National Register Listings in
Berks County, Pennsylvania

Alleghany Mennonite Meetinghouse Allegheny Aqueduct Askew Bridge Bahr Mill Complex Barto Bridge Bellman's Union Church Berk, Daniel, Log House Berkley Historic District Berks County Trust Company Bethel A.M.E. Church Bishop, John, House Boone, Daniel, Homestead Site and Bertolet Cabin Boonecroft Borneman Mill Boyer-Mertz Farm Bridge in Albany Township Brobst Mill Christman, Philip, House City Hall Cotton and Maple Streets School Curtis and Jones Company Shoe Factory Dale Furnace and Forge Historic District Dauberville Bridge Davies House Deisher, H. K., Knitting Mill Douglass, George, House Dreibelbis Mill Dreibelbis Station Bridge Dreibelbis, Joel, Farm First National Bank in Fleetwood Fisher, Henry, House Foos, Charles S., Elementary School French Creek State Park Six Penny Day Use District French Creek State Park: Organized Group Camp 4 District Gehman, John, Farm Geiger Mill Grand View Dairy Farm Greisemer's Mill Bridge Griesemer-Brown Mill Complex Grimshaw Silk Mill Gruber Wagon Works Guldin Mill Hain Mill Hamburg Armory Hamburg Historic District Hamburg Public Library Hampden Firehouse Hartman Cider Press Hendel Brothers, Sons and Company Hat Factory Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Hotel Abraham Lincoln Hottenstein Mansion Hunter's Mill Complex Ironstone Bridge Joanna Furnace Complex Johnson, Nicholas, Mill Kauffman Mill Keim Homestead Kemp's Hotel Keystone Hook and Ladder Company Kissling Farm Knabb-Bieber Mill Knorr-Bare Farm Kutz Mill Kutz's Mill Bridge Kutztown 1892 Public School Building Leesport Lock House Leiby, Jacob, Farm Lenhart Farm Lerch Tavern Levan Farm Liberty Fire Company No. 5 Lincoln, Mordecai, House Lindbergh Viaduct Livingood House-Stryker Hospital Log House, Hiester House, and Market Annex Long-Hawerter Mill Lutz, John F., Furniture Co. & Funerary Mary Ann Furnace Historic District Meinig Glove Factory-Meinig, E. Richard, Co. Merit Underwear Company Merkel Mill Merkel Mill Complex Metropolitan Edison Building Mill at Lobachsville Mill Tract Farm Morgantown Historic District Moselem Farms Mill Moyer, John Nicholas and Elizabeth, House Old Dry Road Old Main at the Lutheran Home at Topton Old Swede's House Oley Township Historic District Pagoda Pine Forge Mansion and Industrial Site Pleasantville Bridge Queen Anne Historic District Reading Country Club Reading Hardware Company Reading Hardware Company Butt Works Reading Knitting Mills Red Men Hall Reiff Farm Rhoads-Lorah House and Barn Ridgewood Farm Rieser Mill Rieser-Shoemaker Farm Robesonia Furnace Historic District S Bridge Sally Ann Furnace Complex Schaumboch's Tavern Schlegel, Christian, Farm Seyfert Mill Siegfried's Dale Farm Snyder Mill Spannuth Mill Spicker, Peter, House St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Old St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal Church, Parish House and Rectory Stein Mill Stirling Stouchsburg Historic District Stupp-Oxenrider Farm Thompson Mill Trexler Historic District Trinity Lutheran Church Tulpehocken Creek Historic District Updike, John, Childhood Home Virginville Historic District Wanner, Peter, Mansion Weidner Mill Weiser, Conrad, House Wertz Mill Wertz's Covered Bridge White Horse Tavern Wilhelm Mansion and Carriage House Willson, Thomas A. and Co. Womelsdorf Historic District Yoder Mill
The Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence, was originally cast in England in 1752 and cracked during its first use. It was recast twice in Philadelphia, and the current bell has been on display in Independence National Historical Park since 2003.
Pennsylvania random facts
Berks County, Pennsylvania has a rich and diverse history dating back to the indigenous tribes that inhabited the region, namely the Lenape and the Susquehannocks. European settlement in the area began in the early 18th century when Dutch, Swedish, and English colonists arrived. The county was officially established in 1752 and named after Berkshire, England.

During the American Revolutionary War, Berks County played a significant role in the fight for independence. The city of Reading, located in Berks County, served as an important manufacturing and transportation hub, producing munitions and supplies for the war effort. The nearby Battle of Germantown in 1777 also had a significant impact on the region's history.

After the war, Berks County experienced a period of rapid industrialization. The iron and steel industries thrived, leading to the establishment of numerous foundries and factories. The construction of the Union Canal in the early 19th century further boosted economic development by improving transportation and trade connections.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Berks County became known for its textile mills and manufacturing industries, particularly in Reading. However, like many other industrial regions, the county faced economic decline and urban challenges in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Berks County continues to be a vibrant community with a mix of industries, agriculture, and cultural attractions. Notable landmarks include the Reading Public Museum, Daniel Boone Homestead, and the Pagoda, an iconic symbol of Reading.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  • 1683: Lenape Native Americans inhabit the area now known as Berks County.
  • 1718: Swedish pioneers establish the first European settlement in Berks County.
  • 1752: Berks County is officially established, named after County Berkshire in England.
  • 1776: Berks County residents actively participate in the American Revolution.
  • 1796: Reading becomes the county seat of Berks County.
  • 1811: The first iron furnace is established in Berks County, marking the start of the county's booming iron industry.
  • 1833: The first railroad in Pennsylvania, the Mount Carbon Railroad, opens in Berks County.
  • 1843: Berks County incorporates its first borough, Reading, as a city.
  • 1866: The Reading Railroad Company is established, leading to further industrial growth in Berks County.
  • 1938: The Pagoda is built on Mount Penn in Reading as a tourist attraction.
  • 1952: The first section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike opens in Berks County, connecting the county with other major cities.
  • 1965: The Reading Railroad Company ceases operations, marking the decline of the county's once-thriving railroad industry.
  • 1980: The Berks County Heritage Center is established to preserve and showcase the county's history.
  • 1996: Berks County celebrates its 250th anniversary.