Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

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.

Bern Township, Pennsylvania
Bern Township
Location of Bern Township in Pennsylvania
Bern Township
Bern Township (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°23′54″N 75°59′30″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyBerks
Area
  Total20.14 sq mi (52.17 km2)
  Land19.35 sq mi (50.12 km2)
  Water0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2)
Elevation
577 ft (176 m)
Population
 (2010)
  Total6,797
  Estimate 
(2016)[2]
6,955
  Density359.38/sq mi (138.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)610
FIPS code42-011-05816

History

The township was so named by Swiss settlers after Bern, in Switzerland.[3]

The Rieser Mill, Rieser-Shoemaker Farm, Spannuth Mill, and Wertz's Covered Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

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

Adjacent city and boroughs

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
19805,897
19905,748−2.5%
20006,75817.6%
20106,7970.6%
2016 (est.)6,955[2]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

At the 2010 census,[6] there were 6,797 people, 2,080 households, and 1,560 families 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, 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 households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.84.[6] Bern Township is the location of the Berks County Prison System, which held 1545 prisoners, 22.7% of the township's population.[6]

The age distribution was 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% 65 or older. The township hosts three of the county's 12 nursing homes for seniors.[7][8][9] 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.

The median household income was $61,222 and the median family income 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.

Recreation

The Youth Recreational Facility and a portion of the Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 280 are located in the township.[10][11]

References

  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. "Some peculiar post office names in Berks". Reading Eagle. Nov 27, 1910. p. 11. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/sdc/pasdc_files/census2010/Berks%20County/Bern%20Township,%20Berks%20County.pdf
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-25. Retrieved 2012-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Aging/Documents/Nursing%20Homes.pdf
  10. https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/advanced-viewer/ The National Map, retrieved 31 October 2018
  11. Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 280, retrieved 31 October 2018
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