Reading, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia : R : RE : REA : Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading (pronounced redd'-ing) is the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania. In the 2000 census, the city had a population of 81,207, making it the fifth largest in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Erie.
It is the birthplace of author John Updike.
Overview
Overlooking the city on Mount Penn is Reading's symbol, a photogenic Japanese pagoda visible from everywhere in town and referred to familiarly as the City of Reading Pagoda.
At present there are civic efforts in progress to restore it to its original condition to celebrate it's 100th anniversary in 2008, as part of Reading's program of urban renewal. The classic view of the structure is from the Penn Street Bridge looking east as one enters the city; Reading has always been renowned for its physical setting, and this is one of the most appealing urban vistas in the state. At present (July 2006), the vista is being opened up by the harvesting of scrub tree growth at the base of the pagoda, providing an expansive view of the city with a soon to be operational coffee shop and gift shop to enhance the experience. At the present time, visitors can ascend the steps to the top, and purchase gifts at the Pagoda/Skyline shop on the 4th floor, only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. This schedule is expected to expand in the near future.
Duryea Drive, which ascends Mount Penn in a series of sharp bends, was a testing place for early automobiles, and, arriving at the top, the motorist has earned an impressive three-direction view of the city spread out below and of Neversink Mountain to the south.
The city once was famous for the Reading Railroad, which brought anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania Coal Regions up north. The railroad figures as a property in the English-language version of the Monopoly board game: One may draw a certain card and "take a ride on the Reading." The city is also well known for its introduction of outlet shopping as a tourist industry, styling itself "The Original Outlet Capital of the World." Of late, however, it is trying to diversify its image.
Reading has a Double-A Eastern League baseball team, the Reading Phillies, an East Coast Hockey League ice hockey team, the Reading Royals, and an American Indoor Football League team, the Reading Express. The Phillies play in the city's 9,000-seat FirstEnergy Stadium, while the Royals and Express play in the 7,000-seat Sovereign Center. Among the well-known athletes native to the Reading area are Brooklyn Dodger outfielder Carl Furillo, "the Reading Rifle," and Baltimore Colts running back Lenny Moore.
Four institutions of higher learning are located in Reading: Albright College, Alvernia College, Penn State Berks, and Reading Area Community College. The city's symphony orchestra is worth hearing, and its museum and Goggleworks art gallery worth seeing. One of the twentieth century's best poets, Wallace Stevens, was born in Reading on October 2, 1879, and John Philip Sousa, the March King, died there March 6, 1932.
The current mayor, Tom McMahon, was elected in November 2003.
History
In 1743, Richard and Thomas Penn (sons of William Penn, for whose father Pennsylvania is named) planned the town of Reading. The namesake of Reading, England, it was established in 1748. Upon the creation of Berks County in 1752 the town became the county seat.During the French and Indian War, Reading was a military base for a chain of forts along the Blue Mountains. Meanwhile the region was being settled by emigrants from southern and western Germany.
By the time of the American Revolution, the area's iron industry had a total production which exceeded England's, an output that would help supply George Washington's troops with cannons, rifles, and ammunition in the Revolutionary War. During the early period of the conflict, Reading was a depot again for military supply. Hessian prisoners from the battle of Trenton were also detained here.
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R) was incorporated in 1833. For the following century and a quarter, Reading was still largely a Pennsylvania Dutch city, with many inhabitants speaking a dialect of German and programs in the language being broadcast regularly on commercial radio by "Die Wunnernaus" (a Pennsylvania Dutch term for a busybody) and other colorful personalities. A weekly program of polkas, announced in Polish, could also be heard. But all this was to change in the 1960s.
Reading saw continuous growth until the 1930s, when the population reached nearly 120,000. From the 1940s to the 1970s, however, the city saw a sharp downturn in prosperity, largely owing to the decline of the heavy industry and railroads on which Reading had been built and a general flight to the suburbs. Pomeroy's and Whitner's department stores, much-loved commercial institutions, had to close, casualties of altered times. As boarded-up storefronts replaced unique locally-owned shops, mainstreet Reading took on the desolate feeling of a ghost town.
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused extensive flooding in the city, not the first time the lower precincts of Reading were inundated by the Schuylkill River. Old railroad-and-textile, beer-and-pretzel Reading survived the flood, but not the age in which it occurred: Pomeroy's and Whitner's and all the fine shops never came back.
In the early 1970s, abandoned textile mills just outside Reading--the industry went south--were developed to create the VF Outlet Village, the first outlet mall in the United States. The mall became so successful that it drew millions of tourists to Reading every year and caused countless imitators to sprout up around the country. Accordingly, Reading is still known to many as "The Original Outlet Capital of the World," the constraints of which it is now trying to free itself. A planned Wal-Mart Supercenter on the west side of the Schuylkill will, in any event, contribute to the economic redefinition of Greater Reading.
Census 2000 shows Reading's population decline beginning to turn around, primarily thanks to Hispanic migrants from New York and suburban sprawl connecting the city to the Philadelphia suburbs. Serious challenges remain: In 2003, Reading's crime index was 638.3, higher than Philadelphia's and far above the national urban average of 329.7. In the same year Reading ranked 30th in murders among all the cities in America, with 19.8 per 100,000 population. As of 2006, a new police chief has been appointed in the hope of increased community safety.
Historic Buildings
The Abraham Lincoln Hotel was built in 1930 and recently restored. This 18 story building stands out among downtown Reading's historic buildings. Named for the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln, owing to Reading's role in his ancestry. Abraham Lincoln, grandfather and namesake of the president was born and resided with his family in Berks County for twenty one years before emigrating west. The hotel also holds the grim distiction of being the site of John Philip Sousa's death, on March 6, 1932 at the age of 77, after conducting a rehearsal of the [Ringgold Band]. The hotel currently is operated under the name "[The Abraham Lincoln a Wyndham Historic Hotel]" and accommodates 104 guest rooms. Occupying the lower floors are assisted living apartments for senior residents.
Geography
Reading is located at 40°20'30" North, 75°55'35" West (40.341692, -75.926301)[Geographic references#1GR1]. This is in the southeast of Pennsylvania, roughly 58 miles (93 km) northwest of Philadelphia. The city is traditionally bounded on the west by the Schuylkill River, on the east by Mount Penn, and on the south by Neversink Mountain.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.1 km²)— 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 mi² (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.39% water.
Reading has a number of named neighborhoods, including
- Center City/Downtown: vicinity of 5th and Penn Streets
- Penn's Common Historic District: vicinity of 10th and Penn Streets
- College Heights: Oak Lane to 11th Street, Marion Street to the City Line Street (which straddles the Muhlenberg Township line)
- Southeast: Bingaman/Chestnut Streets to South Street, railroad tracks (Traditionally known as 7th Street) to 13th Street
- Outlet Area: 8th to 12th Streets, Spring to Oley Streets
- Centre Park Historic District, along Centre Avenue (Also known as Route 61)
- Glenside, Schuylkill Avenue (Also known as Route 183), from the Schuylkill Avenue Bridge to the Bern Township Line, from Carpenter Technologies and the Glenside Homes housing development to Stonecliff Park
- North Riverside, from the old Dana Yards to the Goggleworks
- Millmont, Southwest section of the city bounded by the Schuylkill River to the east, the Cumru Township line to the south and west, and Lancaster Avenue to the North
- Oakbrook, formerly the designation given to the Oakbrook Homes housing development, it now describes the Southwest section of the city bounded to the east by the Schuylkill River, to the north by West Reading and Wyomissing Boroughs, to the west by Cumru Township and Wyomissing Borough, and to the South by Lancaster Avenue
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 81,207 people, 30,113 households, and 18,429 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,270.2 persons per square mile (3,192.9/km²). There were 34,314 housing units at an average density of 3,494.6 houses per square mile (1,349.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.18% White, 12.25% African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 22.32% from other races, and 4.18% from two or more races. 37.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 30,113 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,698, and the median income for a family was $31,067. Males had a median income of $28,114 versus $21,993 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,086. 26.1% of the population and 22.3% of families were below the poverty line. 36.5% of those under the age of 18 and 15.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Demographic change
In recent years, Reading, like many of its peers in the Northeastern United States, has seen an influx in Hispanic immigration and migration as gentrification has made traditional points of entry in the New York metropolitan area prohibitively expensive. In 2000, 23.46% of Reading residents were of Puerto Rican ancestry. There are also sizable numbers of Dominican Americans and Mexican Americans. In 2003, the United States Department of Justice filed suit against Berks County for failing to provide this influx of Spanish-speaking residents with voting equipment and information, as well as alleging that pollworkers had harassed Hispanic voters.[link]
In 2000, the Reading metropolitan statistical area was the second most segregated place for Hispanics in the United States, behind only the Lawrence, Massachusetts area. Only 2.1% of the rest of Berks County is Hispanic or Latino, while this ethnic group is highly concentrated in certain city neighborhoods.[link]
Reading is also seeing some migration of college-educated whites fleeing high housing costs in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, although this number of dwarfed by the number settling in the city's eastern suburbs such as Exeter Township, closer to the border with Montgomery County.
Greater Reading Area
The Greater Reading Area (Reading and its outlying suburbs) are generally agreed to be the population of Berks County (estimated 391,640 in 2004). While the land area of Reading itself is 10 square miles (26 km²), the land area of Berks County is 435 square miles (1,127 km²). Some of the more immediate suburbs of Reading are the boroughs of West Reading, Wyomissing, Shillington, Sinking Spring, Mt. Penn, St. Lawrence, Laureldale, and Mohnton and the townships of Spring, Cumru, Muhlenberg, Bern, and Lower Alsace and other townships. Reading Area Regional Airport (Carl A. Spaatz Field) is located in Bern Township.Between 1990 and 2000, the Reading area's population grew by 11%, almost three times the state average. Much of the growth has taken the form of suburban sprawl, and because job growth has not kept up with population growth, many Reading area residents now commute to the Montgomery County suburbs of Philadelphia.
Sports
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Logo |
| Reading Phillies | Baseball | Eastern League; Southern Division | FirstEnergy Stadium | 
|
| Reading Royals | Ice Hockey | ECHL; Eastern Conference | Sovereign Center | 
|
| Reading Express | Indoor football | American Indoor Football League; Northern Conference | Sovereign Center | 
|
| Reading Rage | Soccer | USL Premier Development League''' | Don Thomas Stadium | 
|
External links
- [City of Reading], official website
- ["Back to Prosperity: A Profile of the Reading Area,"] Brookings Institution Report on recommendations for revitalization of cities in Pennsylvania
- [USGS Data]
- [Berks Economic Partnership], Economic Development Agency which is the umbrella agency for the Greater Reading Economic Development Effort. Site selectors are encouraged to use this link for details on demographics, incentive programs and opportunities for commercial and industrial ventures.
- [Riverplace Development Corporation], Schuylkill River Development. This organization is charged with developing and implementing plans for projects along the Schuylkill River in the Greater Reading area, including amphitheatres, boardwalks, restaurants, bike and hiking trails.
- [Initiative for a Competitive Greater Reading] The ICGR has identified clusters of development opportunity, organized a branding campaign and is working to make a cohesive marketing plan for the corridor of Penn Ave in Wyomissing and West Reading, linking Penn Street in the city of Reading.
- [Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry]
- [Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau]
- [Goggle Works Center for the Arts] The Goggle Works is an adaptive reuse of two older industrial buildings, previously the Willson Safety Products Company, which made goggles and other protective equipment. The first of two buildings houses 34 producing artist studios, a ceramics study, hot and cold glass shops, coffee shop, movie theatre, dance studios, geneological research center, and is the headquarters for several arts organizations. There is an open house on the second Sunday of every month from 11 am to 4 pm with special events planned. The public is invited to the Center at any time during operating hours. Admission is free.
- [Reading Public Museum]One of the finest museums of its kind in Pennsylvania. Housing a wide collection of art and artifacts, the museum is constantly changing its exhibits.
- [Reading Symphony Orchestra]The RSO is widely regarded as one of the finest mid-size city orchestras on the east coast. During the 2006-2007 season, the orchestra will be auditioning (with the help of the audience) for a new music director, with some outstanding guest conductors.
- [Reading Public Library]
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