The Historic Journey of Wernersville, PA

The personal injury attorneys in Wernersville, PA, sponsor this article to offer you a detailed excerpt about the area.

Wernersville is a borough in Berk County, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood spans 0.75 square miles and is located within ZIP code 19565. The borough hosts approximately 2,760 residents with a population density of 3,680 per square mile.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Wernersville was a resort community where city dwellers from Philadelphia and New York would go for a retreat and partake in the cool mountain air of South Mountain.

Since so many city dwellers were attracted to the area, several large resort hotels began to open in the borough including Galen Hall, Bynden Wood, Grand View, and the Highland Hotel.

Interestingly, some of the new developments were advertised as sanatoriums, a medical facility for long-term illness, specializing in tuberculosis. The most famous of these developments was Dr. Robert Walter's Mountains Park, more commonly known as Walter's Park.

The majority of these once fabulous resorts have closed due to either fire, demolition, or have been constructed into new buildings for institutional purposes. They are a few remaining cottages, that were once associated with the resorts, that have been turned into private homes.

Wernersville became home to the Wernersville State Hospital which opened in 1891 as the State Asylum for the Chronic Insane. The hospital is still open today and is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).

Wernersville was also once the location of the Jesuit novitiate center for the Society's Maryland Province.

Historic Sites

With such a rich history, it is no surprise that Wernersville is home to a couple of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wernersville is home to two historical sites including,

The Lerch Tavern

• Built in 1797, the historic inn and tavern is a two-story rectangular limestone building with a raised mansard roof that was added in 1870. The tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The Wertz Mill

• Built in 1892, the historic grist mill is a three-story, brick building, with a mansard roof in the Second Empire style. The mill expanded in the 1930s when a two-story, brick extension was built. The mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Demographics

In 2018, Wernersville hosted a population of 2,760 people with a median age of 47.8. Between 2017 and 2018, the population grew from 2,741 to 2,760 demonstrating a 0.657% increase.

From 2017 to 2018, the median household income in Wernersville went from $56, 250 to $51,250, demonstrating a 9.32% decrease.

The racial and ethnic demographic of Wernersville are as follows:

• 82.5% White (Non-Hispanic)
• 3.7% White (Hispanic)
• 3.66% Asian (Non-Hispanic)
• 3.59% Two Races or More (Non-Hispanic)
• 3.01% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)

In Wernersville, 99% of residents are U.S. citizens.

In 2018, the median property value in Wernersville, PA, was $164,300, and the homeownership rate was 64.3%. The average car ownership in Wernersville was 2 cars per household.

Wernersville offers residents a sparse suburban feel where most residents (61%) own their homes.

Enjoyed this article? Check out:

• A Historic Tour of Lehigh Parkway, PA

Our Local Office

Have you or a loved one suffered injuries from an accident? If yes, it is in your best interest to hire a personal injury attorney. Call the experienced Wernersville, PA, personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.

Justice Guardians

1142 Hamilton St, 2nd Fl
Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 596-9369