Berks County sits in south-central Pennsylvania and was officially created on March 11, 1752, from parts of Chester, Lancaster, and Philadelphia counties. It was named after Berkshire, England, home to large estates owned by the Penn family. Long before that, the area was inhabited by the Lenni Lenape, whose lands and river corridors later drew Swedes, then German, English, Welsh, and French Huguenot settlers in the early 1700s. The mild climate, fertile soils, and the Schuylkill River made Berks a natural hub for farming and early industry, including ironmaking and milling. The county seat, Reading, grew rapidly as a transportation and manufacturing center, famously giving its name to the Reading Railroad. Today, Berks County anchors the Reading metropolitan area and is considered part of the broader Philadelphia–Reading–Camden region. Its population passed 428,000 by the 2020 census, with a strong mix of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and a large, vibrant Latino community, especially in Reading. For more information, visit the official Berks County government site or the Berks County Wikipedia page.
Top 10 Attractions in Berks County
-
Reading Pagoda – Iconic 1908 mountainside pagoda overlooking Reading, offering sweeping views and a one-of-a-kind skyline landmark.
-
Reading Public Museum – Art, science, and history exhibits plus a planetarium and sculpture-filled grounds along the Wyomissing Creek.
-
Mid-Atlantic Air Museum – Aviation museum at Reading Regional Airport with historic aircraft and the popular World War II Weekend air show.
-
Crystal Cave – Pennsylvania’s first show cave, near Kutztown, with dramatic formations and guided underground tours.
-
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – World-renowned raptor migration lookout with miles of trails and year-round educational programs.
-
Daniel Boone Homestead – Historic site preserving the early boyhood home and frontier setting of pioneer Daniel Boone.
-
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site – Restored 18th–19th century iron plantation showcasing early American industry and rural life.
-
Colebrookdale Railroad – Scenic “Secret Valley” excursion trains departing from Boyertown through forested hills and historic bridges.
-
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts – A former goggle factory turned lively arts hub with galleries, studios, classes, and events in downtown Reading.
-
Wertz’s Covered Bridge & Red Bridge Recreation Area – The longest single-span covered bridge in Pennsylvania, now a picturesque entrance to the Berks County Heritage Center.
We serve all ZIP codes and neighborhoods in Berks County, including 17026, 17067, 17087, 17569, 18011, 18041, 18056, 18062, 18070, 19503, 19504, 19505, 19506, 19507, 19508, 19510, 19511, 19512, 19516, 19518, 19519, 19520, 19522, 19523, 19526, 19529, 19530, 19533, 19534, 19535, 19536, 19538, 19539, 19540, 19541, 19542, 19543, 19544, 19545, 19547, 19548, 19550, 19551, 19554, 19555, 19559, 19560, 19562, 19564, 19565, 19567, 19601, 19602, 19603, 19604, 19605, 19606, 19607, 19608, 19609, 19610, 19611, 19612, Reading, Wyomissing, Blandon, Shillington, Birdsboro, Kutztown, Whitfield, Hamburg, Lorane, Pennside, West Reading, Reiffton, Fleetwood, Boyertown, Sinking Spring, Laureldale, West Wyomissing, Amity Gardens, Jacksonwald, Riverview Park, Mount Penn, Mohnton, Kutztown University, Kenhorst, Womelsdorf, and more.