Founded in 1792 by German immigrants, Jacob Albright and his band of religious freedom seekers soon followed making New Berlin the birthplace of the first Evangelical Church in America, a forerunner of today's United Methodist Church. During the 1800s, there were as many as 15 German printing presses operating in town as well as a college first known as Union Seminary and later as Central Pennsylvania College. The college is now gone, but left are vestiges of the early prominence the town enjoyed as a religious and political center. New Berlin today is much more peaceful. The tree-lined streets, gardens, and historic homes remain, making the town a tranquil haven for a quiet stroll.