Pennsylvania

Berks

428,849
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Berks

Berks, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 30,179. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 428,849.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Raid on Tulpehocken Creek (1756), Reading Furnace Raid Threat (1777-78), and 142 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020428,849
2010411,442
2000373,638
1990336,523
1980312,509
1970296,382
1960275,414
1950255,740
1940241,884
1930231,717
1920200,854
1910183,222
1900159,615
1890137,327
1880122,597
1870106,701
186093,818
185077,129
184064,569
183053,152
182046,275
181043,146
180032,407
179030,179
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Berks

Military engagements that took place in Berks, Pennsylvania.

Raid on Tulpehocken Creek (1756)
1756
Reading Furnace Raid Threat (1777-78)
1778

Historic places in Berks

National Register of Historic Places listings in Berks, Pennsylvania.

Hotel Abraham Lincoln
Reading
Grimshaw Silk Mill
Reading
Stouchsburg Historic District
Stouchsburg
Pleasantville Bridge
Oley
Johnson, Nicholas, Mill
New Berlinville
Wilhelm Mansion and Carriage House
Reading
Weidner Mill
Earlville
Dreibelbis, Joel, Farm
Virginville
Gruber Wagon Works
Reading
Womelsdorf Historic District
Womelsdorf
Dauberville Bridge
Dauberville
Davies House
East Berkley
Boyer-Mertz Farm
Kutztown
Bahr Mill Complex
Gabelsville
Levan Farm
St. Lawrence
Kutz Mill
Kutztown
S Bridge
Sheridan
Lindbergh Viaduct
Reading
Merkel Mill
Lenhartsville
Hain Mill
Wernersville
Weiser, Conrad, House
Womelsdorf
Boone, Daniel, Homestead Site and Bertolet Cabin
Birdsboro
Keim Homestead
Lobachsville
Griesemer-Brown Mill Complex
Birdsboro
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Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Berks County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Berks County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Berks

When does Berks first appear in the US census?
Berks, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 30,179.
What is the population of Berks?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Berks had a recorded population of 428,849.
Were any battles fought in Berks?
2 documented military engagements took place in Berks, including Raid on Tulpehocken Creek (1756), Reading Furnace Raid Threat (1777-78).
How many historic places are in Berks?
142 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Berks, Pennsylvania.
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