West Reading, Pennsylvania

Borough in Pennsylvania, US

Not to be confused with Reading, Pennsylvania, a city in and the county seat of Berks County.

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Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

West Reading, Pennsylvania

Borough

Penn Avenue

Flag

Seal

Etymology: December

Location in Berks County, Pennsylvania

West Reading

Location in Pennsylvania

Show map of Pennsylvania

West Reading

Location in the United States

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Coordinates: 40°20′03″N 75°56′48″W﻿ / ﻿40.33417°N 75.94667°W﻿ / 40.33417; -75.94667
Country| United States
State| Pennsylvania
County| Berks
Incorporated| March 18, 1907
Government

• Type| Mayor–council
• Mayor| Samantha Kaag (D)
Area

[1]

• Total

| 0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2)
• Land| 0.59 sq mi (1.54 km2)
• Water| 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation

| 285 ft (87 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total

| 4,553
• Density| 7,664.98/sq mi (2,957.71/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code|

19611

Area code(s)| 610 and 484
FIPS code| 42-83928
Website| www.westreadingborough.com

West Reading is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, located next to the city of Reading. The population was 4,553 at the 2020 census. It contains a vibrant main street (Penn Avenue) and the large Reading Hospital and Medical Center. It was also the site of the VF Outlet Village, one of the largest outlet malls in the United States. The VF Outlet Village was located in the buildings of the former Berkshire Knitting Mills, which was in operation from 1908 to 1975.[3] The VF Outlet closed in 2020.[4]

## History

[edit]

The borough was settled in 1873 and incorporated on March 18, 1907. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.[citation needed]

In 2022, Samantha Kaag, West Reading’s first ever female Mayor, was elected and took office.[citation needed]

In 2023, seven people were killed in the 2023 Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.[citation needed]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 170| | —
1910| 2,064| | —
1920| 2,921| | 41.5%
1930| 4,908| | 68.0%
1940| 4,907| | 0.0%
1950| 5,072| | 3.4%
1960| 4,938| | −2.6%
1970| 4,578| | −7.3%
1980| 4,507| | −1.6%
1990| 4,142| | −8.1%
2000| 4,049| | −2.2%
2010| 4,212| | 4.0%
2020| 4,553| | 8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,049 people, 1,666 households, and 862 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,079.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,733.4/km2). There were 1,783 housing units at an average density of 3,117.5 per square mile (1,203.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.33% White, 4.03% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.41% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.78% of the population.

There were 1,666 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.2% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $38,340, and the median income for a family was $43,472. Males had a median income of $31,592 versus $25,411 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,414. About 5.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those aged 65 or over.

## Economy

[edit]

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The Reading Hospital and Medical Center is the largest employer in the borough and one of the top five employers in Berks County. The parent company, Tower Health, has its headquarters in the borough.[citation needed]

## Government

[edit]

West Reading Borough Hall

A council-manager form of government governs the Borough of West Reading. The council's president is Ryan Lineaweaver, and the Vice President is Phillip Wert. The five other members are as follows: Christopher Lincoln, Patrick Kaag, Jennifer Bressler, Denise Drobnick, and Zachary Shaver. Each council member is elected to four and two-year terms, which are on a rotating cycle. The Mayor of the Borough is Samantha Kaag. Her primary role is public safety, oversight of the police department, community involvement, and working hand-in-hand with the borough council. The Magisterial District Judge of West Reading (and Wyomissing) is Eric J. Taylor.[citation needed]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Austin Swift, (b. 1992), American actor, producer, and businessman
* Taylor Swift, (b. 1989), singer-songwriter
* John Fetterman (b. 1969), politician
* Al Gursky (b. 1940), former professional football player, New York Giants
* Chad Henne, (b. 1985), former professional football player, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins
* Michael W. Kirst (b. 1939), former president, California State Board of Education
* Andrew H. Knoll, (b. 1951), natural history professor, Harvard University

## Transportation

[edit]

U.S. Route 422 eastbound in West Reading

As of 2020, there were 12.92 miles (20.79 km) of public roads in West Reading, of which 1.84 miles (2.96 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 11.08 miles (17.83 km) were maintained by the borough.[8]

U.S. Route 422 is the main highway serving West Reading. It follows the West Shore Bypass along a northwest-to-southeast alignment across the northeastern portion of the borough. U.S. Route 422 Business follows the old alignment of US 422 along Penn Avenue through the center of the borough.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
2. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. ^ "About Us". vfovillage.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006.
4. ^ Rader, Tom (December 24, 2020). "VF Outlet in Berks closes its doors". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
5. ^ "NTSB releases new documents on deadly West Reading chocolate factory explosion". 6abc Philadelphia. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. ^ "West Reading Borough map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Reading, Pennsylvania.

* Love West Reading
* Borough of West Reading

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Municipalities and communities of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

County seat: Reading

City|

* Reading

Boroughs|

* Adamstown‡
* Bally
* Bechtelsville
* Bernville
* Birdsboro
* Boyertown
* Centerport
* Fleetwood
* Hamburg
* Kenhorst
* Kutztown
* Laureldale
* Leesport
* Lenhartsville
* Lyons
* Mohnton
* Mount Penn
* New Morgan
* Robesonia
* St. Lawrence
* Shillington
* Shoemakersville
* Sinking Spring
* Topton
* Wernersville
* West Reading
* Womelsdorf
* Wyomissing

Townships|

* Albany
* Alsace
* Amity
* Bern
* Bethel
* Brecknock
* Caernarvon
* Centre
* Colebrookdale
* Cumru
* District
* Douglass
* Earl
* Exeter
* Greenwich
* Heidelberg
* Hereford
* Jefferson
* Longswamp
* Lower Alsace
* Lower Heidelberg
* Maidencreek
* Marion
* Maxatawny
* Muhlenberg
* North Heidelberg
* Oley
* Ontelaunee
* Penn
* Perry
* Pike
* Richmond
* Robeson
* Rockland
* Ruscombmanor
* South Heidelberg
* Spring
* Tilden
* Tulpehocken
* Union
* Upper Bern
* Upper Tulpehocken
* Washington
* Windsor

CDPs|

* Alleghenyville
* Alsace Manor
* Amity Gardens
* Baumstown
* Bethel
* Blandon
* Bowers
* Colony Park
* Dauberville
* Douglassville
* Dryville
* Edenburg
* Flying Hills
* Fox Chase
* Frystown
* Gibraltar
* Gouglersville
* Greenfields
* Grill
* Hereford
* Hyde Park
* Jacksonwald
* Kempton
* Kutztown University
* Lincoln Park
* Lorane
* Maxatawny
* Mertztown
* Mohrsville
* Montrose Manor
* Morgantown‡
* Mount Aetna
* Muhlenberg Park
* New Berlinville
* New Jerusalem
* New Schaefferstown
* Oley
* Penn State Berks
* Pennside
* Pennwyn
* Rehrersburg
* Reiffton
* Riverview Park
* Schubert
* Shartlesville
* South Temple
* Spring Ridge
* Springmont
* Stony Creek Mills
* Stouchsburg
* Strausstown
* Temple
* Virginville
* Walnuttown
* West Hamburg
* West Lawn
* West Wyomissing
* Whitfield

Other
communities|

* Albany
* Amityville
* Barto
* Basket
* Beckersville
* Berne
* Boyers Junction
* Breezy Corner
* Brownsville
* Cacoosing
* Chapel‡
* Clayton
* Dale
* Earlville
* Dreibelbis
* Eagle Point
* Eckville
* Eshbach
* Evansville
* Five Points
* Fredericksville
* Fritztown
* Geigertown
* Greenawald
* Green Hills
* Grimville
* Hancock
* Harlem
* Henningsville
* Hinterleiter
* Host
* Huffs Church
* Jalappa
* Joanna
* Joanna Heights
* Kempville
* Kirbyville
* Klinesville
* Knauers
* Krumsville
* Kulptown
* Landis Store
* Leinbachs
* Limekiln
* Lobachsville
* Longswamp
* Maiden Creek
* Manatawny
* Maple Grove
* Molltown
* Monocacy Station
* Montello
* Monterey
* Morysville
* Moselem
* Moselem Springs
* New Hensingersville
* Pikeville
* Pine Forge
* Pleasant Valley
* Pleasantville
* Plowville
* Pricetown
* Quaker City
* Rittenhouse Gap
* Sally Ann
* Scarlets Mill
* Seisholtzville
* State Hill
* Stony Run
* Trexler
* Tuckerton
* Unionville
* Vinemont
* Weavertown
* Windsor Castle
* Wintersville
* Woodchoppertown
* Wyomissing Hills
* Yellow House

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Pennsylvania portal
* United States portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
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Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

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