Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Bern Township, Pennsylvania
Township
Wertz's Covered Bridge
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Berks
Elevation	577 ft (175.9 m)
Coordinates	40°23′54″N 75°59′30″W / 40.39833°N 75.99167°WCoordinates: 40°23′54″N 75°59′30″W / 40.39833°N 75.99167°W
Area	20.0 sq mi (51.8 km^2)
- land	19.1 sq mi (49 km^2)
- water	0.8 sq mi (2 km^2), 4%
Population	6,797 (2010)
Density	352.8 / sq mi (136.2 / km^2)
Timezone	EST (UTC-5)
- summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code	610
Location of Bern Township in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States

Bern Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population is 6,797. The township is in Schuylkill Valley School District.

History

The township was so named by Swiss settlers after Bern, in Switzerland.^[1]

The Rieser Mill, Rieser-Shoemaker Farm, Spannuth Mill, and Wertz's Covered Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (4.06%) is water.

Adjacent townships

• Penn – west
• Centre – north
• Ontelaunee – northeast
• Muhlenberg – east
• Spring – south
• Lower Heidelberg – southwest

Adjacent city and boroughs

• Reading – south
• Wyomissing – south
• Leesport – north

Demographics

As of the census of 2010,^[3] there were 6,797 people, 2,080 households, and 1,560 families residing in the township. The population density was 355.9 people per square mile (138.7/km²). There were 2,168 housing units at an average density of 113.5/sq mi (44.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.0% White, 5.8% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.3% of the population.

There were 2,080 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.1% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 2.84.^[3] Bern Township is the location of the Berks County Prison System, which held 1545 prisoners, 22.7% of the township's population.^[3]

In the township the population was spread out, with 16.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The township hosts three of the county's 12 nursing homes for seniors.^[4][5][6] The median age was 45.3 years. For every 100 females there were 122.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.8 males.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1980	5,897		—
1990	5,748		−2.5%
2000	6,758		17.6%
2010	6,797		0.6%

The median income for a household in the township was $61,222, and the median income for a family was $68,636. Males had a median income of $46,731 versus $26,694 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,969. About 1.2% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "Some peculiar post office names in Berks". Reading Eagle. Nov 27, 1910. p. 11. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
2. Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
3. http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks%20County/Bern%20Township,%20Berks%20County.pdf
4. http://www.berksleisure.com/index.htm
5. http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Heim/Pages/default.aspx
6. http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Aging/Documents/Nursing%20Homes.pdf