 | County DETAILS |
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> United States > Pennsylvania > PA Counties > Berks
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| Website | http://www.co.berks.pa.us/berks/site/default.asp |
| Established | January 01, 1752 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Last Modified | RP July 12, 2015 01:36pm |
| Description | Berks County is an urban area of 373,638 persons (2000 Census),
situated in southeastern Pennsylvania. The county seat, Reading,
is 56 miles northwest of Philadelphia and the heart of the Delaware
Valley region, which is one of the leading industrial and trade complexes
in the nation. Berks is bordered on the north by Schuylkill County, on
the west by Lebanon and Lancaster Counties, on the east by Lehigh
County, and on the south by Chester and Montgomery Counties.
In 1752, Berks County was incorporated from parts of Lancaster,
Chester and Philadelphia Counties. In 1772, Berks gave up territory
for the formation of Northumberland County, and again in 1811, for
the formation of Schuylkill County. Berks County was named for
Berkshire, England, home of William Penn’s family. Likewise, Reading
was named after the main town in Berkshire, England.
Today, Reading City is still the County’s largest municipality with a
population over 81,000 (2000 Census). Other municipalities include
29 boroughs and 44 townships. |
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March 16, 1865 -
BERKS lost to LEBANON.
(Pa. Laws 1865, no. 385, sec. 1/p. 396)
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March 01, 1811 -
March 16, 1865
BERKS lost to creation of SCHUYLKILL.
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 54, sec. 1/p. 61)
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March 21, 1772 -
March 01, 1811
BERKS lost to creation of NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
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March 11, 1752 -
March 21, 1772
BERKS created from CUMBERLAND, LANCASTER, PHILADELPHIA, and Non-County Area 1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134)
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