Editing Wernersville, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2007}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Wernersville, Pennsylvania
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Boroughs|Borough]]
| image_skyline = Lerch Tavern 1797.jpg
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = The [[Lerch Tavern]], a historic site on [[U.S. Route 422|Penn Avenue]] in Wernersville in 2011
| image_flag = 
| image_seal = 
| seal_size = 
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| image_map = File:Wernersville.png
| mapsize = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location in of Wernersville in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
| image_map1 = 
| mapsize1 = 
| map_alt1 = 
| map_caption1 = 
| pushpin_map            = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label          = Wernersville
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in [[Pennsylvania]]##Location in the United States
| coordinates = {{coord|40|19|48|N|76|04|51|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]]
| subdivision_type3 = 
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| subdivision_name4 = 
| established_title = Founded
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| leader_title = Mayor
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 1.95
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.75
| area_land_km2 = 1.95
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.75
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
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| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 
| elevation_ft = 387
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 2776
| pop_est_as_of = 2019
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse"/>
| population_est = 2799
| population_rank = 
| population_density_km2 = 1438.82
| population_density_sq_mi = 3727.03
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| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1 = -5
| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -4
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| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 19565
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| area_code = [[Area codes 610 and 484|610 and 484]]
| geocode = 
| iso_code = 
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 42-82296
| blank1_name = 
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| blank1_name_sec2 = 
| blank1_info_sec2 = 
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = 
| website = {{URL|www.wernersvilleborough.org}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Wernersville''' is a borough in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 2,776 at the [[United States Census 2020|2020 census]].

==Geography==
Wernersville is located at {{Coord|40|19|48|N|76|4|51|W|type:city}} (40.329941, -76.080701).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

==History==
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Wernersville was a noted [[resort]] community. City dwellers (especially from [[Philadelphia]] and [[New York City]]) traveled out to Wernersville, a stop on the [[Reading Company|Reading Railroad]] to rest and partake of the cool mountain air of [[South Mountain (Eastern Pennsylvania)|South Mountain]]. A number of large resort hotels were erected for this purpose including Galen Hall, Bynden Wood, Grand View and the Highland Hotel. Some were advertised as [[sanatorium]]s, specializing in rest cures for illnesses such as [[tuberculosis]]. The most famous of these was Dr. Robert Walter's Mountain Park (aka Walters Park). Most of these resort hotels have since disappeared due to fire, demolition, or have been transformed into buildings for institutional purposes. Some cottages once associated with the resorts are now private homes.

In 1891, the [[Wernersville State Hospital]] opened as the State Asylum for the Chronic Insane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wernersville State Hospital|url=https://www.dhs.pa.gov:443/Services/Assistance/Pages/Wernersville-State-Hospital.aspx|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Department of Human Services|language=en-US}}</ref> The original hospital buildings remain standing and the State Hospital is still active.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Decision to shut Allentown facility final; about 55 patients heading to Wernersville State Hospital|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=199074|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Reading Eagle}}</ref>

Wernersville was once the location of the [[Jesuit]] Novitiate and Juniorate of St Isaac Jogues for the Society's Maryland Province, before the novitiates of the New York, Maryland and eventually New England provinces merged and it was relocated in 1993 to [[Syracuse, New York]]. As the numbers of religious declined and the Juniorate wing was closed, half of the large building was dedicated around 1974 to a Spiritual Center for retreats for lay people. But, again as religious numbers further declined, the Center took over the entire building. However in August of 2021, the Spiritual Center closed. In March 2023, the Phoebe Center bought the entire property for senior living at all degrees: independent, full-care etc. in the current building as well as in newly constructed cottages.  A Jesuit cemetery remains on the grounds.

The [[Lerch Tavern]] and [[Wertz Mill]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-08-24 12 26 26 View west along U.S. Route 422 (Penn Avenue) at North Church Road in Wernersville, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|US 422 westbound in Wernersville]]}}
As of 2008, there were {{convert|11.45|mi}} of public roads in Wernersville, of which {{convert|2.56|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|8.89|mi}} were maintained by the borough.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/06424.pdf|title=Wernersville Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 422 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 422]] is the only numbered highway serving Wernersville. It follows a northwest-southeast alignment through the borough via Penn Avenue.

==Demographics==
As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,150 people, 843 households, and 558 families living in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,690.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 870 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,088.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.84% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.65% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.88% of the population.

{{stack|{{US Census population
|1920= 797
|1930= 1096
|1940= 1160
|1950= 1280
|1960= 1462
|1970= 1761
|1980= 1811
|1990= 1934
|2000= 2150
|2010= 2494
|2020= 2776
|estyear=2019
|estimate=2799
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref>
}}}}

There were 843 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,605, and the median income for a family was $54,103. Males had a median income of $37,917 versus $25,192 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $21,858. About 3.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.wernersvilleborough.org Official website]

{{Berks County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1914]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Berks County, Pennsylvania]]