Reading is a township in Pennsylvania located in Berks County with a population of 83,463. The city is situated northwest of Philadelphia near the Schuylkill River and Mount Penn. The symbol of the city is a Japanese-styled pagoda that rests on Mount Penn over the city.
Taken from the 2000 census, the population of Reading was an estimated 18,429 families and 30,113 households. In recent years, Reading has witnessed an influx of the Hispanic population. Also, gentrification, or transitions of the affluent residents into lower income neighborhoods, has become more prominent. The various residential boundaries include Center City, Penn’s Commons, College Heights, Callowhill and many others. Residents and commuters wishing to avoid the high costs of living in the Philadelphia metropolitan area relocate to the suburbs of Reading such as the Exeter Township.
Reading is home to four colleges and universities including the Albright College, Alvernia University, Pace Institute, and Reading Area Community College. In 2007, Reading was listed as one of the “Top Up and Coming Neighborhoods” in the U.S. The city is a good place for young professionals looking for an area that’s making major improvements to reduce its crime rate, cleanup the parks, and major renovations to buildings.