Reading & Berks County

Reading and Berks County. Schuylkill River Trail. , Birth of Berks County , Settlement began with the Lenni-Lenape of the Delaware Nation. In 1681 William Penn founded Pennsylvania and in 1748 his sons Thomas and Richard established Readingtown. It became the county seat when Berks County was established in 1752. Fleeing persecution following Europe's Thirty-Years War, many early arrivals to Berks spoke only German and collectively became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, or more correctly, the Pennsylvania Germans. Predominantly farmer, they were able to take advantage of the area's rich soil and favorable climate., Industrial Heritage , Berks County's iron production began prior to the Revolutionary War. With Schuylkill County's coal and the Reading Railroad's Main Line, the Reading area manufactured bicycles, wagons, hats, clocks, shoes, brass, bricks, steam engines, and rope, amongst other items. Abetted by two World Wars, knitting mills and steel manufacturing became major industries. The Gruber Wagon Works, a remnant of Berk's industrial past, is open for viewing at the Berks County Heritage Center., Berks County Today , The National Park Service's Hopewell Furnace and many other historic sites are open to the public. Facilities such as French Creek State Park and the U.S. Army Corps' Blue Marsh Lake provide extensive recreational opportunities. The Nolde Environmental Center and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary also provide a chance to learn and enjoy the beauty of nature., [Captions:] , Captured German Hessians, hired to fight for England during the Revolutionary War, were detained in a camp on the slopes of Mt. Penn following their capture at the battle of Trenton., Among Pennsylvania Germans the Distlefink bird represents happiness and good fortune. Its likeness can be found in hex signs mounted on barns throughout Berks County and rural Pennsylvania., In addition to the Reading Fightin' Phils baseball team and Royals Hockey Club, Reading boasts five colleges and universities, outlet shopping, a performing arts center, a symphony orchestra, the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, and changing art and natural history exhibits at the Reading Public Museum. In 2015, the Greater Reading area was awarded the International Mountain Biking Association's Bronze Ride Center status., The Pagoda, situated high on Mount Penn overlooking the City of Reading, was built in 1908 to promote a luxury hotel that was never constructed.