Reading, Pennsylvania: Where Dreams Go to Die (But Sometimes Rise from the Ashes)
Welcome to Reading, Pennsylvania, a city with more identity crises than a teenager's TikTok account. Reading (/ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing; Pennsylvania German: Reddin) is a city in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-most populous city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. But don't let that ranking fool you – being fourth in Pennsylvania is like being the tallest kid in first grade.
The City That Peaked at Board Game Fame
Let's start with Reading's most famous claim to fame: being a property on the Monopoly board. Reading gives its name to the now-defunct Reading Company, also known as the Reading Railroad and since acquired by Conrail, that played a vital role in transporting anthracite coal from Pennsylvania's Coal Region to major East Coast markets through the Port of Philadelphia for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Reading Railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic U.S. version of the Monopoly board game.
That's right – this city literally peaked as a board game property and has been declining ever since. 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. Following more than a century of prosperity, the Reading Company was forced to file for bankruptcy protection in 1971.
Today, Population in 2024: 96,000 (100% urban, 0% rural). The population is impressively diverse, with 70.8% of the people in Reading, PA are hispanic (67.4k people), making it a melting pot of cultures who all share one thing in common: they're all trying to figure out what the hell there is to do here.
The Taylor Swift Escape Route
Perhaps Reading's most telling statistic isn't about economics or demographics – it's about its most famous export. Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. She spent her early years at Pine Ridge Farm in nearby Cumru Township and in Wyomissing before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to become a country singer.
The fact that Taylor Swift was born here but immediately fled to Nashville tells you everything you need to know about Reading's cultural offerings. When she was 13, her parents sold their family farm in Pennsylvania and moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee, so she could pursue a career in country music in nearby Nashville. Even her parents knew the best thing they could do for their daughter's future was get her the hell out of Pennsylvania.
When your most famous export is someone who literally wrote songs about leaving small towns behind, maybe take the hint. During her Eras Tour in 2023, she played three nights in Philadelphia, which she noted as "The most magical 3 hometown shows a girl could hope for" – notice she didn't mention Reading in that sentiment.
The Geography of Getting Lost in Pennsylvania's Middle
Reading is located in the southeastern part of the state and is the principal city of the Greater Reading area, which had 420,152 residents in 2020. But let's be honest about what "southeastern Pennsylvania" really means – it's that awkward space between Philadelphia's relevance and Pittsburgh's industrial grit, sitting perfectly in Pennsylvania's own version of Alabama.
The city does have some legitimate cultural offerings, though. The mission of the GoggleWorks is "to transform lives through unique interactions with art." Located in the former Willson Goggle Factory building, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts features eight teaching studios in ceramics, hot and warm glass, metalsmithing, photography, printmaking, woodworking and virtual reality; 35 juried artist studios; and headquarters of over 40 cultural organizations. GoggleWorks also includes several exhibition galleries, a 130-seat film theatre, a bar/restaurant, and store featuring handcrafted works by over 200 artists working within the building and beyond.
Sports fans can catch the Reading Fightin Phils, minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, play at FirstEnergy Stadium – a team so desperate for identity they can't even fight for their own name.
The Economic Reality Behind the Pretzel Dreams
The numbers paint a picture that's more sobering than a Monday morning. Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2023: 25.5% – that's one in four people struggling to make ends meet. $40,081 ±$6,611 Median household income · about half the amount in the Reading, PA Metro Area: $78,074 ±$3,457 · about half the amount in Pennsylvania: $77,545 ±$816
But hey, at least the cost of living reflects the reality. December 2024 cost of living index in Reading: 94.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100) Because nothing says "affordable living" like a place where even the dollar menu feels premium.
The good news? Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Reading increased by 13,889, though recent trends suggest the peak population was 94,977 in the year 2020. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline.
Reading may not be the glittering metropolis of anyone's dreams, but it's got character – the kind of character that comes from surviving decades of decline and still showing up to work every day. It's a city where This family-owned spot has been twisting pretzels since 1861. A local classic, it reflects the kind of old-fashioned, simple fun that shaped Taylor's early days. And honestly, there's something to be said for a place that's been consistently making carbs shaped like rope for over 160 years.
So come for the Monopoly nostalgia, stay for the surprisingly decent art scene, and leave with a newfound appreciation for wherever you came from. Just don't expect Taylor Swift to show up for the reunion tour.
Think we were too nice? See the full roast on RoastMyTown.com.