55-462: The Oley Hills site , or Oley Hills stone work site , located in Berks County, Pennsylvania , is an enigmatic complex of snaking dry stone walls, carefully shaped rock piles or cairns , perched boulders, and unusually shaped natural boulders. It is possible to see animal and human forms in some of the rock piles and boulders, but whether those images were intended by the builders or are phenomena of
110-765: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa according to the Köppen climate classification .) The remainder of the Delaware Valley has a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa .) PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University Snow amounts may vary widely year-to-year and normally do vary widely within the Delaware Valley. The region has two ski resorts, Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township, Berks County and Spring Mountain Adventures in central Montgomery County . Using
165-541: 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
220-811: A core of metropolitan statistical area population of 6.288 million residents, while the combined statistical area population of 7.366 million (as of the 2020 census), Delaware Valley is the eighth-largest metropolitan region in the United States and the 68th-largest metropolitan region in the world. In addition to Philadelphia, other major population centers in the Delaware Valley include Reading , Upper Darby Township , and Chester in Pennsylvania; Atlantic City , Camden , Vineland , and Cherry Hill in South Jersey; and Wilmington and Dover in Delaware. As of 2022,
275-529: A fast-growing population and close proximity to the other communities. According to 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
330-655: A majority of Delaware's land mass and population. Wilmington is the most populous city in Delaware and the fifth-most populous municipality in the Delaware Valley. The lone Maryland county in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area is part of the region known as the Eastern Shore of Maryland . The following municipalities are all within the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and part of
385-750: 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 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
440-588: A special event service for concerts at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden . Philadelphia's suburbs contain a high concentration of malls, the two largest of which have at least 5,000,000 square feet (460,000 m ) of office space, and at least 600,000 square feet (56,000 m ) of retail. These are the King of Prussia mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, which is the largest in the U.S. (leasable sq. feet of retail space), and
495-677: Is a formal administrative division. As of the 2020 U.S. census , the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area is the seventh-largest MSA in the nation with 6,245,051 people. The MSA includes: As of 2020, the Philadelphia–Reading–Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA is the nation's ninth-largest combined statistical area with a population of 7,379,700. Philadelphia-Reading-Camden Combined Statistical Area includes: When metropolitan areas were originally defined in 1950, most of
550-505: Is approximately 26 miles (42 km) southwest of Allentown , the state's third-largest city, and 64 miles (103 km) northwest of Philadelphia , 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
605-811: 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
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#1733104518745660-697: Is one of the top five American venture capital hubs, credited to its proximity to the New York metropolitan area and its financial and tech and biotechnology ecosystems . At least two educational institutions, Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township, New Jersey , and Delaware Valley College in Doylestown Township, Pennsylvania , and a now defunct local newspaper, The Delaware Valley News in Frenchtown, New Jersey , are named for
715-624: Is sometimes assigned to South Central Pennsylvania . The seven New Jersey counties in the CSA are in South Jersey . Atlantic County, Cape May County, and Cumberland County each form their own respective metropolitan statistical areas. Atlantic City , Cape May County, New Jersey , and the southern Jersey Shore , including Margate City , Ventnor City , the Wildwoods , and Sea Isle City , are major tourist destinations for people from inside and outside of
770-404: The 2010 census , the county 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
825-869: The Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey , which was the first enclosed mall on the East Coast. In addition, the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware, is a popular destination due to its proximity to Interstate 95 and because of the availability of tax-free shopping in Delaware. Malls, office complexes, strip shopping plazas, expressways, and tract housing are common sights, and more and more continue to replace rolling countryside, farms, woods, and wetlands. However, due to strong opposition by residents and political officials, many acres of land have been preserved throughout
880-596: The Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area known as the Philadelphia -Reading- Camden , PA- NJ - DE - MD combined statistical area (CSA). Reading developed during 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
935-681: The Little Lehigh Creek and areas are drained by the Susquehanna River via 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
990-517: The Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) . As of 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
1045-513: The Schuylkill River , Lehigh River , and Brandywine Creek . U.S. government agencies have reached various definitions of the Delaware Valley and metropolitan Philadelphia. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan statistical area (MSAs), which are regions with relatively high population densities at their cores and close economic ties throughout their respective areas. MSAs are further combined into combined statistical areas (CSAs), reflecting commuting patterns. Neither
1100-563: The U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well. The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Berks County. † county seat CDP = census designated population 40°25′N 75°56′W / 40.42°N 75.93°W / 40.42; -75.93 Delaware Valley Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MD Other Statistical Areas in
1155-483: The University of Pennsylvania , one of the nation's eight Ivy League universities. Other major universities and colleges in the region include Drexel University , Thomas Jefferson University , Rowan University , Villanova University , Saint Joseph's University , Temple University , Rutgers University–Camden , La Salle University , the University of Delaware , Stockton University , and others. Philadelphia and
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#17331045187451210-702: The revolutionary capital during the colonial era in which the Second Continental Congress gathered at Independence Hall and unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence , authorized the formation of the Continental Army , and appointed George Washington its commander to resist the British . After the Continental Army's victory, Philadelphia served as the nation's first capital for most of
1265-508: The -3 °C January isotherm as a boundary, all of the Delaware Valley is humid subtropical. The hardiness zone in the region ranges from 6b in higher areas of Berks and northern Bucks Counties to 8a in Atlantic City and Cape May. [1] Using the Trewartha climate classification system, which requires eight months to average at least 50 °F for the climate to be considered subtropical,
1320-455: The 18th century until 1800, when construction of Washington, D.C. was completed. The U.S. Constitution , the world's longest-standing body of federal law, was ratified at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1789. The Delaware Valley is one of the nation's leading regions for academia and academic research with a considerable number of globally-known and highly ranked universities, including
1375-461: 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,
1430-824: The Delaware Valley The Delaware Valley and several areas bordering it, including the Lehigh Valley , are part of the Philadelphia media market, the fourth-largest media market in the nation as of 2023. The two main newspapers are The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News , owned by the Philadelphia Media Network . Local television channels include KYW-TV 3 (CBS), WPVI 6 (ABC), WCAU 10 (NBC), WHYY-TV 12 (PBS), WPHL-TV 17 (MyNetworkTV), WTXF 29 (FOX), WPSG 57 (CW), and WPPX 61 ( Ion ). Radio stations serving
1485-501: The Delaware Valley are a biotechnology hub. As of 2024, metropolitan Philadelphia ranks as one of the Big Five U.S. venture capital hubs, facilitated by its proximity to both New York City's entrepreneurial and financial ecosystems and to the federal regulatory environment of Washington, D.C. Elsewhere in the Delaware Valley, South Jersey has emerged as an East Coast epicenter for logistics and major warehouses. Culturally ,
1540-411: The Delaware Valley. Older townships and large boroughs, such as Cheltenham , Norristown , Jenkintown , Upper Darby , and West Chester retain distinct community identities while engulfed in suburbia. Mid-Atlantic American English and its subset, Philadelphia English , are two common dialects of American English in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. Listing of the professional sports teams in
1595-528: The Delaware Valley. Other major municipalities in South Jersey include Cherry Hill and Camden , which is across the Delaware River , east of Philadelphia. Burlington , Camden , Gloucester , and Salem Counties comprise the Delware River Region, one of seven officially recognized tourism regions by the New Jersey Department of Tourism. The two counties of Delaware in the CSA constitute
1650-536: The Delaware Valley: The Delaware Valley has four distinct seasons with ample precipitation and is divided by the 0 °C (32 °F) January isotherm . Philadelphia and the New Jersey portion of the area, almost all of the Delaware and Maryland portions, most of Delaware County and lower Bucks County, lowland southern Chester County, and some southern and lowland areas of Montgomery County have
1705-626: The Philadelphia CSA The Delaware Valley , sometimes referred to as Greater Philadelphia , Philadelphia metropolitan area , or Philadelphia tri-state area , is a major metropolitan and tri-state region in Northeast United States that centers on Philadelphia , the 6th-most populous city in the United States , and spans part of three states: Southeastern Pennsylvania , Southern New Jersey , and Northern Delaware . With
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1760-425: The Philadelphia metropolitan area's gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds US$ 518 billion, making it the tenth-largest metropolitan economy in the nation. The Delaware Valley has been influential in the nation's history and economy and home to many people and sites significant to American culture , history , and politics. Philadelphia is sometimes known as "The Birthplace of America" in reference to its role as
1815-813: The Trenton SMSA to form the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the same time, Cape May County, New Jersey was added to the Atlantic City SMSA. The "Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton" became obsolete one census later when Trenton, New Jersey was moved to the New York-Newark-Bridgeport CSA. The Philadelphia-Wilmington-Vineland CSA included the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden MSA and
1870-702: The Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton MSA. In 2000, Kent County, Delaware was designated the Dover MSA, and Kent County and Atlantic City were added to the Philadelphia CSA in 2010. As a result of new 2010 definitions, based on a threshold of 15% labor interchange between MSAs, two additional MSAs were added, Ocean City, New Jersey and Reading, Pennsylvania . The CSA to which they belong is known as Philadelphia-Reading-Camden. The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area includes sixteen counties in four states. The five Pennsylvania counties in
1925-423: The age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had 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
1980-527: 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 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
2035-642: The area in 1949. In 2012, Old Order Mennonites bought two large farms in 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
2090-479: The area include: WRTI , WIOQ , WDAS (AM) , and WTEL . Philadelphia is heavily Democratic , having voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1936 . The surrounding suburban counties are key political areas in Pennsylvania, which itself is an important swing state in federal politics. South Jersey has consistently voted Democratic at the presidential level in recent years, although
2145-494: The area now in the Delaware Valley was split between four metropolitan areas, or standard metropolitan areas, as they were then called. The Philadelphia SMA included Philadelphia , Bucks , Chester , Delaware , and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania , and Burlington , Camden , and Gloucester counties in South Jersey . The Wilmington SMA included New Castle County in Delaware and Salem County in South Jersey. Berks County
2200-547: The central site alone, with many outliers along the ridge, as shown by the work of Norman Muller, conservator of the Princeton University Art Museum , who argued it was thus unlikely to have been the product of a field clearing operation. Muller argued instead that the site was the product of Native American ceremonial practices. It may be an example of the ceremonial stone landscapes described by USET, United Southern and Eastern Tribes, Inc. in their resolution on
2255-448: The city of Reading. There were 411,442 people, 154,356 households, and 106,532 families residing in 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
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2310-629: The colony of New Sweden , though this was not officially recognized by the Dutch Empire which re-asserted control in 1655. The area was taken by the English in 1664. The name Delaware comes from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr , who had arrived at Jamestown, Virginia in 1610, just as original settlers were about to abandon it, and thus maintaining the English foothold on the North American continent. In
2365-564: 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
2420-585: The early 1700s, Huguenot refugees from France by way of Germany and then England began settling in the Delaware River Valley. Specifically, they left their mark in Hunterdon County, New Jersey ( Frenchtown ) and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . Many residents commute to jobs and travel in Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington, and the surrounding suburbs with the help of expressways , trains , and buses . There are currently no transit connections to Reading,
2475-533: The imaginations of modern observers has not been demonstrated. The site boasts other features such as an enormous "split-wedged boulder," a split boulder with another stone wedged into the split. A luminescence analysis of the site suggests the cairns were erected around 570 BC, possibly by the Adena culture , which was centered in the Ohio River Valley. The complex is large and elaborate, at 46 acres (19 ha) in
2530-481: The metropolitan statistical area are collectively known as Southeastern Pennsylvania. In addition to Philadelphia, major municipalities in Southeastern Pennsylvania include the inner suburbs of Upper Darby Township and Bensalem Township . Berks County , which forms its own MSA and contains the CSA's second largest city, Reading , is occasionally not considered to be part of Southeastern Pennsylvania and
2585-448: The region is home to the dialect or accent known as Philadelphia English , shares a unique cuisine known as Philadelphia cuisine , has played a formidable role in popular music, and is known for having one of the nation's most passionate and devoted sports cultures centered around its five professional sports teams . The Delaware Valley is geographically associated and proximate to the Delaware River and its three primary tributaries,
2640-630: The region is slightly more Republican-leaning than North Jersey and has voted for Republicans at the state and local level. New Castle County's Democratic lean and large share of Delaware's population has tended to make Delaware as a whole vote for Democrats, while the less populous Kent County is more competitive. Recent well-known political figures from the Greater Philadelphia area include current U.S. President Joe Biden , former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and late former U.S. Senator Arlen Specter . The following congressional districts of
2695-506: The region only has seven such months, so the area considered Cfa by Köppen is oceanic ( Do ) in the Trewartha system. As of 2021, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area has a gross domestic product of $ 477.58 billion, the tenth-largest among the nation's MSAs. The MSA's nominal gross domestic product of $ 431 billion is comparable to countries , such as Belgium , Iran , and Thailand . Metropolitan Philadelphia
2750-592: The region. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) serves all of the counties of the Delaware Valley MSA except for the counties in the Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division. However, in addition to the Delaware Valley, DVRPC's jurisdiction includes Mercer County, New Jersey , which OMB classifies as the Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA and part of the larger New York-Newark CSA . The valley
2805-413: The second largest municipality in the region. Major: Secondary: The Cape May–Lewes Ferry crosses the mouth of the Delaware Bay between Cape May County, New Jersey and Sussex County, Delaware ; U.S. Route 9 uses this ferry. The Riverlink Ferry operates hourly ferry service over the Delaware River between the Camden Waterfront and Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia . They also operate
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#17331045187452860-572: The topic. 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 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
2915-409: Was designated as the Reading SMA and Atlantic County, New Jersey was the Atlantic City SMA. In 1960, Cecil County, Maryland was added to what was now the Wilmington Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA). In 1980, Cumberland County, New Jersey was defined as the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton SMSA. In 1990, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton SMSAs were merged with
2970-417: Was named after the English county in which William Penn 's family home lay, Berkshire , which 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
3025-509: Was the territory of the Susquehannock and Lenape , who are recalled in place names throughout the region. The region became part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland after the exploration of Delaware Bay in 1609. The Dutch called the Delaware River the Zuyd Rivier , or South River, and considered the lands along it banks and those of its bay to be the southern flank of its province of New Netherland . In 1638, it began to be settled by Swedes, Forest Finns, Dutch, and Walloons and became
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