Berne was settled in 1852 by Mennonite immigrants who came directly from Switzerland, and named the community for the capital of Switzerland. They began the chore of preparing for farming by clearing the land.
Intentions, however, were not always equal to actions. Implementation of the Clean Air Amendments was made difficult by a reluctant automobile industry and the energy crisis of the early 1970s. The 1970 act gave the auto industry a temporary way out of meeting the tougher standards.
Although air quality has improved significantly since 1970, the Clean Air Act Amendments passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990 required Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality to enhance the vehicle emissions inspection program -- to keep improving air quality and to reduce emissions further.