Welcome to Berks County Pennsylvania
History and Genealogy

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THIS COUNTY IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!!

If you have the desire to help transcribe genealogical data and place it online for the free use of all researchers, contact Kim to become a host. Volunteer Information is available here.

This County currently does not have a host. This means that there is no one available to help answer your questions about this county's history or to help you with your family's genealogy within this county. WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO PERSONAL RESEARCH FOR YOU.

Short History

Reading developed during the 1740s and the northern inhabitants of Lancaster County sent several petitions requesting that a separate county be established. With the help of Conrad Weiser, the county was formed on March 11, 1752 from parts of 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. - Wikipedia.com

Berks County Data Online

Miscellaneous News Paper Articles From the Past

Updated 01/12/08
Death of Frederick Post's child; Mr. Bagley injured by gun powder; great flood; wool manufacturing at Reading ; 12 year old worker killed by accidental hanging (1824)


The Execution of Susannah Cox

Biographies

  • General David McMurtrie Gregg

  • Daniel Drenkle Lerch

  • Dr. George W. Kehl


Obituaries and Death Notices

Updated 01/12/08
Added death of Gabriel Hiester

Boroughs and Census Designated Places
Adamstown Centerport Lenhartsville Robesonia Wernersville
Amity Gardens Fleetwood Lorane Shillington West Lawn
Bally Flying Hills Lyons Shoemakersville West Reading
Bechtelsville Hamburg Mohnton Sinking Spring West Wyomissing
Bernville Kenhorst Mount Penn Spring Ridge Whitfield
Birdsboro Kutztown New Morgan St. Lawrence Womelsdorf
Boyertown Laureldale Reading (County Seat) Strausstown Wyomissing
Couglersville Leesport Reiffton Topton Wyomissing Hills

           

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

Surrounding Counties

Schuykill County (north)

Montgomery County (southeast)

Lancaster County (southwest)

Lehigh County (northeast)

Chester County (south)

Lebanon County (west)



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