.org/about-us/system-history |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.berkslibraries.org}}

The Berks County Public Library (BCPL) system consists of 19 member libraries and 4 branches:{{Cite web |title=Find a Library {{!}} Berks County Public Libraries |url=https://www.berkslibraries.org/find-a-library |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.berkslibraries.org}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em|content=* Bernville Area Community Library

• Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library
• Boone Area Library
• Boyertown Community Library
• Brandywine Community Library
• Exeter Community Library
• Fleetwood Area Public Library
• Hamburg Public Library
• Kutztown Community Library
• Mifflin Community Library
• Muhlenberg Community Library
• Reading Public Library - Main Branch
• Reading Public Library - Northeast Branch
• Reading Public Library - Northwest Branch
• Reading Public Library - Southeast Branch
• Robesonia Community Library
• Schuylkill Valley Community Library
• Sinking Spring Public Library
• Spring Township Library
• Village Library
• Wernersville Public Library
• West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library
• Womelsdorf Community Library}}

During the first year, the 12 libraries that were founding charter members served 45,000 registered borrowers and circulated over 470,000 items. Two branches in the county (Hamburg Public Library and the main branch of the Reading Public Library) were funded by grants from Andrew Carnegie. At this time, county funding for the library system totaled just $125,000.

As the system grew with 4 more libraries joining, the funding from the county grew to $325,000 in the year 1990. In 1990, the first public access computers were installed in System member libraries. One year later, the system took over control of a county bookmobile.

Several significant things for the library system took place in the year 1996 for its 10 year anniversary. During this year, the library system began van deliveries between branches and initiated involvement in the first ever state-wide Summer Reading program, Pennsylvania Patchwork. The system also began to offer access to the Internet. The following year, the first library automation network was installed across the system to connect the branch's collections.

In the year 2000, the number of member libraries totaled 19. The BCPL system was awarded a $225,500 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These funds were used to expand the internet access points available in the libraries and create a training lab at Reading Public Library. E-books and e-book readers were added to the system in this year as well. In 2002, after a year of development, a children's bookmobile called the Bookasaurus began to visit local preschool programs. In 2008, the system added an Early Literacy Station (ELS) to every branch in the system, which is a specific pre-loaded computer tailored to younger patrons' needs and interests. The following year, due to state-subsidized funding cuts, the county bookmobile ceased operations after more than 30 years. During this year, however, the library hosted its most successful Summer Reading yet, with over half a million books read over the course of the program.

The library system began to participate in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative in 2014.

As of 2020, the system has over 130,000 registered cardholders with a collection size of just under 950,000 items.{{Cite web |title=Library System 35th Anniversary {{!}} Berks County Public Libraries |url=https://www.berkslibraries.org/about-us/35th-anniversary |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.berkslibraries.org}}

Reading Public Museum in Reading is an art, science, and history museum.

The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps are an all-age drum corps based in Berks County. Founded in 1957, the corps is a charter member Drum Corps Associates and an 11-time DCA World Champion.

Reading is home to Berks Opera Company, founded in 2007 as Berks Opera Workshop.

There are two Pennsylvania state parks and one natural area in Berks County.

• French Creek State Park, a former Recreational Demonstration Area, straddles the Berks and Chester County line.
• Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center is south of Reading on land once owned by Jacob Nolde, a Reading businessman and Pennsylvania environmentalist.
• Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area, part of the William Penn Forest District in Oley.{{Cite web |title=public documents |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20031119.pdf |website=www.dcnr.state.pa.us}}{{dead link|date=April 2024}}

There are two Pennsylvania Historic Sites in Berks County.

• Conrad Weiser Homestead near Womelsdorf
• Daniel Boone Homestead near Birdsboro

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.{{Cite web|url=http://historicpreservationtrust.org/|title=Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County – Dedicated to Preserving Berks County Properties|website=historicpreservationtrust.org}}

West Reading in home to the annual Art on the Avenue, which reached its 25th year in 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://berksluxury.com/art-on-the-avenue-2018/|title=Art on the Avenue 2018 Photos|date=June 16, 2018|website=BerksLuxury.com|language=en-US|access-date=July 6, 2019}}

Berks County is home to several media outlets, including:

• Berks Community Television (BCTV){{cite book |title=Community Television Review |date=1986 |publisher=National Federation of Local Cable Programmers. |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_UkqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Berks+community+television%22+BCTV}}
• Reading Eagle, the daily newspaper, based in Reading and founded in 1867
• WEEU (830 AM), a radio station broadcasting news and conservative talk shows
• WFMZ-TV, an Allentown-based news channel that covers the region
• WRFY-FM (102.5 FM "Y102"), a commercial radio station licensed to serve Reading

File:Map of Berks County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png

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:

• Reading (county seat)

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Adamstown (mostly in Lancaster County)
• Bally
• Bechtelsville
• Bernville
• Birdsboro
• Boyertown
• Centerport
• Fleetwood
• Hamburg
• Kenhorst
• Kutztown
• Laureldale
• Leesport
• Lenhartsville
• Lyons
• Mohnton
• Mount Penn
• New Morgan
• Robesonia
• St. Lawrence
• Shillington
• Shoemakersville
• Sinking Spring
• Topton
• Wernersville
• West Reading
• Womelsdorf
• Wyomissing

{{div col end}}

File:Farmstead in winter, Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg in January 2008]]

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Albany
• Alsace
• Amity
• Bern
• Bethel
• Brecknock
• Caernarvon
• Centre
• Colebrookdale
• Cumru
• District
• Douglass
• Earl
• Exeter
• Greenwich
• Heidelberg
• Hereford
• Jefferson
• Longswamp
• Lower Alsace
• Lower Heidelberg
• Maidencreek
• Marion
• Maxatawny
• Muhlenberg
• North Heidelberg
• Oley
• Ontelaunee
• Penn
• Perry
• Pike
• Richmond
• Robeson
• Rockland
• Ruscombmanor
• South Heidelberg
• Spring
• Tilden
• Tulpehocken
• Union
• Upper Bern
• Upper Tulpehocken
• Washington
• Windsor

{{div col end}}

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.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Alleghenyville
• Alsace Manor
• Amity Gardens
• Baumstown
• Bethel
• Blandon
• Bowers
• Colony Park
• Dauberville
• Douglassville
• Dryville
• Edenburg
• Flying Hills
• Fox Chase
• Frystown
• Gibraltar
• Gouglersville
• Greenfields
• Grill
• Hereford
• Hyde Park
• Jacksonwald
• Kempton
• Kutztown University
• Lincoln Park
• Lorane
• Maxatawny
• Mertztown
• Mohrsville
• Montrose Manor
• Morgantown
• Mount Aetna
• Muhlenberg Park
• New Berlinville
• New Jerusalem
• New Schaefferstown
• Oley
• Pennside
• Penn State Berks
• Pennwyn
• Rehrersburg
• Reiffton
• Riverview Park
• Schubert
• Shartlesville
• South Temple
• Springmont
• Spring Ridge
• Stony Creek Mills
• Stouchsburg
• Strausstown
• Temple
• Virginville
• Walnuttown
• West Hamburg
• West Lawn
• West Wyomissing
• Whitfield

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Brownsville
• Blue Marsh
• Cacoosing
• Geigertown
• Leinbachs
• North Heidelberg
• Pine Swamp
• Plowville
• Pricetown
• Scarlets Mill
• State Hill
• Wooltown

{{div col end}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Berks County.

† county seat

CDP=census designated population

• William Addams, former U.S. Congressman{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}
• Priscilla Ahn, folk musician, singer, and songwriter
• Alex Anzalone (born 1994), Detroit Lions lineman
• John Barrasso, U.S. Senator
• Douglas Carter Beane, playwright
• Chad Billingsley, former professional baseball player, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies
• Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman
• Kenny Brightbill, professional race car driver
• Steve Burns, musician and former Blue's Clues host
• James Henry Carpenter, Civil War sailor, officer, founder of Carpenter Technology Corporation
• Jack Coggins, illustrator, author and artist, lived in Boyertown from 1948 to 2006
• Rocky Colavito, former Major League Baseball player
• Kerry Collins, professional football player (Panthers, Saints, Giants, Raiders, Titans, and Colts)
• Michael Constantine, actor, star of Room 222 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• Amy Cuddy, Harvard psychologist and TED Talks speaker
• Lisa Eichhorn, actress
• Wayne Ellington, NBA Basketball Player
• Carl Furillo, former professional baseball player, Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
• John Henry Gilmore, Jr., former professional football player, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Jon Gosselin, reality television personality, Jon & Kate Plus 8
• Kate Gosselin, reality television personality, Jon & Kate Plus 8
• Chris Guiliano, Olympic swimmer
• Keith Haring, former artist
• Chad Henne, football professional football player, Miami Dolphins
• Chris Hero, professional wrestler
• Joseph Hiester, governor of Pennsylvania 1820–1823
• Tommy Hinnershitz (1912–1999), auto racing pioneer
• Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube
• Mildred Jordan (1901–1982), novelist
• Chip Kidd (born 1964), book jacket designer at Knopf Publishing Group{{cite web|url=http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/sheer-genius|title=Reading Eagle|website=readingeagle|access-date=November 12, 2013|archive-date=July 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720012501/http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/sheer-genius/|url-status=dead}}
• Abraham Lincoln (1744–1786), grandfather of 16th U.S. president Abraham Lincoln
• Matt Lytle (born 1975), professional football player
• Donyell Marshall, former NBA player
• James H. Maurer (1864–1944), Labor leader and two-time Vice Presidential nominee
• Kelly McGillis, actress, [Top Gun/Witness/The Accused]
• Gordon McKellen, Jr., former U.S. figure skating champion and Hall of Fame member
• Morton L. Montgomery (1846–1933), Reading attorney and author of multiple history books about Berks CountyMontgomery, Morton L. [https://books.google.com/books/about/Historical_Sketch_of_Reading_Artillerist.html?id=CGE-AAAAYAAJ Historical Sketch of Reading Artillerists: Read Upon the Occasion of Their 102d Anniversary in Metropolitan Hall], May 25, 1896. Chicago, Illinois: J.E. Norton & Company, 1897. {{OCLC|16413450}}Montgomery, Morton L. [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028852196#page/n9 History of Berks County in Pennsylvania]. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886. {{OCLC| 11333191}}
• Lenny Moore, NFL Hall of Fame
• Thomas Morris, Democratic politician, served in the United States Senate{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000989|title=Tolleson, Arizona |dictionary= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=August 24, 2012}}
• Jillian Murray (b. June 4, 1989), model and actress
• Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, architect, founder of Muhlenberg Greene Architects, American military and political leader 1887–1980
• Jacob Nolde, conservationist
• Bodo Otto, Senior Surgeon of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1711–1787)
• William Sands, U.S. Medal of Honor recipient (Civil War)"Sands, William", in "[https://web.archive.org/web/20131215014031/http://www.history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_sz.html#SANDS Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (S-Z)]:. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History, retrieved online October 6, 2018.
• Martin Cruz Smith, novelist
• Carl Spaatz, World War II general
• Wallace Stevens, major American Modernist poet (1879–1955)
• Taylor Swift (born 1989), Grammy Award-winning country/pop singer-songwriter
• Ross Tucker, professional football player
• John Updike, writer, 1932–2009
• Lonnie Walker, NBA player
• Gus Yatron, former U.S. Representative

{{Portal|Philadelphia|Pennsylvania}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Berks County, Pennsylvania

{{Notelist}}{{reflist|2}}

• F.W. Balthaser, [https://archive.org/details/storyberkscount00hochgoog The Story of Berks County, Pennsylvania.] Reading, PA: Reading Eagle Press, 1925.
• D.B. Brunner, The Indians of Berks County, Pa., Being a Summary of all the Tangible Records of the Aborigines of Berks County, with Cuts and Descriptions of the Varieties of Relics Found within the County. Reading, PA: Eagle Book Print, 1897.
• Morton L. Montgomery, [https://archive.org/details/historyofberksco00mont History of Berks County in Pennsylvania.] Philadelphia: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886.
• Morton L. Montgomery, [https://archive.org/details/cu31924028852220 History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the Revolution, from 1774 to 1783.] Reading, PA: C.F. Haage, printer, 1894.
• Morton L. Montgomery, [https://archive.org/details/politicalhandboo00mont Political Hand-Book of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1752–1883.] Reading, PA: B.F. Owen, 1883.
• Morton L. Montgomery, [https://archive.org/details/schoolhistoryofb00inmont School history of Berks County in Pennsylvania.] Philadelphia: J.B. Rodgers Printing Co., 1889.
• Kathy M. Scogna, [https://web.archive.org/web/20041212011907/http://www.berkshistory.org/articles/berks1752.html "The Birth of a County — 1752,"]. Historical Review of Berks County, Winter 2001–02.

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://www.berkspa.gov/}}

{{coord|40.42|-75.93|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Berks County, Pennsylvania

|North = Schuylkill County

|Northeast = Lehigh County

|East = Montgomery County

|Southeast = Chester County

|South =

|Southwest = Lancaster County

|West = Lebanon County

|Northwest = Schuylkill County

}}

{{Reading, Pennsylvania}}

{{Berks County, Pennsylvania}}

{{Pennsylvania}}

{{Delaware Valley}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1752 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Populated places established in 1752