Berlin, Pennsylvania

Berlin, Pennsylvania
Borough
Berlin, Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 39°55′17″N 78°57′00″W / 39.92139°N 78.95000°W / 39.92139; -78.95000Coordinates: 39°55′17″N 78°57′00″W / 39.92139°N 78.95000°W / 39.92139; -78.95000
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Somerset
Settled	1784
Incorporated	February 7, 1833
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.9 sq mi (2 km2)
Elevation	2,323 ft (708 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	2,192
• Density	2,420.0/sq mi (934.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	15530
Area code(s)	814

Berlin, a borough located approximately 75 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,192 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town's major celebration each fall concerns the Whiskey Rebellion in the 1790s, although in recent years residents also commemorate the termination of Flight 93 in nearby Shanksville in 2001. The Berlin Fife and Drum Corps is one of the oldest such bands in North America. Snyder of Berlin potato chips are made in town, which also hosts Center Rock, Inc., a drilling-equipment manufacturer. Farming and coal mining have long been important in the area.

It is not near East Berlin in Adams County, nor New Berlin in Union County. East Berlin was previously called Berlin but had to have the "East" added to avoid confusion with this Berlin.

History

Immigrants from Germany, especially, began settling the area before the American Revolutionary War, so the surrounding Brothersvalley Township was incorporated in 1771. Further settlement occurred by Revolutionary War veterans, so this borough was laid out in 1784 and formally incorporated on February 7, 1833.

In June 1794, a riot occurred at the Berlin Schoolhouse during the Whiskey Rebellion. By September, Irish immigrant Robert Philson raised a liberty pole at his log store on the square and advised citizens to oppose U.S. laws. Federal troops arrived in October and the rebellion evaporated, with Philson and iterant preacher Herman Husband being taken to Philadelphia for trial (where they were acquitted). Governor Thomas Mifflin made his headquarters in Dr. Christian Boerstler's house.^[1]

Local attorney Jeremiah S. Black rose to become Justice of Pennsylvania (1851-1857, serving as Chief Justice from 1851-1853). After election of fellow Pennsylvanian James Buchanan as President of the United States, he began litigating fraudulent land claims in California as United States Attorney General and later served as Secretary of State.

Geography

Berlin is located at 39°55′17″N 78°57′00″W / 39.9213°N 78.9501°W / 39.9213; -78.9501,^[2] about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Somerset and about 63 miles (101 km) SSW of Altoona. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land. Berlin has an elevation of 2,323 feet (708 m), the second highest, beside only Seven Springs, in Pennsylvania.^[3]

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 2,192 people, 881 households, and 577 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,420.0 people per square mile (930.0/km²). There were 940 housing units at an average density of 1,037.8 per square mile (398.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.54% White, 0.05% African American, 0.32% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.18% of the population.

There were 881 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $29,219, and the median income for a family was $35,714. Males had a median income of $27,763 versus $20,156 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,614. About 5.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

See also

• East Berlin, Pennsylvania

Municipalities and communities of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
County seat: Somerset
Boroughs	Addison Benson Berlin Boswell Callimont Casselman Central City Confluence Garrett Hooversville Indian Lake Jennerstown Meyersdale New Baltimore New Centerville Paint Rockwood Salisbury Seven Springs‡ Shanksville Somerset Stoystown Ursina Wellersburg Windber
Townships	Addison Allegheny Black Brothersvalley Conemaugh Elk Lick Fairhope Greenville Jefferson Jenner Larimer Lincoln Lower Turkeyfoot Middlecreek Milford Northampton Ogle Paint Quemahoning Shade Somerset Southampton Stonycreek Summit Upper Turkeyfoot
CDPs	Cairnbrook Davidsville Edie Friedens Jerome
Unincorporated communities	Blough Deal Eureka 33 Mine Station Eureka 36 Mine Station Fairhope Hidden Valley Hiyasota Hollsopple Jenners Lambertsville Quecreek Ralphton Randolph Reading Number Three Seanor Springs Zimmerman
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties