Berks County Cooperative Extension -

County Facts

The diamond-shaped county is strategically located at the intersection of a dynamic market of economic, trade, and industrial activities in the New York-Washington, DC, corridor. This market includes Philadelphia, 56 miles southeast; Baltimore, 97 miles south; and New York, 125 miles northeast.

Reading is the county seat. Other municipalities in the county include 31 boroughs and 44 townships. Berks County continues to have a growing population.

Berks County¹s labor force at the end of 1996 was about 180,000. Due to increased labor market participation by women and a larger working-age population, the local labor force has been growing faster than the general population. Split approximately 55 percent male, 45 percent female, the composition of the labor force resembles that of the state and the nation.

With about 27 percent of its nonagricultural wage and salary employment in manufacturing industries, Reading is more industrialized than the state as a whole.

Agriculture helps make Berks County and its economy beautiful! Berks County is a major contributor to the number one industry in Pennsylvania: agriculture.

All three segments of the agri-business system -- farming, farm supply, and processing and marketing -- have found an excellent home in Berks County. Ideal climate, fertile soil, an abundant water supply, proximity to the major eastern U.S. markets, plus a strong Pennsylvania Dutch heritage are some strong advantages.

Berks County¹s farm-supply segment is composed of small, independently owned businesses. Feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery, buildings, and equipment are some of the items farmers need to produce food and fiber.

The processing-marketing segment of agri-business is the county¹s largest agricultural employer. These businesses transport the raw products from the farmer to the processor, where they are processed, packaged, and marketed to meet the needs of the American consumer.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences from the outlets to a minor league baseball game at the Reading Phillies to exploring the "underground" at Crystal Cave to the serenity and solitude atop Hawk Mountain. Berks County offers both residents and visitors a great mixture of experiences and opportunities.

Source: A Bit About Berks, 1999. Berks County Chamber of Commerce

County Calendar of Events

County Statistics

Need some stats for your county? Check out these resources.

Pennsylvania State Data Center

US Census Bureau
United States Department of Commerce

To find timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States, click here: http://www.census.gov/

US Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov




	\| County Information you are here
County Facts The diamond-shaped county is strategically located at the intersection of a dynamic market of economic, trade, and industrial activities in the New York-Washington, DC, corridor. This market includes Philadelphia, 56 miles southeast; Baltimore, 97 miles south; and New York, 125 miles northeast. Reading is the county seat. Other municipalities in the county include 31 boroughs and 44 townships. Berks County continues to have a growing population. Berks County¹s labor force at the end of 1996 was about 180,000. Due to increased labor market participation by women and a larger working-age population, the local labor force has been growing faster than the general population. Split approximately 55 percent male, 45 percent female, the composition of the labor force resembles that of the state and the nation. With about 27 percent of its nonagricultural wage and salary employment in manufacturing industries, Reading is more industrialized than the state as a whole. Agriculture helps make Berks County and its economy beautiful! Berks County is a major contributor to the number one industry in Pennsylvania: agriculture. All three segments of the agri-business system -- farming, farm supply, and processing and marketing -- have found an excellent home in Berks County. Ideal climate, fertile soil, an abundant water supply, proximity to the major eastern U.S. markets, plus a strong Pennsylvania Dutch heritage are some strong advantages. Berks County¹s farm-supply segment is composed of small, independently owned businesses. Feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery, buildings, and equipment are some of the items farmers need to produce food and fiber. The processing-marketing segment of agri-business is the county¹s largest agricultural employer. These businesses transport the raw products from the farmer to the processor, where they are processed, packaged, and marketed to meet the needs of the American consumer. Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences from the outlets to a minor league baseball game at the Reading Phillies to exploring the "underground" at Crystal Cave to the serenity and solitude atop Hawk Mountain. Berks County offers both residents and visitors a great mixture of experiences and opportunities. Source: A Bit About Berks, 1999. Berks County Chamber of Commerce County Calendar of Events County Statistics Need some stats for your county? Check out these resources. Pennsylvania State Data Center US Census Bureau United States Department of Commerce To find timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States, click here: http://www.census.gov/ US Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov
Penn State \| College of Agricultural Sciences \| Cooperative Extension & Outreach This page last updated Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Copyright Information This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity University. This site is a product of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Please e-mail us with your questions, comments or suggestions at BerksExt@psu.edu.