Berwick, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Dickson Block in 1912 | |
| Motto: "Proud of Our Heritage" | |
 Location of Berwick inColumbia County, Pennsylvania | |
 Location ofColumbia County inPennsylvania | |
  Berwick Location of Berwick in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Berwick Berwick (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°03′17″N76°14′01″W / 41.05472°N 76.23361°W /41.05472; -76.23361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Columbia,Luzerne |
| Settled | 1769 |
| Incorporated | 1818 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Tim Burke |
| • Council President | Teresa Troiani |
| • Borough Manager | Damien Scoblink |
| • Fire Chief | Gene Boone |
| • Police Chief | Kenneth Strish |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.25 sq mi (8.42 km2) |
| • Land | 3.07 sq mi (7.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 560 ft (170 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 10,327 |
| • Density | 3,359.7/sq mi (1,297.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 18603 |
| Area codes | 570 and 272 |
| FIPS code | 42-05888 |
| Website | www |
Berwick is aborough inColumbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part ofNortheastern Pennsylvania and is located 28 miles (45 km) southwest ofWilkes-Barre. In the2020 census, Berwick had a population of 10,355.[4] It is one of the two principal communities of theBloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area, which covers Columbia andMontour counties,[5] and had a combined population of 85,562 at the2010 census.[6]
Berwick was founded by Evan Owen, aWelshQuaker andsurveyor. He was the son of Hugh Owen fromTrefeglwys,Montgomeryshire,Wales. Berwick was named afterBerwick-upon-Tweed,England. Situated on the north bank of theSusquehanna River, the borough was first settled in 1769, founded in 1786, and incorporated in 1818.
Light and heavy manufacturing industries, such asAmerican Car and Foundry Company andWise Potato Chips, were established in Berwick, which consolidated with the borough of West Berwick in 1917. The population of Berwick in 1910 was 5,357. In 1920, after consolidation, the population was 12,181. In 1950, the population peaked at 14,010. The population was 10,477 at the 2010 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 theJaycees, 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.[7] Santa Claus is present every year to serve Berwick's famous Wise Potato Chips to everyone who drives past him.
TheBerwick Armory andJackson Mansion and Carriage House are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[8][9]
Berwick is located in Columbia County and eastern Columbia County, bordered to the north byBriar Creek Township, to the west byBriar Creek borough, to the south across the Susquehanna River byMifflin Township, and to the east bySalem Township inLuzerne County. The borough ofNescopeck in Luzerne County is to the southeast, across the Susquehanna. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Berwick has a total area of 3.25 square miles (8.43 km2), of which 3.08 square miles (7.97 km2) is land and 0.18 square miles (0.46 km2), or 5.45%, is water.[10]
U.S. Route 11 runs through the center of Berwick as Front Street (one-way northeast) and Second Street (one-way southwest). US 11 leads northeast 26 miles (42 km) toKingston, across the Susquehanna fromWilkes-Barre, and southwest 12 miles (19 km) toBloomsburg, the Columbia County seat.Pennsylvania Route 93 shares Front and Second Streets with US 11 in the center of Berwick, but turns south to cross the Susquehanna via the Market Street Bridge to Nescopeck.[11] In the other direction, PA 93 splits west from US 11 as Orange Street and leads 10 miles (16 km) toOrangeville.
Interstate 80 passes south of Berwick, with the closest exits being at US 11, 6 miles (10 km) southwest of town, and at PA 93, 9 miles (14 km) southeast of town.
The easternterminus of theSusquehanna, Bloomsburg, and Berwick Railroad was formerly in Berwick.[12] ThePennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division) formerly went along the Susquehanna River at Berwick, where there was alock that raised or lowered canal boats 8.48 feet (2.58 meters).[13]
TheKöppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb" (Warm Summer Continental Climate).[14]
| Climate data for Berwick, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2 (36) | 4 (39) | 9 (48) | 17 (62) | 23 (73) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 24 (76) | 19 (66) | 11 (51) | 4 (39) | 17 (62) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7 (19) | −7 (20) | −2 (28) | 3 (37) | 9 (48) | 14 (57) | 16 (61) | 16 (60) | 12 (53) | 5 (41) | 1 (33) | −5 (23) | 4 (40) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 58 (2.3) | 58 (2.3) | 69 (2.7) | 86 (3.4) | 100 (4) | 91 (3.6) | 100 (4.1) | 100 (4) | 91 (3.6) | 71 (2.8) | 81 (3.2) | 74 (2.9) | 990 (39) |
| Source: Weatherbase[15] | |||||||||||||
 | This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is:section doesn't contain demographic information from 2010 and 2020 censuses. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2024) |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 317 | — | |
| 1840 | 452 | — | |
| 1850 | 486 | 7.5% | |
| 1860 | 487 | 0.2% | |
| 1870 | 923 | 89.5% | |
| 1880 | 2,095 | 127.0% | |
| 1890 | 2,701 | 28.9% | |
| 1900 | 3,916 | 45.0% | |
| 1910 | 5,357 | 36.8% | |
| 1920 | 12,181 | 127.4% | |
| 1930 | 12,660 | 3.9% | |
| 1940 | 13,181 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 14,010 | 6.3% | |
| 1960 | 13,353 | −4.7% | |
| 1970 | 12,274 | −8.1% | |
| 1980 | 11,850 | −3.5% | |
| 1990 | 10,976 | −7.4% | |
| 2000 | 10,774 | −1.8% | |
| 2010 | 10,477 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,355 | −1.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 10,349 | [4] | −0.1% |
| Sources:[16][17][18][19][20][3] | |||
In the 2000 census,[18] there were 10,774 people, 4,595 households, and 2,802 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,477.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,342.5/km2). There were 4,992 housing units at an average density of 1,611.0 per square mile (622.0/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% fromother races, and 0.65% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
The Berwick area had a large influx of immigrants approximately between 1890 and 1920, which had a great impact on the current population that continues to this day. These immigrants includedSlovaks,Ukrainians,Ruthenians,Lithuanians, andPoles. These immigrants were primarilyEastern Orthodox,Eastern Catholic andRoman Catholic.
In 2000, there were 4,595 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% weremarried 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, 23.1% of the population were 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.
In 2000, 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. Theper capita income for the borough was $14,538. About 9.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Berwick was one of the places where theStuart tank was produced in World War II, with over 15,000 of the tanks being manufactured at an American Car & Foundry plant in the town. The American Car & Foundry plant was also a producer ofrolling stock for railroads. The borough is home to Berwick Offray, a gift ribbon manufacturing division ofCSS Industries, andWise Foods, a snack food company founded by Berwick native Earl Wise in the first half of the twentieth century, famous for itspotato chips.
Berwick is within theBerwick Area School District..[21] There are five public schools located within the district:Berwick Area Senior High School, Berwick Area Middle School, Nescopeck Elementary School, West Berwick Elementary School, and Salem Elementary School.[22] 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.[23]
Berwick is also served byColumbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School,Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16, as well as a private school: Holy Family School (a Catholic-based school for grades Pre-4th). Holy Family also offers C.C.D[24][25]
Berwick is home to a dedicated campus ofLuzerne County Community College, located in the Eagles Building.[26] Nearby colleges and universities includeBloomsburg University (12.4 mi),Penn State Hazleton (14.2 mi), the main campus of Luzerne County Community College inNanticoke (21.9 mi),King's College (28.2 mi), andWilkes University (28.2 mi).
TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg operates Holy Family Consolidated School. In 2019 the school was scheduled to be closed, but it stayed open.[27]
The McBride Memorial Library, opened to the public in January 2008, serves the residents of Berwick and its surrounding areas have the Bloomsburg Public Library, the Orangeville Public Library, and libraries at those colleges and universities listed above.
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Municipalities and communities ofColumbia County, Pennsylvania,United States | ||
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| Boroughs | ||
| Townships | ||
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| Unincorporated community | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
