Bernville, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bernville is a borough
in Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population in year 2000 was 865 according to the U.S. census. Bernville is surrounded by Penn Township
to the north, east, and south and by Jefferson Township
to the west.
valley, the area was inhabited by the Lenape
. In 1723, thirty-three Palatine
families from Schoharie, New York
, moved to the confluences of the Tulpehocken and Northkill Creeks. By 1735, a saw and grist mill was located three and a half miles up the Tulpehocken river from Bernville.
In 1737, Stephanus Umbenhauer immigrated from Bern, Switzerland
, and purchased 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) from Thomas Penn
. In 1819, Stephanus' grandson, Johann Thomas Umbenhauer, set aside 46 acres (186,155.6 m²) to be divided into 62 lots. On 24 August 1819, Peter Bennethum bought the first six lots. In January 1820, the town was named Bernville after Stephanus' birthplace. The first house was built by Philip Filbert in 1820. In 1828, the Union Canal
was completed, connecting the Susquehanna
and Schuylkill
Rivers. Union Canal Lock #36 was located at the southwest corner of Bernville Borough, near where Northkill Creek empties into Tulpehocken Creek. An historic marker on Route 183 states: "The canal, at this point, followed the north bank of the Tulpehocken. A dam, two locks, and a mule bridge made it possible for boats to cross Northkill Creek. Nearby were grist mills, a lime kiln, and a tannery." Due to the proximity of the Bernville Locks and the town's location on the canal, Bernville was a primary and prospering canal port.
In 1851, the village of Bernville, discontent with Penn Township’s road maintenance and community services, incorporated as a borough. The borough included the original 62 lots, most of which measured 60' x 260'. In 1884, the Union Canal closed. With no canal or railroad access, Bernville withered. In 1950, Bernville Borough annexed property from Penn Township at both ends of Main Street.
Stanton H. Clay, who died in December 2004, was mayor of Bernville for 45 years, from 1951 to 1996. The current mayor is Gail Stoudt.
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land. The boundary with Jefferson Township is formed primarily by Northkill Creek
, but diverges from the creek north of its confluence with Little Northkill Creek.
, which is known as "Bernville Road", runs roughly parallel to Main Street. Route 183 was built on the route laid out for the South Mountain Railroad, which was never built.
Two covered bridges, which no longer exist, crossed Northkill Creek, connecting Bernville with Jefferson Township. The Northkill Covered Bridge, 1848-~1950, crossed at 4th Street. South Bernville Covered Bridge, 1849–1938, crossed near the South Bernville Hotel (a.k.a., Newport Hotel).
Main Street was created in 1819 and has numerous buildings dating back to the nineteenth century, including the Cyrus G. Blatt home (501-503 N. Main), the Eagle Hotel (301 N. Main) and the Joseph B. Conrad home (219 N. Main). Main Street is also the location of both churches: St. Thomas's UCC
, and Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church. Both churches are located across the street from each other.
Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church
Northkill Creek feeds into Blue Marsh Lake
and the Blue Marsh slackwater is federal property. Hence a portion of Bernville Borough is part of the Blue Marsh system. Blue Marsh Lake is a popular recreation site, offering hiking, boating, and fishing. The lake is also important for water supply, flood control, and wildlife habitat. A levee along Northkill Creek protects Bernville from Blue Marsh flooding above 300' elevation.
Bernville also used to be home of Blue Marsh Ski Resort
, before it ceased operations in 2005.
of 2000, there were 865 people, 351 households, and 249 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,121.8 people per square mile (814.6/km²). There were 372 housing units at an average density of 912.5 per square mile (350.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.03% White, 0.58% African American, 0.81% from other races
, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.
There were 351 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.8% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $47,031. Males had a median income of $32,679 versus $25,109 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $19,038. About 7.5% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
serves Bernville, with Penn-Bernville Elementary School in the borough.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
in Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population in year 2000 was 865 according to the U.S. census. Bernville is surrounded by Penn Township
Penn Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Penn Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,993 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.1 square miles , of which, 18.6 square miles of it is land and...
to the north, east, and south and by Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,604 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.Adjacent townships and boroughs*Upper...
to the west.
History
Before European settlers arrived in the Tulpehocken CreekTulpehocken Creek (Pennsylvania)
Tulpehocken Creek is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States.An important transportation route in the early United States, the creek drains a limestone hill country area of Berks County south of the Appalachian Mountains and is considered one of the...
valley, the area was inhabited by the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
. In 1723, thirty-three Palatine
German Palatines
The German Palatines were natives of the Electoral Palatinate region of Germany, although a few had come to Germany from Switzerland, the Alsace, and probably other parts of Europe. Towards the end of the 17th century and into the 18th, the wealthy region was repeatedly invaded by French troops,...
families from Schoharie, New York
Schoharie Valley
The Schoharie Valley is a corridor that runs through Schoharie County from Schoharie, New York until Gilboa, New York.-Geography:The Schoharie Valley is made up of plains surrounding the Schoharie Creek. Within the Schoharie Valley are the locations of Middleburgh, Schoharie, Fultonham, Breakabeen...
, moved to the confluences of the Tulpehocken and Northkill Creeks. By 1735, a saw and grist mill was located three and a half miles up the Tulpehocken river from Bernville.
In 1737, Stephanus Umbenhauer immigrated from Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and purchased 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) from Thomas Penn
Thomas Penn
Thomas Penn was a son of William Penn, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony that became the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Thomas Penn was born in Bristol, England after his father returned there in 1701 because of financial difficulties...
. In 1819, Stephanus' grandson, Johann Thomas Umbenhauer, set aside 46 acres (186,155.6 m²) to be divided into 62 lots. On 24 August 1819, Peter Bennethum bought the first six lots. In January 1820, the town was named Bernville after Stephanus' birthplace. The first house was built by Philip Filbert in 1820. In 1828, the Union Canal
Union Canal (Pennsylvania)
The Union Canal was a towpath canal that existed in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States during the 19th century. First proposed in 1690 to connect Philadelphia with the Susquehanna River, it ran approximately 75 mi from Middletown on the Susquehanna below Harrisburg to Reading on...
was completed, connecting the Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and Schuylkill
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
Rivers. Union Canal Lock #36 was located at the southwest corner of Bernville Borough, near where Northkill Creek empties into Tulpehocken Creek. An historic marker on Route 183 states: "The canal, at this point, followed the north bank of the Tulpehocken. A dam, two locks, and a mule bridge made it possible for boats to cross Northkill Creek. Nearby were grist mills, a lime kiln, and a tannery." Due to the proximity of the Bernville Locks and the town's location on the canal, Bernville was a primary and prospering canal port.
In 1851, the village of Bernville, discontent with Penn Township’s road maintenance and community services, incorporated as a borough. The borough included the original 62 lots, most of which measured 60' x 260'. In 1884, the Union Canal closed. With no canal or railroad access, Bernville withered. In 1950, Bernville Borough annexed property from Penn Township at both ends of Main Street.
Stanton H. Clay, who died in December 2004, was mayor of Bernville for 45 years, from 1951 to 1996. The current mayor is Gail Stoudt.
Geography
Bernville is located at 40°26′1"N 76°6′40"W (40.433742, -76.111039). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land. The boundary with Jefferson Township is formed primarily by Northkill Creek
Northkill Creek
Northkill Creek is a stream primarily located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It feeds into Tulpehocken Creek and covers part of the Schuylkill River and Delaware River watersheds. Northkill Creek and its tributaries are high quality trout streams....
, but diverges from the creek north of its confluence with Little Northkill Creek.
Streets and buildings
Main Street divides Bernville roughly east-west and spans the length of the original borough. Pennsylvania Route 183Pennsylvania Route 183
Pennsylvania Route 183 is a long route that runs north to south in southeastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 422 Business in Reading. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven.-Berks County:...
, which is known as "Bernville Road", runs roughly parallel to Main Street. Route 183 was built on the route laid out for the South Mountain Railroad, which was never built.
Two covered bridges, which no longer exist, crossed Northkill Creek, connecting Bernville with Jefferson Township. The Northkill Covered Bridge, 1848-~1950, crossed at 4th Street. South Bernville Covered Bridge, 1849–1938, crossed near the South Bernville Hotel (a.k.a., Newport Hotel).
Main Street was created in 1819 and has numerous buildings dating back to the nineteenth century, including the Cyrus G. Blatt home (501-503 N. Main), the Eagle Hotel (301 N. Main) and the Joseph B. Conrad home (219 N. Main). Main Street is also the location of both churches: St. Thomas's UCC
UCC
-Law:* Uniform civil code of India, referring to proposed Civil code in the legal system of India, which would apply equally to all irrespective of their religion...
, and Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church. Both churches are located across the street from each other.
Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church
Parks
Bernville has two parks. Umbenhauer Park, on Umbenhauer Drive, home to a baseball field, tot-lot, and pavilion. Stanton Clay Park, on the corner of Third Street and Penn Valley Road, is home to a gazebo and a small field.Northkill Creek feeds into Blue Marsh Lake
Blue Marsh Lake
Blue Marsh Lake is an artificial lake located northwest of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. It is in western Berks County, fed into by the Tulpehocken Creek. The main span of the lake is along the border between Bern and Lower Heidelberg Townships. However, the northwesternmost portions lie...
and the Blue Marsh slackwater is federal property. Hence a portion of Bernville Borough is part of the Blue Marsh system. Blue Marsh Lake is a popular recreation site, offering hiking, boating, and fishing. The lake is also important for water supply, flood control, and wildlife habitat. A levee along Northkill Creek protects Bernville from Blue Marsh flooding above 300' elevation.
Bernville also used to be home of Blue Marsh Ski Resort
Blue Marsh Ski Resort
Blue Marsh Ski Resort was a small ski resort and winter sports complex that was located in Bernville, north of Reading, Pennsylvania. The area shut down operations in 2005....
, before it ceased operations in 2005.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 865 people, 351 households, and 249 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,121.8 people per square mile (814.6/km²). There were 372 housing units at an average density of 912.5 per square mile (350.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.03% White, 0.58% African American, 0.81% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.
There were 351 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.8% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $47,031. Males had a median income of $32,679 versus $25,109 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $19,038. About 7.5% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Tulpehocken Area School DistrictTulpehocken Area School District
The Tulpehocken Area School District is a school district located in northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The district serves three different schools. Penn-Bernville Elementary and Bethel Elementary are the two elementary schools that enroll students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade...
serves Bernville, with Penn-Bernville Elementary School in the borough.
External links
- Map of Bernville Borough
- Alternate map of Bernville Borough
- 2000 census map
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor's Guide to Blue Marsh Lake
- Blue Marsh Bernville Levee
- U.S. EPA EnviroMapper
- 2000 US Census Profile of General Demographic Characteristics