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BERKS COUNTY: YESTERDAY & TODAY

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At the start of the Eighteenth Century, the mild climate, fertile soil, and the Schuylkill River combined to attract European immigrants to Berks County. The area was originally settled by Swedes in 1701, followed by Germans, English, Welsh, and French Huguenots. Most of the County's eastern section was settled by people migrating inland from the Philadelphia area. 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. In 1790, the first federal census of the county reported 30,189 residents, 22,345 of whom were of German descent. Reading Town, the only sizeable settlement, had 2,225 residents.

Today, the City of Reading is still the County's largest municipality, with a population of 81,207 (2000 Census). Other municipalities include 29 boroughs, and 44 townships. About half of these boroughs lie within the Reading Urbanized area, and the balance serve as trading or manufacturing centers in all sections of the County.

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