Reading, Pennsylvania: Difference between revisions
m r2.7.3) (Robot: Adding sr:Рединг (Пенсилванија) |
→History: added Susanna Cox |
||
Line 94: | Line 94: | ||
In 1743, Richard and Thomas Penn (sons of [[William Penn]] the founder of Pennsylvania, and grandsons of [[Sir William Penn]] for whom Pennsylvania is named) planned the town of Reading with [[Conrad Weiser]]. Taking its name from the town of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] in England in honor of their home, it was established in 1748. Upon the creation of Berks County in 1752 the town became the county seat. |
In 1743, Richard and Thomas Penn (sons of [[William Penn]] the founder of Pennsylvania, and grandsons of [[Sir William Penn]] for whom Pennsylvania is named) planned the town of Reading with [[Conrad Weiser]]. Taking its name from the town of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] in England in honor of their home, it was established in 1748. Upon the creation of Berks County in 1752 the town became the county seat. |
||
[[Susanna Cox]] was tried and convicted for infanticide in Reading in 1809. Her case attracted tremendous sympathy and 20,000 viewers. As a result of her trial, laws were changed, and she was the last woman executed in the state of Pennsylvania. |
|||
During the [[French and Indian War]], Reading was a military base for a chain of forts along the [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]]. Meanwhile the region was being settled by emigrants from southern and western [[Germany]]. The Pennsylvanian German dialect was spoken in Reading well into the 1950s and later. |
During the [[French and Indian War]], Reading was a military base for a chain of forts along the [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]]. Meanwhile the region was being settled by emigrants from southern and western [[Germany]]. The Pennsylvanian German dialect was spoken in Reading well into the 1950s and later. |
Revision as of 03:44, 12 January 2013
![]() | This article's lead section may be too long. (September 2012) |
Reading | |
---|---|
City | |
![]() View of Downtown Reading | |
![]() Reading's location in Berks County | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Berks |
Founded | 1748 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Vaughn Spencer (D) |
Area | |
• City | 10.1 sq mi (26.2 km2) |
• Land | 9.8 sq mi (25.4 km2) |
• Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
Elevation | 305 ft (93 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• City | 88,082 |
• Density | 8,700/sq mi (3,400/km2) |
• Metro | 411,442 |
Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP Codes | 19601-19612, 19640 |
Area code(s) | 610, 484 |
Website | Official website |
Reading (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing) is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County.Template:GR Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,[1] and the sixth most-populous municipality.[2][3] According to the 2010 census, Reading has the highest share of citizens living in poverty in the nation.[4]
Overlooking the city on Mount Penn is Reading's symbol, a Japanese-style pagoda visible from almost everywhere in town and referred to locally as "The Pagoda". Built in 1908 as a hotel and restaurant, it remains a popular tourist attraction.
Another fixture to Reading's skyline is the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower; one mile from the Pagoda on Skyline Drive. Built in 1939 for fire department and forestry observation, the tower is 120 feet tall, and 950 feet elevation above the intersection of fifth and Penn Streets. From the top of the tower is a 60 mile panoramic view.
Duryea Drive, which ascends Mount Penn in a series of switchbacks, was a testing place for early automobiles and was named for Charles Duryea. The Blue Mountain Region Sports Car Club of America hosts the Duryea Hill Climb, the longest in the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association series, which follows the same route the automaker used to test his cars.[5]
The city lent its name to the now-defunct Reading Railroad, which brought anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania Coal Region to cities along the Schuylkill River. The railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic United States version of the Monopoly board game. Reading was one of the first localities where outlet shopping became a tourist industry. It has been known as "The Pretzel City" because of numerous local pretzel bakeries. Currently, Bachman, Dieffenbach, and Unique Pretzel bakeries call the Reading area home.
Reading is also known for the Reading Fightin Phils, minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies who play at Reading Metropolitan Stadium. Notable alumni are Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins.
The city has been the residence of numerous professional athletes. Among these native to Reading are Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Carl Furillo, Baltimore Colts running back Lenny Moore, and Philadelphia 76ers forward Donyell Marshall.
Until the mid 1990s, Reading was the home of Joe's Restaurant, a little known eatery owned by Joe Czarnecki. His passion for fine wine and mushroom delicacies prompted Czarnecki to create a definitive cook book, "Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery." His cook book transformed the Joe's Restaurant into a world renown institution of fine dining. It was in 1996, after Joe's passing, the family moved the restaurant to the Palmer House in Dayton, Oregon.
The open-wheel racing portion of Penske Racing had been based in Reading, Pennsylvania since 1973 with the cars, during the F1 and CART era, being constructed in Poole, Dorset, England as well as being the base for the F1 team. On October 31, 2005, Penske Racing announced after the 2006 IRL season, they would consolidate IRL and NASCAR operations at the team's Mooresville, North Carolina facility; with the flooding in Pennsylvania in 2006, the team's operations were moved to Mooresville earlier than expected.[6] Penske Truck Leasing is still based in Reading[7]
The book and movie Rabbit, Run and the other three novels of the Rabbit series by John Updike were set in fictionalized versions of Reading and nearby Shillington, called Brewer and Olinger respectively. Updike was born in Reading and lived in nearby Shillington until he was thirteen.
Six institutions of higher education serve the Reading area. The city's cultural institutions include the Reading Symphony Orchestra and its education project the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra, the GoggleWorks Art Gallery, the Reading Public Museum and the Historical Society of Berks County.
Reading is the birthplace of graphic artist Jim Steranko, poet Wallace Stevens, Guitar Virtuoso Richie Kotzen and George Baer Hiester. Marching Band Composer and writer John Philip Sousa, the March King, died in Reading's Abraham Lincoln Hotel in 1932. Keith Haring,[8] NFL quarterbacks Chad Henne, Kerry Collins, wide receiver Steve Kreider and country singer Taylor Swift are not from the City of Reading, but surrounding towns in Berks County.
Filmmakers Gary Adelstein, Costa Mantis, and Jerry Orr's created Reading 1974: Portrait of a City, relying heavily on montage, is a cultural time capsule.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Reading_Pennsylvania.jpg/250px-Reading_Pennsylvania.jpg)
In 1743, Richard and Thomas Penn (sons of William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania, and grandsons of Sir William Penn for whom Pennsylvania is named) planned the town of Reading with Conrad Weiser. Taking its name from the town of Reading in England in honor of their home, it was established in 1748. Upon the creation of Berks County in 1752 the town became the county seat.
Susanna Cox was tried and convicted for infanticide in Reading in 1809. Her case attracted tremendous sympathy and 20,000 viewers. As a result of her trial, laws were changed, and she was the last woman executed in the state of Pennsylvania.
During the French and Indian War, Reading was a military base for a chain of forts along the Blue Mountain. Meanwhile the region was being settled by emigrants from southern and western Germany. The Pennsylvanian German dialect was spoken in Reading well into the 1950s and later.
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. During the Long Depression following the Panic of 1873, a statewide railroad strike in 1877 over delayed wages led to a violent protest and clash with the National Guard in which six Reading men were killed.[9] After over a century of prosperity, the Reading Company was forced to file for bankruptcy protection in 1971. The bankruptcy was a result of dwindling coal shipping revenues and strict government regulations that denied railroads the ability to set competitive prices, required high taxes, and forced the railroads to continue to operate money-losing passenger service lines. On April 1, 1976, the Reading Company sold its current railroad interests to the newly formed Consolidated Railroad Corporation (Conrail).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Pagoda_Reading_PA_USA.jpg/250px-Pagoda_Reading_PA_USA.jpg)
Early in the 20th century, the city participated in the burgeoning automobile and motorcycle industry, hosting the pioneer brass era companies, Daniels, Duryea and Reading-Standard.[10]
In 1914, one the anchors of the Battleship Maine was delivered from the Washington Navy Yard to City Park, off of Perkiomen Avenue. The anchor was dedicated during a ceremony presided over by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was then assistant secretary of the navy.
Reading was home to several movie and theater palaces in the early 20th Century. The Astor, Embassy, Loew's Colonial, and Rajah Shrine Theater were grand monuments of architecture and entertainment. Today, after depression, recession, and urban renewal, the Rajah is the only to remain. The Astor Theater was demolished in 1998 to make way for The Sovereign Center. Certain steps were taken to retain mementos of the Astor; Including its ornate Art Deco chandelier and gates. These are on display and in use inside the arena corridors, allowing insight into the ambiance of the former movie house. In 2000, the Rajah was purchased from the Shriners. After a much needed restoration, it was renamed the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Reading experienced continuous growth until the 1930s, when its 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 national trend of urban decline.
One of the city's grandest landmarks, Stokesay Castle, was built by George Baer Hiester in 1932 as a gift for his bride, Anne. Unfortunately, Anne did not care for the replica 13th century English Manor House and rarely stayed there. Designed by architect Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, the property was sold in 1956, and converted to a restaurant in the 1970s. In recent years Stokesay and its pub have become renown for fine wine and dining; Partly due to chef Andrea Heinly, of Hell's Kitchen fame.
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused extensive flooding in the city, not the last time the lower precincts of Reading were inundated by the Schuylkill River as a similar, though not as devastating, flood occurred during June 2006.
The Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company founded in 1899, just outside Reading city limits, in West Reading and Wyomissing boroughs changed its name to Vanity Fair in 1911 and is now the major clothing manufacturer VF Corp. In the early 1970s, the original factories were developed to create the VF Outlet Village, the first outlet mall in the United States. The mall is so successful that it draws hundreds of thousands of tourists to Reading every year.
The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is a membership-supported museum and restoration facility located at Carl A. Spaatz Field. The museum actively displays and restores historic and rare war aircraft and civilian airliners. Most notable to their collection is a Northrop P-61 Black Widow under active restoration since its recovery from Mount Cyclops, New Guinea in 1989. Beginning in 1990, the museum has hosted "World War II Weekend Air Show", scheduled to coincide with D-Day. On display are period wartime aircraft (many of which fly throughout the show) vehicles, and weapons.
The 2000 census showed that Reading's population decline had ceased. This was attributed to an influx of Hispanic residents from New York, as well as from the extension of suburban sprawl from Philadelphia's northwest suburbs.
Reading has its share of obstacles to overcome, namely crime.[11] However, new crime fighting strategies appear to be having an impact, as in 2006 the city dropped in the rankings of dangerous cities, and then again in 2007. Reading is famous for invention of the term jawn.
In December 2007, NBC's Today show featured Reading as one of the top four "Up and Coming Neighborhoods" in the United States as showing potential for a real estate boom.[12] The interviewee Barbara Corcoran chose the city by looking for areas of big change, renovations, cleanups of parks, waterfronts, and warehouses. Corcoran also noted Reading's proximity to Philadelphia, New York, and other cities. The financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent nationwide recession stifled optimism; in November 2011 the PBS Newshour reported that Reading was officially the poorest city in the nation with 49% of inhabitants living below the poverty line.
Climate
Reading, Pennsylvania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The climate in and around Reading is variable but relatively mild. The Reading area is considered a humid subtropical climate, with areas just to the north designated as a humid continental climate. Summers are warm and humid with average July highs around 85 °F. Extended periods of heat and high humidity do occur. On average, there are 15–20 days per year where the temperature exceeds 90 °F. Reading becomes more mild in the autumn as the heat and humidity of summer relent to lower humidity and temperatures. The first killing frost generally occurs in mid to late October.
Winters bring freezing temperatures, but usually move above freezing during the day's warmest point. The average January high is 37; the average January low is 20 °F. The all-time record low (not including wind chill) was −21 °F during a widespread cold wave in January 1994. Snow is common, but the harsher winter conditions experienced to the north and west are not typical of Greater Reading. Annual snowfall is variable, but averages around 32 inches. Spring temperatures vary widely between freezing temperatures and the 70s. The last killing frost usually is in later April, but freezing temperatures have occurred in May. Total precipitation for the entire year is around 44 inches (112 cm).
Climate data for Reading, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
77 (25) |
88 (31) |
97 (36) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
102 (39) |
100 (38) |
92 (33) |
82 (28) |
77 (25) |
102 (39) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38 (3) |
42 (6) |
51 (11) |
63 (17) |
73 (23) |
82 (28) |
86 (30) |
84 (29) |
77 (25) |
66 (19) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
63 (17) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
62 (17) |
72 (22) |
76 (24) |
74 (23) |
67 (19) |
55 (13) |
45 (7) |
35 (2) |
54 (12) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
61 (16) |
65 (18) |
64 (18) |
56 (13) |
44 (7) |
36 (2) |
27 (−3) |
44 (7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−8 (−22) |
−2 (−19) |
16 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
42 (6) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
8 (−13) |
−4 (−20) |
−20 (−29) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.92 (74) |
2.93 (74) |
3.56 (90) |
3.69 (94) |
4.03 (102) |
4.50 (114) |
4.67 (119) |
3.80 (97) |
4.42 (112) |
3.78 (96) |
3.44 (87) |
3.58 (91) |
45.32 (1,151) |
Source: The Weather Channel [13] |
Geography
Reading is located at 40°20′30″N 75°55′35″W / 40.34167°N 75.92639°W (40.341692, -75.926301)Template:GR in southeastern Pennsylvania, roughly 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Philadelphia. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26 km2). 9.8 square miles (25 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (2.39%) is water. The total area is 2.39% water. The city is largely bounded on the west by the Schuylkill River, on the east by Mount Penn, and on the south by Neversink Mountain. The Reading Prong, the mountain formation stretching north into New Jersey, has come to be associated with naturally-occurring radon gas; however, homes in Reading are not particularly affected. The surrounding county is home to a number of family-owned farms.[citation needed]
Economy
Companies based in Reading include Boscov's, Carpenter, Penske Truck Leasing, and Redner's Markets.
In 2012, the New York Times called Reading, "the nation's poorest city."[14]
According to the Reading Eagle,[15] the largest employers in the area are
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Reading Hospital and Medical Center | 6,877 |
2 | East Penn Manufacturing Co. | 5,800 |
3 | Reading School District | 2,583 |
4 | Berks County | 2,494 |
5 | Carpenter Technology Corporation | 2,040 |
6 | State of Pennsylvania | 1,800 |
7 | Wal-Mart | 1,786 |
8 | St. Joseph Medical Center | 1,525 |
9 | Redner's Markets | 1,411 |
10 | Boscov's | 1,400 |
Transportation
Bus
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Reading_BARTA_bus.jpg/220px-Reading_BARTA_bus.jpg)
Public transit in Reading and its surrounding communities has been provided since 1973 by BARTA, the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. BARTA operates a fleet of 57 buses serving 21 routes, mostly originating at the BARTA Transportation Center in Downtown Reading.
Roadways
A number of federal and state highways allow entry to and egress from Reading. U.S. Route 222 Business is designated as Lancaster Avenue, Bingaman Street, South 4th Street, and 5th Street. U.S. Route 422 Business is designated as Penn Street, Washington Street (westbound), Franklin Street (eastbound), and Perkiomen Avenue. U.S. Route 422, the major east-west artery, circles the western edge of the city and is known locally as The West Shore Bypass. PA Route 12 is known as the Warren Street Bypass, as it bypasses the city to the north. PA Route 10 is known as Morgantown Road. From the 1960s to the late 1990s, The West Shore and Warren Street Bypasses were known locally as the 'Road to Nowhere'.
Airlines
Reading and the surrounding area is serviced by the Reading Regional Airport, a general aviation airfield. Scheduled commercial airline service to Reading ended in 2004. Reading is a short drive from Harrisburg International Airport, Lehigh Valley International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.
Rail
Passenger trains ran between Pottsville, Reading, Pottstown and Philadelphia until July 27, 1981, when transit operator SEPTA curtailed commuter service to electrified lines. Since then, there have been repeated calls for the resumption of the sorely needed services.
In the late 1990s and up to 2003, SEPTA, in cooperation with Reading-based BARTA funded a study called the Schuylkill Valley Metro which included plans to extend both sides of SEPTA's R6 passenger line to Pottstown, Reading, and Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. The project suffered a major setback when it was rejected by the Federal Transit Administration New Starts program, which cited doubts about the ridership projections and financing assumptions used by the study. With the recent surge in gasoline prices and ever-increasing traffic, the planning commissions of Montgomery County and Berks County have teamed to study the feasibility of a simple diesel shuttle train between the Norristown/Manayunk Line and Pottstown/Reading.[16]
Neighborhoods
- Center City
- Eastside
- Northside
- Southside
- South of Penn
- Centre Park
- Oakbrook/Wyomissing Park
- Millmont
- Hampden Heights
- Glenside
- Northmont
- College Heights
- Callowhill
- North Riverside
- Outlet District
- Penn's Commons
- Prince Historic District
- Queen Anne Historic District
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 2,225 | — | |
1800 | 2,386 | 7.2% | |
1810 | 3,462 | 45.1% | |
1820 | 4,332 | 25.1% | |
1830 | 5,856 | 35.2% | |
1840 | 8,410 | 43.6% | |
1850 | 15,743 | 87.2% | |
1860 | 23,162 | 47.1% | |
1870 | 33,930 | 46.5% | |
1880 | 43,278 | 27.6% | |
1890 | 58,661 | 35.5% | |
1900 | 78,961 | 34.6% | |
1910 | 96,071 | 21.7% | |
1920 | 107,784 | 12.2% | |
1930 | 111,171 | 3.1% | |
1940 | 110,568 | −0.5% | |
1950 | 109,320 | −1.1% | |
1960 | 98,061 | −10.3% | |
1970 | 87,643 | −10.6% | |
1980 | 78,686 | −10.2% | |
1990 | 78,380 | −0.4% | |
2000 | 81,207 | 3.6% | |
2010 | 88,082 | 8.5% |
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 88,082 people, 29,979 households, and 19,257 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,988.0 persons per square mile (3,467.8/km²). There were 34,208 housing units at an average density of 3,490.6 houses per square mile (1,346.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.4% White, 13.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 30.1% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 58.2% of the population.
There were 29,979 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% were married couples living together, 26.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 42% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.52.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.9 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 88.5 men.
As of the census of 2000, 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.
Estimates
As of the American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates,[17] Reading had a population of 80,997. The racial makeup of the city was 48.8% White, 14.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 31.1% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. 56.3% were Hispanic or Latino of any race, with 33.5% being of Puerto Rican descent. 33.0% of all people were living below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under 18.
According to the US Census Bureau,[18] 32.9% of all residents live below the poverty level, including 45.7% of those under 18. Reading's unemployment rate in May 2010 was 14.7%, while Berks County's unemployment rate was 9.9%.[19]
Fire Department
The city of Reading is protected by the 100 firefighters and EMT/paramedics of the Reading Fire and EMS Department (RFD). The RFD operates out of 6 fire stations, located throughout the city and 1 EMS facility. The RFD operates a fire apparatus fleet of 5 engines, 3 ladders, 1 rescue, 2 brush units, 1 collapse unit, 2 deputy chief's units, and 3 frontline ambulances. The department responds to approximately 22,000 emergency calls annually.
As of April 1, 2011, Engine's 13 and 14 were disbanded due to budget cuts. Engine 13 was quartered with Engine 1 and Engine 14 was quartered with Engine 5. Also, Engine 7 was re-organized from Engine 11. Department staffing is 2 firefighters per apparatus.[20]
Fire Station Locations and Apparatus
Engine Company | Ladder Company | Special Unit | Command Unit | Address |
---|---|---|---|---|
Engine 1 | N. 8th St. & Court St. | |||
Tower 1 | Rescue 1 | Platoon Chief | Plum St. & Franklin St. | |
Engine 3 | Ladder 1 | Brush 3 | Deputy Chief | N. 3rd St. & Court St. |
Engine 5 | 101 Lancaster Ave. | |||
Engine 9 | Ladder 3 | N. 9th St. & Marion St. | ||
Engine 7 | Collapse 1, Ambulance 6, Brush 2 | W. Spring St. & McKnight St. | ||
Medic 1, Medic 2, Medic 3 | Walnut St. & Reed St. |
Education
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Reading_High_School_%28PA%29.jpg/250px-Reading_High_School_%28PA%29.jpg)
The Reading School District provides elementary and middle schools for the city's children. Numerous Catholic parochial schools are also available. It is possible to get a complete education, from kindergarten through college, on 13th Street.
Press reports have indicated that in 2012, about eight percent of Reading's residents had a college degree, compared to a national average of 28%.[14]
Five institutions of higher learning are located in Reading:
Four high schools serve the city:
- Berks Catholic High School
- Reading High School (Grades 11-12)
- Reading Intermediate High School (Grades 9-10)
- I-LEAD Charter School
Sports
Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reading Fightin Phils | EL, Baseball | FirstEnergy Stadium | 1967 | 4 |
Reading Royals | ECHL, Ice hockey | Sovereign Center | 2001 | 0 |
Reading Rockets | PLL, Indoor lacrosse | Sovereign Center | 2012 | 0 |
Reading United A.C. | USL, Soccer | Shirk Stadium | 1996 |
Reading played host to a stop on the PGA Tour, the Reading Open, in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The mechanical ice cream scoop was invented in Reading by William Clewell in 1878. The 5th Ave Bar and York Peppermint Patty were invented in Reading. The first Amish community in the country was established in Greater Reading, Berks County.[21]
Notable people
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2009) |
- Gus Alberts, Major League Baseball player[22] (b. 1861–d. May 7, 1912)
- Elvin Ayala, professional boxer and current World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight champion (b. January 15, 1981)
- John Barrasso, current U.S. Senator from Wyoming (b. July 21, 1952)[23]
- Albert Boscov, chairman of Boscov's department store.
- George Bradley, Major League Baseball player,[22] (b. July 13, 1852–d. October 2, 1931)
- Jack Coggins, artist and author (b. July 10, 1911 – d. January 30, 2006)
- Kayla Collins, Playboy playmate (b. April 1, 1987)
- Forrest Compton, actor (b. September 15, 1925 in Reading)
- Michael Constantine, actor (b. May 22, 1927)
- Tullio DeSantis, artist, writer, professor (b. 1948)
- Meg Foster, actress (b. May 10, 1948)
- Harry Whittier Frees, photographer (b. 1879 - d. 1953)
- Carl Furillo, Brooklyn Dodgers[22] (b. March 8, 1922 - d. January 21, 1989)
- Megan Gallagher, actress (b. February 6, 1960)
- David McMurtrie Gregg, American Civil War general
- Mervin Heller, Jr., past-president of the USTA
- Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the NBA (b. December 11, 1955)
- Chip Kidd, book jacket designer at Knopf Publishing Group (b. 1964)
- Betsy King, golfer, winner of 34 LPGA Tour events and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
- Richie Kotzen, rock guitarist (b. February 3, 1970)
- Henry Larkin, Major League Baseball player (b. January 12, 1860; d. January 31, 1942). Captain of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1888.
- Donyell Marshall, NBA power forward (b. May 18, 1973)
- Thomas Caltagirone – Politician – Pennsylvania House of Representatives[24]
- Lawrence Santoro – Multiple Bram Stoker-nominated horror/fantasy author.
- Lenny Moore, NFL running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer (b. November 25, 1933)
- Stephen Mull, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Political Ministry Affairs, Former U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania[25]
- James Nagle, Civil War general (b. April 5, 1822)
- Hildegard Peplau, Nurse Theorist (b. September 1, 1909; d. March 1999)
- James Bryant – Professional Football Player
- Lori and Reba Schappell, conjoined twins
- Mike Pilot, The Mediocre Show (b. July 29, 1975)
- Ray Dennis Steckler, film director (b. 1939, d. 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Jim Steranko, Silver Age comic book artist, magazine publisher, and escape artist (b. November 5, 1938)
- Wallace Stevens, poet (b. October 2, 1879)
- Joe Toye, fought in World War II with E Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment featured in Band of Brothers (b. March 14, 1919; d. September 3, 1995)
- John Updike, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, poet, essayist (b. March 18, 1932; d. January 27, 2009)
- Thomas Usher, CEO of U.S. Steel and Chairman of the Board of Marathon Oil
- Charlie Wagner, Boston Red Sox (b. December 3, 1912; d. August 30, 2006)
- Delores Wells, actress (b. October 17, 1937)
- Thomas C. Zimmerman, Pennsylvania German writer and translator, notable for his translations of English language classics into the Pennsylvania German dialect
- John Fundyga, Writer on Howard Stern Show
References
- ^ "Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Pennsylvania, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007". Retrieved 2011-08-29.
- ^ "2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". Retrieved 2009-08-27.
- ^ "Census Shows Reading, Berks growth spurt". Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "Reading, PA tops poverty list, census shows". Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ http://www.pahillclimb.org/Courses/Reading.htm
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penske_Racing
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penske_Truck_Leasing
- ^ "Keith Haring's pop art celebrated in today's Google Doodle". National Post. May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States 1492-Present (New York: HarperPerennial, 1995), p. 243.
- ^ Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.158.
- ^ City Crime Rankings by Population Group
- ^ Interview with Barbara Corcoran on NBC's Today show. Online. December 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ "Climate Statistics for Reading, Pennsylvania". Retrieved March 10, 2012.
- ^ a b The Beleaguered Middle Class, New York Times, 13 June 2012
- ^ "Top 25 Berks employers in 2010". Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ r6extension.com
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4263624&-qr_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_DP5&-context=adp&-ds_name=&-tree_id=309&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format=
- ^ "ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2006-2008". Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ http://www.bctv.org/special_reports/economy/article_85c144ee-82fe-11df-b95b-001cc4c03286.html
- ^ http://www.readingpafire.com/news.html?view=1&id=38406
- ^ http://www.readingberkspa.com/content.asp?page=funfacts
- ^ a b c Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th edition ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
{{cite book}}
:|edition=
has extra text (help) - ^ "BARRASSO, John A., (1952 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ^ "The Pennsylvania House of Representatives – Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone Biography".
- ^ Mr. Stephen D. Mull Nominated as New United States Ambassador to Lithuania: Biography
External links
- City of Reading (official site)
Reading, Pennsylvania travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Reading at Curlie
- The Reading Area Fire Fighter's Museum
- Berks Community TV
- Reading Eagle Newspaper
- Brookings Institution Report on recommendations for revitalization of cities in Pennsylvania
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Reading, Pennsylvania
- Reading Public Library
- GoReadingBerks.com
- GreaterReading.com
- PennCorridor.com
- Unofficial Reading Fire Department Site
- Ill-formatted IPAc-en transclusions
- Cities in Pennsylvania
- Populated places established in 1743
- Reading, Pennsylvania
- County seats in Pennsylvania
- Populated places in the United States with Hispanic majority populations
- Early American industrial centers
- Underground Railroad locations
- Populated places in Berks County, Pennsylvania
- 1743 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies
- Populated places on the Schuylkill River
- Place names of English origin in the United States