Berwick, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Berwick is a borough in Columbia County
, Pennsylvania
, 22.6 miles (36.4 km) southwest of Wilkes Barre. Berwick is one of two principal cities of the Bloomsburg
–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area
, a micropolitan area
that covers Columbia and Montour
counties and had a combined population of 82,387 at the 2000 census
.
, Berwick was named after Berwick-upon-Tweed
, England
. Situated beside the Susquehanna River
, the borough was first settled in 1769, founded in 1786, and incorporated in 1818.
Light manufacturing industries have flourished in Berwick, which consolidated with the borough of West Berwick, where 5,512 people lived in 1910. Population in 1910, 5,357; in 1920, 12,181; and in 1940, 13,181 people. The population was 10,774 at the 2000 census. Berwick is famous for its high school football team, the Bulldogs, who are six time State Champions and three time National Champions. Berwick is also the home of the 2008 PIAA AAA Baseball State Champions. It is the school's first ever baseball state championship.
Since 1947, the Berwick Christmas Boulevard, created by the Jaycees, displays over a mile long Christmas show of lights and displays down Market Street. The Berwick Christmas Boulevard is seen by thousands of visitors every year, and it has been a regional favorite for over 60 years. Santa Claus is present every year to serve Berwick's famous Wise Potato Chips to everyone who drives past him.
, the borough has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (4.62%) is water. Berwick is drained by the Susquehanna River
, across which is the borough of Nescopeck
.
Berwick is serviced by Interstate 80
, U.S. Route 11
, and Pennsylvania Route 93
.
of 2000, there were 10,774 people, 4,595 households, and 2,802 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,477.0 people per square mile (1,341.9/km²). There were 4,992 housing units at an average density of 1,611.0 per square mile (621.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.10% White, 0.88% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
The Berwick area had a large influx of Eastern European immigrants approximately between 1890–1920, which had a great impact on the current population that continues to this day. These immigrants included Slovaks, Ukrainians
, Ruthenians
, Lithuanians
, and Poles
. The 2000 US census shows that Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is the only county to have a majority of Eastern Europeans in the United States Immigration to the United States
. These immigrants were primarily Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic.
There were 4,595 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,442, and the median income for a family was $32,357. Males had a median income of $26,467 versus $21,061 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $14,538. About 9.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
was produced in WWII. American Car & Foundry, a producer of rolling stock
for railroads also operated a plant in Berwick. Berwick is home to Berwick Offray, a gift ribbon manufacturing plant, and Wise Foods, a snack food company founded by Berwick native Earl Wise in the first half of the twentieth century, famous for its potato chips.
. There are six public schools located within the district: Berwick Area High School, Berwick Area Middle School, Fourteenth Street Elementary School, Nescopeck Elementary School, Orange Street Elementary School, and Salem Elementary School. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as of the 2009-10 school year, 94% of all students in the district attend class regularly and 88% of all students graduate on time.
Berwick is also served by Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School
, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16
, as well as three private schools: Holy Family School, a Catholic-based school for grades K-5, Heritage Christian Academy, a Baptist-based school for grades K-12, and New Story, a school for children with serious and complex educational and behavioral challenges.
Berwick is also home to a dedicated campus of Luzerne County Community College
, located in the Eagles Building. Nearby colleges and universities include Bloomsburg University (12.4 mi), Penn State Hazleton
(14.2 mi), the main campus of Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke
(21.9 mi), King's College (28.2 mi), and Wilkes University
(28.2 mi).
The McBride Memorial Library, built at a cost of $2.35 million and opened to the public in January 2008, serves the residents of Berwick and its surrounding areas. Nearby libraries include the Columbia County Traveling Library, the Bloomsburg Public Library, the Orangeville Public Library, and libraries at those colleges and universities listed above.
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of 57 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...
, 22.6 miles (36.4 km) southwest of Wilkes Barre. Berwick is one of two principal cities of the Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg is a town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 40 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River. In 1900, the population of Bloomsburg stood at 6,170; in 1910, 7,413; in 1940, 9,799, and in 1990, 12,439. The population was 14,855 at the 2010 census...
–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area
Bloomsburg-Berwick micropolitan area
The Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Pennsylvania, anchored by the town of Bloomsburg and the borough of Berwick...
, a micropolitan area
United States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
that covers Columbia and Montour
Montour County, Pennsylvania
Montour County is located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, the county's population was 18,267. Its county seat is Danville. It is named for Andrew Montour, a prominent métis interpreter who served with George Washington during the French and Indian War. The county is part of the...
counties and had a combined population of 82,387 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
Founded by Evan Owens, a surveyorSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, Berwick was named after Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Situated beside the Susquehanna River
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...
, the borough was first settled in 1769, founded in 1786, and incorporated in 1818.
Light manufacturing industries have flourished in Berwick, which consolidated with the borough of West Berwick, where 5,512 people lived in 1910. Population in 1910, 5,357; in 1920, 12,181; and in 1940, 13,181 people. The population was 10,774 at the 2000 census. Berwick is famous for its high school football team, the Bulldogs, who are six time State Champions and three time National Champions. Berwick is also the home of the 2008 PIAA AAA Baseball State Champions. It is the school's first ever baseball state championship.
Since 1947, the Berwick Christmas Boulevard, created by the Jaycees, displays over a mile long Christmas show of lights and displays down Market Street. The Berwick Christmas Boulevard is seen by thousands of visitors every year, and it has been a regional favorite for over 60 years. Santa Claus is present every year to serve Berwick's famous Wise Potato Chips to everyone who drives past him.
Geography
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 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (4.62%) is water. Berwick is drained by the Susquehanna River
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...
, across which is the borough of Nescopeck
Nescopeck, Pennsylvania
Nescopeck is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,528 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nescopeck is located at ....
.
Berwick is serviced by Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania
The transcontinental Interstate 80 is designated across northern Pennsylvania as the Keystone Shortway, officially the Z.H. Confair Memorial Highway. This route was built mainly along a completely new alignment, not paralleling any earlier U.S. Routes, as a shortcut to the tolled Pennsylvania...
, U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 11 roughly parallels Interstate 81 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It serves Harrisburg and Scranton. Between those two cities, US 11 follows the Susquehanna River, while I-81 follows a shorter route over the mountains.-Route description:...
, and Pennsylvania Route 93
Pennsylvania Route 93
Pennsylvania Route 93 is a long state route located in northern Pennsylvania. The northern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 487 in Orangeville. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 209 east of Nesquehoning...
.
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 10,774 people, 4,595 households, and 2,802 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 3,477.0 people per square mile (1,341.9/km²). There were 4,992 housing units at an average density of 1,611.0 per square mile (621.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.10% White, 0.88% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.61% 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 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
The Berwick area had a large influx of Eastern European immigrants approximately between 1890–1920, which had a great impact on the current population that continues to this day. These immigrants included Slovaks, Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, Ruthenians
Ruthenians
The name Ruthenian |Rus']]) is a culturally loaded term and has different meanings according to the context in which it is used. Initially, it was the ethnonym used for the East Slavic peoples who lived in Rus'. Later it was used predominantly for Ukrainians...
, Lithuanians
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
, and Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
. The 2000 US census shows that Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is the only county to have a majority of Eastern Europeans in the United States Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
. These immigrants were primarily Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic.
There were 4,595 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,442, and the median income for a family was $32,357. Males had a median income of $26,467 versus $21,061 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 $14,538. About 9.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Berwick was one of the places where the Stuart tankStuart tank
The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II and supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war—and used thereafter by U.S...
was produced in WWII. American Car & Foundry, a producer of rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
for railroads also operated a plant in Berwick. Berwick is home to Berwick Offray, a gift ribbon manufacturing plant, and Wise Foods, a snack food company founded by Berwick native Earl Wise in the first half of the twentieth century, famous for its potato chips.
Education
Berwick is home to the Berwick Area School DistrictBerwick Area School District
The Berwick Area School District is a midsized, public school district. Berwick Area School District encompasses approximately 101 square miles, spanning portions of two rural Pennsylvania counties. In Columbia County it covers the Boroughs of Berwick and Briar Creek and Briar Creek Township...
. There are six public schools located within the district: Berwick Area High School, Berwick Area Middle School, Fourteenth Street Elementary School, Nescopeck Elementary School, Orange Street Elementary School, and Salem Elementary School. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as of the 2009-10 school year, 94% of all students in the district attend class regularly and 88% of all students graduate on time.
Berwick is also served by Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School
Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School
Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. It is a full-time area vocational-technical school that serves the youth of Columbia and Montour counties in Pennsylvania. CMAVTS offers 17 training areas to secondary students in grades 9 through 12...
, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit #16 , located in the Milton Industrial Park, Milton, Pennsylvania, was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1971 as one of 29 Intermediate Units in the commonwealth...
, as well as three private schools: Holy Family School, a Catholic-based school for grades K-5, Heritage Christian Academy, a Baptist-based school for grades K-12, and New Story, a school for children with serious and complex educational and behavioral challenges.
Berwick is also home to a dedicated campus of Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College, also known as LCCC, is a 2-year community college located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. LCCC offers over 100 academic, technical, and career programs. It has an open admissions policy for most programs and has over 25,000 graduates...
, located in the Eagles Building. Nearby colleges and universities include Bloomsburg University (12.4 mi), Penn State Hazleton
Penn State Hazleton
Penn State Hazleton is a commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University. It is located in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, near the junction of Interstates 80 and 81...
(14.2 mi), the main campus of Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke
Nanticoke
Nanticoke may refer to:* Nanticoke people in Delaware, United States* Nanticoke language, an Algonquian language* Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, a state-recognized tribe in New Jersey-Place names:United States* Nanticoke River in Delaware and Maryland...
(21.9 mi), King's College (28.2 mi), and Wilkes University
Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational American university located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students...
(28.2 mi).
The McBride Memorial Library, built at a cost of $2.35 million and opened to the public in January 2008, serves the residents of Berwick and its surrounding areas. Nearby libraries include the Columbia County Traveling Library, the Bloomsburg Public Library, the Orangeville Public Library, and libraries at those colleges and universities listed above.
Notable people
- Thomas BowmanThomas Bowman (Methodist Episcopal Bishop)Thomas Bowman was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872. He was born 15 July 1817 at Berwick, Pennsylvania....
, bishop - Matt KarchnerMatt KarchnerMatthew Dean Karchner , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1995-2000....
, baseball pitcher - Jake KelchnerJake KelchnerJake Kelchner is a former starting quarterback for West Virginia University during the 1990s. He was part of the mountaineers undefeated 1993 team...
, football quarterback - Douglas MajorDouglas MajorDouglas Major is a prominent American composer of sacred music and concert organist. He is the former choral director and organist at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., where he frequently performed on nationally-televised services and state occasions.-Early life and...
, composer of sacred music and concert organist - Warren P. NobleWarren P. NobleWarren Perry Noble was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Noble was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania near Berwick and eventually moved to Ohio....
, congressman - Bo OrlandoBo OrlandoJoseph John "Bo" Orlando is a retired American football safety player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers, and Cincinnati Bengals.-High school career:...
, football - Billy PetroleBilly PetroleBilly Petrole is an American former boxer. He was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania.5 ft 6.5", 135 lbs.,Started Boxing in the Spring of 1923-1927:Tommy Kid Murphy Knock Out 3Spug Myers Decision 10Joe Jawson K7...
, boxer - Ron PowlusRon PowlusRonald Lee Powlus is a former American football quarterback, former quarterbacks coach for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, and current quarterbacks coach for the University of Akron Zips football team....
, football quarterback - Mike SouchakMike SouchakMichael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:...
, golfer - Jimmy SpencerJimmy SpencerJimmy Spencer is a current television commentator, and a former NASCAR driver. He formerly hosted the NASCAR inspired talk show, “What’s the Deal?”, on SPEED. He is the former co-host, with John Roberts and Kenny Wallace, of the SPEED's pre-race and post-race NASCAR shows NASCAR RaceDay and...
, racecar driver and commentator - Ted StubanTed StubanTed Stuban is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was first elected in the general election of 1976, taking office in 1977. He was reelected seven times, representing the 109th Legislative District through the end of the 1992 session...
, politician - Joe Torsella, museum director