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Reading is situated in the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania in Berks County. The Schuylkill River, Mount Penn and Neversink Mountain are nearby. The Reading Railroad took its name from the city and is featured in the popular Monopoly board game.
The city was laid out in 1743 by Richard and Thomas Penn, the sons of William Penn, who established the state of Pennsylvania. The name was given to the city in tribute to Reading, England their former home. The city was utilized as a military base during the French and Indian War. During this era, a large number of people were migrating to the region from Germany. Reading played a significant role during the American Revolution. The iron industry in the area was constructing cannons, ammunition, rifles and other items for George Washington's soldiers.
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was incorporated in the year 1883 and thrived for more than a century; however due to a steep reduction in profits from transporting coal and tight government regulations, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 1971. Beginning with the 1940's and for most of the 1970's the city's economy significantly declined, primarily attributed to the downturn for heavy industries as well as the railroads. In the 1970's, former textile mills near Reading were utilized to produce the VF Outlet Village which has been recognized as the first outlet mall in the country.
The Berks Area Reading Transit Authority provides bus transportation for the area. The city is primarily served by the airport in Philadelphia.
Reading is home to numerous colleges including:
Comparing Reading to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Pennsylvania (State):
Ratings range from 
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| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Average Household Size | | |
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| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| People Above Poverty | | |
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| College Educated Adults | | |
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| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
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| Working at Home | |  |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
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| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| People Living Alone |  | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
 | Reading Careers Reading career and employment information. |
 | Reading Colleges Reading colleges and trade schools. |
| Reading Graduate Schools Reading Graduate and Business Schools |
 | Reading Hotels & Travel Reading hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
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