Muhlenberg Township (pronounced "MYOO-len-burg") is a township in

Berks County Berks County ( Pennsylvania German: ''Barricks Kaundi'') is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading. The Schuylkill River, a tributary of the Delaware River ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The population was 21,915 at the 2020 census, making it the third most populous township in Berks County after Spring Township and Exeter Township. It was named for

U.S. Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

Henry Augustus Muhlenberg Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (July 21, 1823 – January 9, 1854) was an American politician and Congressman ( Democratic) representing the state of Pennsylvania. Early years Muhlenberg was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty. He w ...

, grandson of

Henry Muhlenberg Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (an anglicanization of Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg) (September 6, 1711 – October 7, 1787), was a German Lutheran pastor sent to North America as a missionary, requested by Pennsylvania colonists. Integral to the ...

, and who is featured on the township seal.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the township has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.6 km), of which 12.0 square miles (31.1 km) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.5 km) (1.48%) is water. It is drained by the

Schuylkill River The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It fl ...

, which forms its natural western boundary. Most of the population resides in the western and central areas of the township, while the east is located in the South Mountains (Reading Prong.) Adjacent townships * Bern Township (west) * Ontelaunee Township (north) * Maidencreek Township (northeast) * Ruscombmanor Township (far northeast) * Alsace Township (east) Muhlenberg Township surrounds the borough of Laureldale and has its southern border shared entirely with the City of Reading. Within the township are the unincorporated communities (or neighborhoods) of Bernharts, Cherokee Ranch, College Heights, Frush Valley,

Hyde Park Hyde Park may refer to: Places England * Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London * Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds * Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield * Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester Austra ...

, Hyde Villa, Muhlenberg Park, Riverview Park, South Temple,

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

, and Tuckerton. Muhlenberg contains the retail district of Reading's northern suburbs with a number of restaurants and national retailers along the 5th Street Highway, including the former Fairgrounds Square Mall (Former Home of

Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reading Fairgrounds Speedway (1924–1979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. It featured a regular wee ...

). The Greater Reading Expo Center was located in the township just north of the city in proximity to the PA 12 expressway. Muhlenberg has a hot-summer

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...

(''Dfa'') and the

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...

is 6b. The average monthly temperature in Muhlenberg Park ranges from 29.7 °F in January to 75.0 °F in July

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 16,305 people, 6,639 households, and 4,634 families residing in the township. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 1,357.0 people per square mile (523.7/km). There were 6,897 housing units at an average density of 574.0/sq mi (221.5/km). The racial makeup of the township was 95.48%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.21%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.04% Native American, 0.71%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 1.66% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.90% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 3.91% of the population. There were 6,639 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86. In the township, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males. The median income for a household in the township was $44,627, and the median income for a family was $51,764. Males had a median income of $38,375 versus $26,375 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the township was $21,624. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The township is served by

Pennsylvania Route 12 Pennsylvania Route 12 (PA 12) is a state highway located in Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 222 (US 222) and US 422 in Wyomissing. Its eastern terminus is PA&n ...

(

Warren Street Bypass The Warren Street Bypass is a limited-access bypass in the Reading area in Berks County, in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It consists of segments of: *U.S. Route 222/ U.S. Route 422 from West Lawn to Wyomissing * Pennsylvani ...

Pennsylvania Route 61 Pennsylvania Route 61 (PA 61) is an state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route is signed on a north–south direction, running from U.S. Route 222 Business (US 222 Bus.) in Reading northwest to US 11/US 15/ ...

(Pottsville Pike), and U.S. Route 222 Business (5th Street Highway). PA 61 and US 222 Business are north-to-south thoroughfares that intersect

U.S. Route 222 U.S. Route 222 (US 222) is a U.S. Highway that is a spur of US 22 in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. It runs for from US 1 in Conowingo, Maryland, north to Interstate 78 (I-78)/Pennsylvania Route 309 (PA 309) in Dorneyville, Pennsylv ...

(Outer Bypass) in Tuckerton and Maidencreek Township, north of Temple, respectively. PA 12 connects PA 61 and US 222 Business to US 222 south and U.S. Route 422 and, to the northeast, PA 12 becomes Pricetown Road. Other important local roads include Bellevue Avenue, Elizabeth Avenue, Hartman Road/Leisczs Bridge Road, Kutztown Road, River Road, Spring Valley Road, Stouts Ferry Bridge Road, and Tuckerton Road. Muhlenberg Township is served by multiple

Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA), previously Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority, is a public transportation system serving the city of Reading and its surrounding area of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The South Central T ...

(BARTA) bus routes including 1, 2, 3, 20, and 22, which serve residential and business areas in the township and connect the township to the BARTA Transportation Center in Reading and other points in Berks County.

Board of Commissioners

*Michael Malinowski (President/ Board Liaison to Public Works, Administration, Finance and Economic Development) *Kevin Lerch (Vice President/ Board Liaison to Engineering, Planning and Codes) *Walt LaSota (Board Liaison to Muhlenberg Police) *Vanessa Pagan (Board Liaison for Muhlenberg Fire and EMS) *Steve Wolfinger (Board Liaison for Parks, Recreation & Arts and MTA)

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Townships in Berks County, Pennsylvania Townships in Pennsylvania