Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading: The fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania. It is located on the Schuylkill River in eastern Pennsylvania. Reading is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the Reading Public Museum and the Reading Central Railroad.
About
Reading is a city located in the county of Berks in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Its population at the 2010 census was 88,082 and a population density of 3,357 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 88,217 inhabitants.
The city was created 277 years ago in 1747.
Reading is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It was founded in 1748 and grew as a major railroad and manufacturing hub in the 19th century.
Key Facts About Reading
Population: Approximately 88,000 as of 2019
Economy: Major employers in Reading include Penske Truck Leasing, Carpenter Technology, and Reading Health System. Manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation are key industries.
Geography: Reading lies along the Schuylkill River in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region. It encompasses 10 square miles of land area.
Things to Do in Reading
Some top attractions and activities in the Reading area include:
- Reading Public Museum - Museum with exhibits covering science, industry, anthropology and local history.
- Pagoda - Iconic 7-story pagoda overlooking the city with views from the top.
- Reading Fightin Phils - Minor league baseball team playing at FirstEnergy Stadium.
- Reading Terminal Market - Historic farmer's market with over 80 vendors selling produce, meats, baked goods and more.
- GoggleWorks Center for the Arts - Creative arts center located in a former factory, featuring studios, galleries and workshops.
In summary, Reading is an industrial Pennsylvania city with a revitalized downtown focused on the arts, culture, sports and the Schuylkill River heritage.
Quick Facts about Reading
| Population : | 88,217 (2020) |
| Country : | United States of America |
| State : | Pennsylvania (United States) |
| County : | Berks County |
| Area : | 26.24 km2 |
| Official name : | Reading |
| Official language : | English |
| Altitude : | 305 feet / 93 meters |
| Capital city : | Reading is capital of Berks County |
| Establishment : | January 01, 1748 (277 years ago) |
| Time Zone : | Eastern Time Zone |
| Local time : | 21:06:38 (23rd June 2025) |
| Postal code : | 19601 |
| Density : | 3,363 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth : | 0.15% (2010-2020) |
Geography
Reading is located at 40°20'8"N 75°55'37"W (40.3356500, -75.9268700).
Reading map
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- Official Website
Official website of Reading
Demographics
The population of Reading increased by 0.15% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
| 2010 | 88,082 | - | census |
| 2011 | 88,195 | 0.13% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 88,141 | -0.06% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 88,264 | 0.14% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 88,171 | -0.11% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 88,047 | -0.14% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 88,128 | 0.09% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 88,134 | 0.01% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 88,542 | 0.46% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 88,375 | -0.19% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 88,217 | -0.18% | estimation process |
Demographic Facts
| Estimated population as of July 1, 2019 : | 26,947 |
| Based on demographic estimates as of April 1, 2010 : | 25,643 |
| Based on demographic estimates as of 1 April 2010 : | 5.1% |
| April 1, 2020 Population : | 25,441 |
| April 1, 2010 Population : | 25,719 |
| People under 5 years old, percentage : | 5.9% |
| People under 18 years old, percentage : | 23.2% |
| People over 65 (%) : | 17.9% |
| Female persons, % : | 51.2% |
| White only, percent : | 83.0% |
| Black or African American alone, percent : | 11.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native only, % : | 0.3% |
| Asians alone % : | 0.2% |
| Only Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, % : | 0.2% |
| % of people who have participated in two or more races : | 4.0% |
| % of Hispanic or Latino : | 1.8% |
| White people, not Hispanic or Latino people, make up the majority of the population. : | 81.9% |
| 2015-2019 Veterans : | 1,965 |
| Percentage of foreign-born people, 2015-2019 : | 1.3% |
| Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : | 58.7% |
Economic Facts
| Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : | 58.7% |
| Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : | $100,500 |
| From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : | $1,028 |
| Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : | $397 |
| 2015-2019 median gross rent : | $757 |
| 2015-2019 Households : | 10,909 |
| Population per household, 2015-2019 : | 2.34 |
| Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : | 84.6% |
| Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : | 2.6% |
| Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : | 87.3% |
| Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : | 81.1% |
| Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : | 88.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : | 18.5% |
| Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : | 15.7% |
| Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : | 5.1% |
| Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 58.4% |
| Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 55.1% |
| Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : | 42,727 |
| Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : | 142,171 |
| Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : | 100,117 |
| 2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : | 331,689 |
| 2012 total retail sales per capita : | $12,785 |
| Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : | 22.7 |
| 2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : | $45,812 |
| Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : | $24,297 |
| Percentage of people living in poverty : | 20.0% |
| Total number of businesses in 2012 : | 1,595 |
| Men-owned businesses in 2012 : | 1,006 |
| Women-owned businesses in 2012 : | 473 |
| Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : | 149 |
| Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : | 1,355 |
| Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : | 286 |
| Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : | 1,175 |
| 2010 population per square mile : | 1,936.5 |
| 2010 land area in square miles : | 13.28 |
Best Things to Do in Reading
1 Reading Pagoda
98 Duryea Dr, Reading, PA 19602, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ 🔗 Url
2 Museum Arboretum
1218 Parkside Dr S, Reading, PA 19611, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16103715850 🔗 Url
3 Gring's Mill Recreation Area
2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading, PA 19610, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16103728939 🔗 Url
4 GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
201 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16103744600 🔗 Url
5 Mid Atlantic Air Museum
1054 Arnold Rd, Reading, PA 19605, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16103727333 🔗 Url
Where ot Eat in Reading
1 Chipotle Mexican Grill
2733 Papermill Rd Ste X5, Reading, PA 19610, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +14847721022 🔗 Url
2 Dunkin'
1905 N 5th St, Reading, PA 19605, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16103763515 🔗 Url
3 KFC
241 Lancaster Pike West, Reading, PA 19607, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16107773599 🔗 Url
4 Friendly's
1535 Lancaster Ave, Reading, PA 19607, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +16107771980 🔗 Url
5 Dunkin'
645 Penn St, Reading, PA 19601, United States ➦ Show Map
☎ +14843342509 🔗 Url
Other Places in Reading
1 City of Reading
815 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 ➦ Show Map
☎ +18777273234 🔗 Url
2 Reading City Council
815 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 ➦ Show Map
☎ +16106556205 🔗 Url
3 Reading City Clerk
815 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 ➦ Show Map
☎ +16106556204 🔗 Url
4 City Hall
107 N 8th St, Reading, PA 19601 ➦ Show Map
☎ 🔗 Url
5 CITY HALL
815 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 ➦ Show Map
☎ +18777273234 🔗 Url
People born in Reading (200)
People born in Reading, including novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic John Updike, poet Wallace Stevens, racecar driver Ernie McCoy, .
List
- Meg Foster (American actress) she was born in 10/05/1948
- Ray Dennis Steckler (actor, director, producer, cinematographer (1938-2009)) he was born in 25/01/1938
- Roy Smeck (American virtuoso guitarist, banjoist and ukulele player) he was born in 06/02/1900
- Chad Hurley (American businessman, co-founder of YouTube) he was born in 24/01/1977
- Allison Baver (Short-track speed skater) she was born in 11/08/1980
- Megan Gallagher (American actress) she was born in 06/02/1960
- Keith Haring (American artist and social activist (1958-1990)) he was born in 04/05/1958
- Richie Kotzen (American guitarist, singer, and songwriter) he was born in 03/02/1970
- Stu Jackson (American basketball player, coach, executive) he was born in 11/12/1955
- Charles M. Rick (American scientist (1915-2002)) he was born in 30/04/1915
- Arthur Schutt (American pianist) he was born in 21/11/1902
- John Barrasso (United States Senator from Wyoming) he was born in 21/07/1952
- Betsy King (professional golfer) she was born in 13/08/1955
- Lenny Moore (Player of American football) he was born in 25/11/1933
- Kristy Kowal (American swimmer, Olympic silver medalist, world champion, former world record-holder) she was born in 09/10/1978
- Corey Hertzog (American soccer player) he was born in 01/08/1990
- Danny Seo (American environmentalist) he was born in 22/04/1977
- Coit Albertson (silent film actor (1880-1953)) he was born in 14/10/1880
Schools in Reading
College & universities near Reading, PA
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 215585 | Reading Area Community College | Reading (PA) | 19602 |
| 490258 | American Barber Academy | Reading (PA) | 19611-2040 |
| 215594 | Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading (PA) | 19611 |
| 210571 | Albright College | Reading (PA) | 19612-5234 |
| 210775 | Alvernia University | Reading (PA) | 19607-1799 |
Stations (25)
Amtrak & bus stations near Reading, PA
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| COT | Coatesville | Third Ave. and Fleetwood St. | RAIL |
| DOW | Downingtown | West Lancaster Ave. and Stuart Ave. | RAIL |
| PAR | Parkesburg | W. First and S. Culvert Streets | RAIL |
| EXT | Exton | 425 Walkertown Road | RAIL |
| LNC | Lancaster station | 53 McGovern Avenue | RAIL |
Post offices near Reading
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Reading Post Office | Reading (PA) | 19601 |
| Wyomissing Post Office | Reading (PA) | 19610 |
| Reading Post Office | Reading (PA) | 19612 |
| Shillington Post Office | Reading (PA) | 19607 |
| Reading Station Post Office | Reading (PA) | 19606 |
Other places with the same name (6)
- Reading , Massachusetts town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States with a population of 25,535 people.
- Reading , Ohio city in Ohio, United States with a population of 10,204 people.
- Reading , Illinois township in Livingston County, Illinois with a population of 1,860 people.
- Reading , Michigan city in Michigan, United States with a population of 1,723 people.
- Reading , Kansas city in Kansas, United States with a population of 248 people.
Other cities in Berks County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Berks County , PA. (more)
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg | 20,331 | Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Bloomsburg | 13,749 | Town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania |
| Wyomissing | 10,605 | City in Pennsylvania, United States of America |
| Maxatawny | 7,202 | Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Longswamp | 5,777 | Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Shillington | 5,300 | Village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, UK |
| Colebrookdale | 5,136 | Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Birdsboro | 5,128 | Borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Kutztown | 5,070 | City in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States of America |
| Whitfield | 4,733 | Town in Pennsylvania, USA |
| Hamburg | 4,445 | Borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| West Reading | 4,294 | Borough in Pennsylvania, United States |
| Lorane | 4,236 | Census designated place |
| Reiffton | 4,178 | Census designated place |
| Sinking Spring | 4,095 | Borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Fleetwood | 4,095 | Borough of Pennsylvania |
Distance to Other Cities
Reading distances to largest Pennsylvania cities
