Overview

Introduction to Reading, Pennsylvania

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.

History

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.

Transportation

The Berks Area Reading Transit Authority provides bus transportation for the area. The city is primarily served by the airport in Philadelphia.

Attractions

  • Reading Public Museum has numerous collections of artifacts from all over the world, including a mummy
  • Mount Penn offers great views of the city
  • The noteworthy Pagoda on Mount Penn showcases a variety of artwork
  • Goggle Works Center for the Arts hosts numerous exhibitions and includes a small theater
  • VF Outlet Complex is very popular for shoppers
  • Sovereign Center hosts numerous sporting events including hockey games played by the Reading Royals
  • The Reading Phillies is a local baseball team
  • Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
  • Arts & Antiques Fair
  • African-American Museum
  • Sovereign Performing Arts Center
  • Apple Dumpling Festival
  • Center Park Victorian Historic District
  • Reading Railroad Heritage Museum
  • Berks Jazz Fest
  • Daniel Boone Homestead
  • Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center

Higher Education

Reading is home to numerous colleges including:

  • Albright College
  • Pace Institute
  • Berks Technical Institute
  • Reading Area Community College
  • Alvernia College

Demographics

People

Total Population88,211
Male Share of the Population48.7%
Female Share of the Population51.3%
Senior Citizens9.6%
Employed Population 16+33,125
Age of the Population29

Families

% of people married30.8%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher11.3%
Median Earnings25+$24,012
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$20,376
Median Earnings With High School Degree$24,460

Wealth

Median Family Income$35,162
% Above Poverty Level64.6%
% Below Poverty Level35.4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time25 minutes
% Working from Home2.4%
% Walking and Biking to Work7.8%
% Using Public Transportation7.5%

Housing

People Living Alone30.1%
Median Gross Rent$797
Median House Value$70,800

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)62.1%
Irish4%
Italian4%
Polish2.5%
West Indian1.5%
German1.4%
English1.2%
African1%
Dutch0.7%
Haitian0.6%
Jamaican0.5%
French Except Basque0.5%
Welsh0.4%
Slovak0.3%
Scottish0.3%
Ukrainian0.3%
Trinidad Tobago0.2%
Swedish0.2%
Swiss0.2%
Romanian0.2%
Greek0.2%
Guyanese0.2%
Russian0.2%
British0.1%
Canadian0.1%
Czech0.1%
Hungarian0.1%
Austrian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
Arab0.1%
+ Show More

Reading Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyBerks County
Standard Zip Codes19601, 19604, 19602, 19611, 19606, 19607, 19610, 19609, 19605, 19608
P.O. Box Zip Codes19603, 19612
Phone Area Codes4,84,610, 484
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude40.36
Approximate Longitude-75.94

Reading Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationREADING 4 NNW
Distance5.6 miles
Jan Temp21 to 38 F
Apr Temp40 to 62 F
Jul Temp65 to 85 F
Oct Temp43 to 65 F
Annual Precip44.8 inches
StationHOPEWELL MORGANTOWN
Distance11.9 miles
Jan Temp20 to 37 F
Apr Temp39 to 60 F
Jul Temp62 to 83 F
Oct Temp42 to 64 F
Annual Precip48 inches
StationHAMBURG
Distance15.1 miles
Jan Temp18 to 36 F
Apr Temp39 to 61 F
Jul Temp63 to 84 F
Oct Temp41 to 63 F
Annual Precip46.6 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Kenhorst2,870$67,222
Mount Penn3,134$55,536
Shillington5,300$68,141
West Reading4,215$48,966
Wyomissing10,452$111,299

Reading Public Libraries

Exeter Community Library
4569 PRESTWICK DRIVE
Reading, Pennsylvania
(610) 406-9431
Reading Public Library
100 S. 5TH STREET
Reading, Pennsylvania
(610) 655-6350

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More Information for Librarians

Reading Hospitals

Reading Hospital & Medical Center
(Non-profit)
Po Box 16052 Sixth Ave & Spruce St
(610) 988-8000
Healthsouth Reading Rehabilitation Hospital
(Proprietary)
1623 Morgantown Road
(610) 796-6000
Haven Behavioral Health Of Eastern Pennsylvania
(Proprietary)
145 North 6th Street
(610) 406-4340
St Joseph Medical Center
(Non-profit)
2500 Bernville Road
(610) 378-2000
St Joseph Medical Center-main
2500 Bernville Rd
(610) 378-2000

Reading Public Schools

Glenside El Sch
500 Lackawanna St
ZIP: 19601
(610) 371-5913
Primary
Total Enrollment 427
I-lead Charter School
401 Penn Street
ZIP: 19601
(610) 624-3712
High
Total Enrollment 516
Lauers Park El Sch
251 N 2nd St
ZIP: 19601
(610) 371-5960
Primary
Total Enrollment 803
Northwest El Sch
820 Clinton Street
ZIP: 19601
(610) 371-5904
Primary
Total Enrollment 769
Northwest Ms
1000 N Front St
ZIP: 19601
(610) 371-5772
Middle
Total Enrollment 653
Riverside El Sch
1400 Centre Avenue
ZIP: 19601
(610) 371-5896
Primary
Total Enrollment 873
Tenth & Penn El Sch
955 Penn St
ZIP: 19601
(610) 320-6994
Primary
Total Enrollment 576
Amanda E Stout El Sch
321 S 10th St
ZIP: 19602
(610) 371-5815
Primary
Total Enrollment 901
Sixteenth & Haak El Sch
1601 Haak St
ZIP: 19602
(610) 371-5760
Primary
Total Enrollment 710
Southern Ms
931 Chestnut St
ZIP: 19602
(610) 371-5803
Middle
Total Enrollment 573
Southwest Ms
300 Chestnut St
ZIP: 19602
(610) 371-5934
Middle
Total Enrollment 459
Tyson-schoener El Sch
315 S 5th St
ZIP: 19602
(610) 371-5951
Primary
Total Enrollment 671
Northeast Ms
1216 N 13th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5774
Middle
Total Enrollment 819
Reading Intermediate Hs
215 North 12th St
ZIP: 19604
(484) 258-7365
Other
Total Enrollment 2321
Reading Muhlenberg Ctc
2615 Warren Road
ZIP: 19604
(610) 921-7300
High
Reading Shs
801 N 13th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5705
High
Total Enrollment 3044
Tenth & Green El Sch
400 N 10th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5756
Primary
Total Enrollment 740
Thirteenth & Green El Sch
501 N 13th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5766
Primary
Total Enrollment 632
Thirteenth & Union El Sch
1600 N 13th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5795
Primary
Total Enrollment 938
Twelfth & Marion El Sch
1200 N 12th St
ZIP: 19604
(610) 371-5788
Primary
Total Enrollment 654
Muhlenberg El Ctr
610 Sharp Avenue
ZIP: 19605
(610) 921-8028
Primary
Total Enrollment 1231
Antietam Ms/hs
100 Antietam Rd
ZIP: 19606
(610) 779-3545
High
Total Enrollment 465
Exeter Twp Jhs
151 E 39th St
ZIP: 19606
(610) 779-3320
Middle
Total Enrollment 652
Exeter Twp Shs
201 E 37th St
ZIP: 19606
(610) 779-3060
High
Total Enrollment 1388
Jacksonwald El Sch
100 Church Lane
ZIP: 19606
(610) 779-1820
Primary
Total Enrollment 338
Lorane El Sch
699 Rittenhouse Dr
ZIP: 19606
(610) 582-8608
Primary
Total Enrollment 459
Mt Penn Primary Ctr
201 North 25th Street
ZIP: 19606
(610) 370-2898
Primary
Total Enrollment 183
Owatin Creek El Sch
5000 Boyertown Pike
ZIP: 19606
(610) 406-4580
Primary
Total Enrollment 573
Reiffton Sch
4355 Dunham Drive
ZIP: 19606
(610) 779-7640
Middle
Total Enrollment 637
Millmont El Sch
400 Summit Avenue
ZIP: 19611
(610) 371-5853
Primary
Total Enrollment 643

Reading Private Schools

Chor Day Academy
1010 Centre Ave
ZIP: 19601
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 31
St Margaret School
235 Spring St
ZIP: 19601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 188
Cabrini Academy Early Learning Center
240 Franklin St
ZIP: 19602
Elementary
Total Enrollment 5
Fairview Christian School
410 S 14th St
ZIP: 19602
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 163
Albright Learning Center
3040 Kutztown Rd
ZIP: 19605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 11
Callowhill Nursery School & Kindergarten
2521 River Rd
ZIP: 19605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 18
Hildebrandt Learning Center
2390 Bernville Rd
ZIP: 19605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 8
Holy Guardian Angels Regional School
3125 Kutztown Rd
ZIP: 19605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 382
Kindercare Learning Center
23 Gibraltar Rd
ZIP: 19606
Elementary
Total Enrollment 9
St Catharine Of Siena School
2330 Perkiomen Ave
ZIP: 19606
Elementary
Total Enrollment 268
Flying Hills Preschool
11 Village Center Dr
ZIP: 19607
Elementary
Total Enrollment 10
Opportunities School
700 Lancaster Ave Ste 2
ZIP: 19607
Elementary
Total Enrollment 33
Reading Sda Jr Academy
309 N Kenhorst Blvd
ZIP: 19607
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 69
Alvernia Montessori School
211 Grace St
ZIP: 19611
Elementary
Total Enrollment 16
Northwestern Human Services
641 Gregg Ave
ZIP: 19611
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 32
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