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53-642: The Friends of Schuylkill River Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to improve Schuylkill River Park, the Markward Recreation Center and Taney Field. Past accomplishments include a complete renovation of Markward Playground, planting many new trees, helping to coordinate the renovation of 25th and Delancey, refurbishing Park Benches, and many others. 39°56′55″N 75°10′55″W  /  39.948749°N 75.181921°W  / 39.948749; -75.181921 This Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania state location article

106-545: 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. 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

159-472: 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

212-771: A government. Even though the county no longer has a government structure by law, in both the Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes and The Philadelphia Code and Charter, the County of Philadelphia is still an entity within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is thus subject to the provisions and laws of the Commonwealth concerning counties. Exceptions include restrictions stated in the Home Rule Charter of Philadelphia, Act of Consolidation, 1854, and subsequent legislation. The county also

265-471: A number of other outlying townships , villages and settlements throughout the county. Over time, as the population expanded out from the City of Philadelphia, those closer to the City of Philadelphia became absorbed into Philadelphia. During this period, the city government of Philadelphia and the county government of Philadelphia acted separately. By the mid-19th century, a more structured government bureaucracy

318-658: A place where religious tolerance and the freedom to worship were ensured. Philadelphia's name is shared with an ancient city in Asia Minor mentioned by the Bible 's Book of Revelation . It was William Penn's desire, as a Quaker , that his "Holy Experiment" would be found blameless at the Last Judgment . When established, Philadelphia County consisted mainly of the area from the Delaware River west between

371-580: A total area of 143 square miles (370 km ), of which 134 square miles (350 km ) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km ) (6.0%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Bodies of water include the Delaware River , Schuylkill River , Cobbs Creek , Wissahickon Creek , and Pennypack Creek . The lowest point in the county is 10 feet above sea level near Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia , at

424-480: Is 34.3 °F. 40°01′N 75°08′W  /  40.01°N 75.13°W  / 40.01; -75.13 Berks County, Pennsylvania Berks County ( Pennsylvania Dutch : Barricks Kaundi ) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . As of the 2020 census , the county's population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading , the fourth-most populous city in the state. The county

477-399: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Philadelphia County is the most populous of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania and the 24th-most populous county in the nation . As of the 2020 census , the county had a population of 1,603,797. It is coextensive with Philadelphia , the nation's sixth-largest city . The county is part of

530-836: 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. West Reading in home to the annual Art on the Avenue, which reached its 25th year in 2019. Berks County is home to several media outlets, including: 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: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by

583-490: Is often abbreviated to 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

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636-489: Is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state. The county borders Lehigh County to its north and its east, Schuylkill County to its north, Lebanon and Lancaster counties to its west, and Chester County to its south. The county is approximately 26 miles (42 km) southwest of Allentown , the state's third-largest city, and 64 miles (103 km) northwest of Philadelphia ,

689-622: Is still competitive, with the last Republican to carry the county by more than 10% being George H.W. Bush in 1988. 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 first time since 1964 that

742-458: Is the only First Class County, meaning it had a population of 1.5 million or more at the last census, in the Commonwealth. Philadelphia has become racially and ethnically diverse over the years, and this process continues. Since 1990, (the year that immigration began increasing), thousands of immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Europe have arrived in the county. Presently, the city has some of

795-558: The 2010 U.S. census 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. As of September 21, 2023, there were 253,186 registered voters in Berks County. Berks County leans Republican, but

848-714: 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. The Office of Management and Budget has designated Berks County as the Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) . As of

901-492: The Schuylkill River to the south and the border with Bucks County to the north; the western boundary was undefined. Two counties would be formed out of Philadelphia County, Berks County which was formed in 1752 (from parts of Chester, Lancaster , and Philadelphia counties), and Montgomery County established in 1784. From these separations, as well as other border changes, was created the present-day boundaries of

954-647: The Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state. Philadelphia County is one of the three original counties, along with Chester and Bucks counties, founded by William Penn in November 1682. Since 1854 , the county has been coextensive with the City of Philadelphia , which is also its county seat. Philadelphia County is the core county in the Philadelphia- Camden - Wilmington Combined Statistical Area (PA- NJ - DE - MD , located along

1007-526: 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. [1] As of the 2010 census , the county

1060-606: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,240 km ), 857 square miles (2,220 km ) of which is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km ) (1.1%) of which is water. 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

1113-461: 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 . It was named after the English county in which William Penn 's family home lay, Berkshire , which

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1166-516: 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%. Chart of Voter Registration School districts include: 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,

1219-418: The 590,071 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.22. 25.3% of

1272-608: The Board of County Assessors and left its functions with the Commissioners alone, who continued to appoint the assessors and collectors of each of the county's boroughs, townships and districts. Further legislation in 1799 and 1805 formally established the Commissioners' functions of furnishing lists of voters to election officers and aiding the Sheriff in the selection of jurors , as both were based upon lists of taxpayers. During

1325-595: The City Commissioners were considered County officers, they were still regulated by state laws concerning County Commissioners. The City Commissioners should not be confused with the City Council , as these are two separate entities. Even though the governments of both the City and County were effectively consolidated by the Act of Consolidation, not all offices and agencies, such as the Board of Inspectors of

1378-548: The City Commissioners' Office. The 1965 City-County Consolidation Ordinance of City Council further enabled these enactments. Philadelphia County is overwhelmingly Democratic , having given the Democratic presidential candidate their largest percentage of any county in Pennsylvania in every election since 1968 . The county has voted for the Democrat in every presidential election since 1936. However, between 1860 and 1932,

1431-495: The City of Philadelphia, such as Southwark and Moyamensing in the south, the Northern Liberties District , Kensington , Spring Garden and Penn District to the north, and West Philadelphia and Blockley to the west — which combined with the City of Philadelphia formed practically one continuously urban area, the whole group being known abroad simply as Philadelphia. Besides these, there were

1484-597: The County Prison (Philadelphia Prison System), Coroner , Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff, that were controlled by the county prior to the consolidation were transferred to the city, though their oversight and regulation were now managed by the City Commissioners. Other offices and agencies, like that of Offices of City Tax Collector and County Tax Collector were reduced to that of clerk in the new office of Receiver of Taxes. Both Commissioners' (City and County) powers in regard to streets and City property were transferred to

1537-457: The area in 1655, but lost control to England in 1674. William Penn received his charter for Pennsylvania from Charles II of England in 1681, and in November 1682 he divided Pennsylvania into three counties. During the same year, Philadelphia was planned and was made the county seat and the capital of the Province of Pennsylvania . Penn wanted Philadelphia, meaning "love brotherly", to be

1590-578: The city's Departments of Highways and City Property. From 1854 until 1867, the Commissioners also served as members of the Board of Revision of Taxes. In 1867, the City Assessors were made appointees of that Board. The powers left to the Commissioners were chiefly accounting ones concerning county institutions, regulatory duties regarding weights and measures (given them by an Act of 1895) and administrative functions in association with elections, which culminated in complete control of their conduct with

1643-407: The city, with their boundaries roughly matching their historic boundaries. In 1951, a new law known as the Home Rule Charter merged city and county offices completely. This new charter provided the city with a common structure and outlined the "strong mayor" form of government that is still used. The county offices were merged with the city government in 1952, effectively eliminating the county as

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1696-545: The convergence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The highest point is in Chestnut Hill , at 432 feet above sea level, near Evergreen Place, just north and west of Evergreen Avenue. Philadelphia County is Pennsylvania's second smallest county by land area, after Montour County . At the 2000 census , there were 1,517,550 people, 590,071 households and 352,272 families residing in the county. The population density

1749-582: 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. There are two Pennsylvania Historic Sites in Berks County. The Old Morlatton Village in Douglassville is maintained by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County. The village

1802-460: The county always voted Republican. In 1972 , it was the only county in the state to vote for George McGovern over Richard Nixon . Even Republican Senator Arlen Specter , a Philadelphia resident, did not receive more than one-third of the Philadelphia vote in the 2004 U.S. Senate election , which he won easily. In his first senate election, in 1980 , he did win the county, which was

1855-479: The county was $ 16,509. About 18.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over. Philadelphia County has no government structure. Prior to the Act of Consolidation in 1854, a Board of Commissioners governed the county in accordance with the law of Pennsylvania at the time. The origins of the Board of Commissioners are found in

1908-464: The county. Philadelphia, as planned by Penn, comprised only that portion of the present-day city situated between South and Vine Streets and the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers . Other settlements were made beyond the boundaries of the city, and in the course of time they became incorporated separately and had separate governments. Several of these settlements were situated immediately contiguous to

1961-435: The county. The population density was 479 inhabitants per square mile (185/km ). There were 164,827 housing units at an average density of 191.9 per square mile (74.1/km ). 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

2014-488: The first half of the nineteenth century, the Commissioners' duties were further increased to include the leasing of polling places, the provision of ballot boxes, and related duties. The consolidation of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1854 abolished the Board of County Commissioners, with most of its functions transferred to the popularly elected City Commissioners who, although retaining their original title and duties, were thenceforth considered County officers. Because

2067-728: The formation of the County Board of Elections under their direction in 1937. Although not mentioned in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the City Commissioners' Office became part of the City government by way of the 1951 City-County Amendment to the State Constitution. Additionally, the 1963 amendment to the First Class Cities Home Rule Act gave City Council the power to pass legislation with regard to operations of

2120-472: The largest Irish , Italian , German , Polish , Puerto Rican , Korean , Vietnamese , Russian , Ukrainian , Jamaican , Chinese , Arab , Thai , and Cambodian populations in America. The county has the fourth largest concentration of African Americans in North America , including large numbers of Liberians , Nigerians , and Sudanese . The Northeast section of the city, and more significantly

2173-708: The last time any Republican won the county in a statewide election; however, Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 and was defeated in the 2010 Democratic Primary. The following districts, townships, and boroughs existed in Philadelphia County before the Act of Consolidation of 1854: According to the Köppen climate classification system, Philadelphia County has a humid subtropical climate . The average January temperature in Center City

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2226-612: The lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis . Philadelphia County is the Delaware Valley's economic and cultural anchor and the ninth-largest combined statistical area in the nation with an estimated population of 7,381,18 as of 2022. Native American tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area that became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized

2279-416: The needs of a growing city for new public services, for example, better streets, police, transportation, sanitation, and schools. The newly integrated districts had marked characteristics between them, but over time, after the consolidation, these characteristics were generally integrated into the City of Philadelphia. Presently, the names of some of these old districts survive as the names of neighborhoods in

2332-658: The office of Tax Assessor of Philadelphia County, established by an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly on November 27, 1700. Tax Assessor was an office of six persons, elected annually to estimate the county's fiscal needs, to make an assessment and levy a tax to meet them, and to appoint its collectors and the County Treasurer. On March 28, 1710, the Assembly approved an act that created an appointed Board of County Commissioners, which

2385-468: The population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 25, 29.3% from 25 to 45, 20.3% from 45 to 65, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The median household income was $ 30,746 and the median family income was $ 37,036. Males had a median income of $ 34,199 compared with $ 28,477 for females. The per capita income for

2438-548: The state's largest city. The Schuylkill River , a 135-mile-long (217 km) tributary of the Delaware River , flows through Berks County. The county is part of the Reading, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which in turn is part of the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area known as the Philadelphia -Reading- Camden , PA- NJ - DE - MD combined statistical area (CSA). Reading developed during

2491-413: The suburbs of Philadelphia, contain large numbers of Indian Americans and Mexicans . At the 2010 census , the city was 41.0% White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 6.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.8% two or more race, and 5.9% were some other race. 12.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Philadelphia County has

2544-432: The various county projects, to participate in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors. Other Acts passed during the eighteenth century gave the Commissioners regulatory powers and maintenance functions in regard to county lands, roads, bridges, wharves and landings, courts and the county prison. In 1780, the Assembly passed an Act that abolished

2597-546: Was 11,233.6 per square mile (4,337.3/km ). There were 661,958 housing units, with an average density of 4,900.1 per square mile (1,891.9/km ). and the racial composition of the county was 45.0% White , 43.2% African American , 5.5% Asian , 0.3% Native American , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 5.8% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.5% of the population. The five largest ancestries include Irish (13.6%), Italian (9.2%), German (8.1%), Polish (4.3%), and English (2.9%). Of

2650-473: 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 . The Old Order Mennonites first bought land in the area in 1949. In 2012, Old Order Mennonites bought two large farms in

2703-475: Was 76.9% White non-Hispanic, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. 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

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2756-480: Was changed to a notable elected board in 1725. The Commissioners were empowered to demand accountings of the Assessors and Collectors and to appoint new collectors if necessary. Subsequent acts passed by the Assembly in 1715, 1718 and 1722 increased the power and the scope of the Board, granting the Commissioners authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among

2809-414: Was needed. A reform charter, on February 2, 1854, defined all the boroughs, townships and districts of the County of Philadelphia as being within the City of Philadelphia, thus abolishing the patchwork of cities, boroughs, and townships that had comprised Philadelphia County since its founding. The city-county consolidation was a result of the inability of a colonial-type government by committees to adapt to

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