THE FACTS:  The village of Kutztown was laid out by property owner George Kutz in 1771 and became Berks County's second borough on March 1, 1815 (Reading was the first, in 1783).  The first borough council meeting was held April 15, 1815. 

The rapid growth of the town named after Mr. Kutz (or was it?...see below) is attributed to the town's enviable position almost midway between Reading and Allentown on the "Old Easton Road," then and now a busy connecting route between two major metropolitan areas.

THE FIGURES:   One of Berks County's most populous boroughs, Kutztown is home to about 4,800 folks who reside within its 1.6 square miles.

THE FUN STUFF:

•Is it Kutztown or Cootstown?  Take your choice.  Of course, history records the name George Kutz as the founder of the town (or is it Jacob Kutz, as some references maintain?).  But, in the earliest documentation of the village, Mr. Kutz is referred to as Mr. Coots.  Whatever the case, Kutz is Kutz.

•The coming of the East Penn Railroad in 1859 helped spur growth and a broad manufacturing base in Kutztown.  Banks and publishing houses flourished, and still do, in town, and the presence of the university has enabled Kutztown's main street to remain a strong and diverse commercial entity.

•Kutztown has maintained a distinct "small town" feel with the presence of such amenities as its own newspaper, movie theater, fairgrounds, and even its own airport.  The first newspaper in town was established in 1870 and was a German-language broadsheet.  The first American Weekly Patriot was half German/half English, and was first published in 1874.  Its present-day version, the Patriot, is part of the Berks-Mont Newspaper group.  The Kutztown Strand movie house traces its roots to the early 20th century when films were shown at what was first called "Herman's Play House."  As for the Kutztown Airport, the first "Air Park" was opened in 1945 by a group of investors with one name–Carl Bieber–associated less today with aviation than the motorcoach company of the same name in Kutztown. 

•When Berks Countians think of Kutztown, many think of "Fair," as in the

Kutztown Fair, which was first staged by the Keystone Agricultural and

Horticultural Society on its 16-acre fairgrounds in 1870.  In 1872, the great Horace Greeley spoke at the Kutztown Fair.  The early fairgrounds were eventually sold, but in 1905 the Kutztown Fair Association was formed and continues to operate the event on its spacious grounds.

•The Kutztown Fairgrounds is also home of the internationally-known Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival.  This event was first staged in 1950 and has grown to become the premiere showcase of Pennsylvania German culture. The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University now maintains a 60-acre, 19th century farmstead on which a museum holds more than 10,000 artifacts related to the Pennsylvania German settlers and their descendants.  "Heemet Fescht," a fall celebration of Pennsylvania German life of the 19th century, is held on the grounds.

•No mention of Kutztown would be complete without noting the presence of Kutztown University.  The present university evolved from several academies and seminaries that were built in Kutztown in the early 19th century.  By 1866, the Keystone Normal School, a state college, was established.  In 1960, the name was changed to Kutztown State College.  In 1983, it became Kutztown University.  The university now spreads over 325 acres, serves about 8,200 students, and employs some 330 full-time faculty members. KU has also earned national recognition by producing four N-F-L football players: Doug Dennison (Dallas Cowboys 1974-78), Bruce Harper (New York Jets 1977-84), Andre Reed (Buffalo Bills 1984-99; Washington Redskins 2000), and John Mobley (Denver Broncos 1996-present). In addition, KU grad John Gabriel is an executive with the N-B-A's Orlando Magic.

• Speaking of sports, Kutztown High School has also established a proud sports tradition - especially the boys basketball program, which won three state championships (1950, '51, '59), eight District III titles, and 12 Berks County League crowns between 1950 and 1965!

• The Berkleigh Country Club, just outside of the borough, has hosted pro golf's LPGA Betsy King Classic since 1996.

•Kutztown also has its own Farmers' Market, established in 1955 by Rufus Renninger.  

•The Saucony (Indian for "place of outlet") Creek creases the borough and has lent itself to the name of a popular running shoe.  The Saucony  Shoe Co. was founded in Kutztown in 1947, the firm actually traces its origins to the Century Shoe Company, which was established many years before.  Through the mid-20th century, Saucony was known as the nation's largest manufacturer of sports shoes.  The manufacturing has since been sent to plants in foreign lands.

•Among those who have come out of Kutztown and have made their mark on the world is the late artist Keith Haring.

•Oh, yes...Kutztown has a street named "Baldy."  So, where did that name come from?  Formerly "Baldy's Lane," it was once the road to a blacksmith shop operated by a man named Baldy.

Compiled by WEEU's Charles J. Adams III, with help from Mitch Gerhart.