Reading Local Redevelopment Authority

Berks County is part of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population reached 373,638 residents. Its county seat is Reading6. During the 1740s, the northern inhabitants of Lancaster County sent several petitions requesting a separate county be established. With the help of Conrad Weiser, the county was formed on March 11, 1752 from Chester County, Lancaster County and Philadelphia County. The county was named after William Penn's family home of Berkshire, England. Berks County is known as a part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,242 square-kilometers. Berks County is bordered by the counties of Lancaster to the south, Lebanon to the west, Schuykill located northwest, Lehigh to the northeast, Montgomery located southeast and Chester to the southeast.