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Berks County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 373,638. Its county seat is Reading6.
History
Reading developed during the 1740s and the northern inhabitants of Lancaster County sent several petitions requesting a separate county be established. With the help of Conrad Weiser, the county was formed on March 11, 1752 from 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.
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 is water. The total area is 0.78% water.
Berks County is bordered by the counties of Lancaster (south), Lebanon (west), Schuykill (northwest), Lehigh (northeast), Montgomery (southeast), and Chester (southeast).
Demographics As of the census2 of 2000, there are 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density is 168/km² (435/mi²). There are 150,222 housing units at an average density of 68/km² (175/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Historically there was a large Pennsylvania Dutch population.
There are 141,570 households out of which 31.70% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% are married couples living together, 9.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% are non-families. 24.60% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 3.05.
In the county, the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.70 males.
Cities and towns
Colleges and universities Berks County is home to Albright College, Alvernia College, and Kutztown University. Penn State Berks, in Reading, is a campus with more than 2000 students in the Pennsylvania State University. The Berks Technical Institute in Wyomissing and Reading Area Community College are technical schools in Berks.
References - Scogna, Kathy M. (winter 2001-2002). The Birth of a County - 1752 (http://www.berkshistory.org/articles/berks1752.html). Historical Review of Berks County.
External links - Official site of Berks County (http://www.co.berks.pa.us/)
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