Reading, Pennsylvania

Template:US City infobox 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.

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 pagoda." At present there are civic efforts in progress to restore it to its original condition, 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. 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, and an East Coast Hockey League ice hockey team, the Reading Royals. The Phillies play in the city's 9,000-seat FirstEnergy Stadium and the Royals in the 7,000-seat Sovereign Center. It is also the home of Reading Regional Airport (General Carl A. Spaatz Field) and the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum.

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 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. He is pledged to a diminution of crime and recently presided at a prayer breakfast directed largely toward that end.

History

In 1743, Richard and Thomas Penn (sons of William Penn, for whom 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" (The Amazing Nose) 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 just-opened Walmart on the west side of the Schuylkill will, in any event, contribute to the economic redefinition of Greater Reading.

Census 2000 shows Reading is not a growing city like other declining Pennsylvania cities. Much of the loss is accountable to population shift and poor schools in the city. 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. A new police chief has been appointed (2006) in the hope of increased community safety.

For a clearer sense of today's transitional Reading, a long walk from the Penn Street Bridge up to City Park would be instructive, though not recommended after dark.

Historic Buildings

File:Abraham lincoln hotel.jpg File:Reading Mlobby.jpg

The Abraham Lincoln Hotel buildt in 1930 and recently restored, this 18 story building stands out amoung 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 accomodates 104 guest rooms. Occupying the lower floors are found assisted living apartments for senior residences.

File:Pagoda reading pa.jpg

Reading's Pagoda seen from Skyline Drive

The Pagoda...

Widow Finney's Cabin...

Geography

Reading is located at 40°20'30" North, 75°55'35" West (40.341692, -75.926301)Template:GR. This is in the southeast of Pennsylvania, roughly 93 km (58 miles) 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 26.1 km² (10.1 mi²). 25.4 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.39% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 81,207 people, 30,113 households, and 18,429 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,192.9/km² (8,270.2/mi²). There were 34,314 housing units at an average density of 1,349.2/km² (3,494.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.18% White, 37.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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.

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.

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, the land area of Berks County is 435 square miles. 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 is located in Bern Township.

External links

• City of Reading (official website)