Editing West Reading, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Reading, Pennsylvania]], a city in and the county seat of Berks County}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = West
 Reading, Pennsylvania
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = 
| native_name_lang         = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Boroughs|Borough]]
| image_skyline            = Penn Avenue, West Reading.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = Penn Avenue
| image_flag               = Flag of West Reading, Pennsylvania.png
| image_seal               = Seal of West Reading, Pennsylvania.png
| seal_size                = 
| etymology                = December 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| anthem                   = 
| image_map                = West Reading.png
| mapsize                  = 
| map_alt                  =  a
| map_caption              = Location in Berks County, Pennsylvania
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_alt1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label            = West Reading
| pushpin_label_position   = top
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|20|03|N|75|56|48|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| grid_name                = 
| grid_position            = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]]
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = 
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = March 18, 1907
| established_title1       = 
| established_date1        = 
| established_title2       = 
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = 
| established_date3        = 
| established_title4       = 
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| extinct_title            = 
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| founder                  = 
| named_for                = 
| seat_type                = 
| seat                     = 
| seat1_type               = 
| seat1                    = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council]]
| governing_body           = 
| leader_title1            = Mayor
| leader_name1             = Samantha Kaag (D)
| total_type               = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 1.55
| area_total_sq_mi         = 0.60
| area_land_km2            = 1.54
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.59
| area_water_km2           = 0.01
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_metro_footnotes     = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_rank                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 285
| elevation_point          = 
| elevation_max_footnotes  = 
| elevation_max_m          = 
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| elevation_max_rank       = 
| elevation_min_footnotes  = 
| elevation_min_m          = 
| elevation_min_ft         = 
| elevation_min_point      = 
| elevation_min_rank       = 
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total         = 4553
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| population_rank          = 
| population_density_km2   = 2957.71
| population_density_sq_mi = 7664.98
| population_metro_footnotes = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
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| demographics1_info1      = 
| demographics_type2       = 
| demographics2_footnotes  = 
| demographics2_title1     = 
| demographics2_info1      = 
| timezone1                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1              = -5
| timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = -4
| timezone2                = 
| utc_offset2              = 
| timezone2_DST            = 
| utc_offset2_DST          = 
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 19611
| postal2_code_type        = 
| postal2_code             = 
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = [[Area codes 610 and 484|610 and 484]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = 
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 42-83928
| blank1_name              = 
| blank1_info              = 
| blank2_name              = 
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| blank_name_sec2          = 
| blank_info_sec2          = 
| blank1_name_sec2         = 
| blank1_info_sec2         = 
| blank2_name_sec2         = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2         = 
| website                  = {{URL|www.westreadingborough.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
| blank_emblem_size        = 250px
}}
'''West Reading''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania]], United States, located next to the city of [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]]. The population was 4,553 at the [[2020 United States census|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 Corporation|VF Outlet Village]], one of the largest [[Outlet store|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfovillage.com/aboutus.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018030003/http://www.vfovillage.com/aboutus.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 18, 2006|title=About Us|website=vfovillage.com}}</ref> The VF Outlet closed in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rader|first=Tom|title=VF Outlet in Berks closes its doors|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=December 24, 2020|url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/vf-outlet-in-berks-closes-its-doors/article_99fd2c2a-4643-11eb-82e4-2bc3dfb868dd.html|access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref>

==History==
The borough was settled in 1873 and incorporated on March 18, 1907. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In 2022, Samantha Kaag, West Reading’s first ever female Mayor, was elected and took office.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In 2023, seven people were killed in the [[2023 Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-23 |title=NTSB releases new documents on deadly West Reading chocolate factory explosion |url=https://6abc.com/rm-palmer-chocolate-factory-explosion-west-reading-pennsylvania-ntsb-report/14460961/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=6abc Philadelphia |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.6|sqmi|km2}}, all land.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1880= 170
|1910= 2064
|1920= 2921
|1930= 4908
|1940= 4907
|1950= 5072
|1960= 4938
|1970= 4578
|1980= 4507
|1990= 4142
|2000= 4049
|2010= 4212
|2020= 4553
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,049 people, 1,666 households, and 862 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|7,079.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,783 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,117.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 89.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.03% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.53% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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==
{{Unsourced|section|date=April 2025}}
The [[Reading Hospital|Reading Hospital and Medical Center]] is the largest employer in the borough and one of the top five employers in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks County]]. The parent company, Tower Health, has its headquarters in the borough.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==Government==
[[File:West Reading Borough Hall.jpg|thumb|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|date=May 2024}}

==Notable people==
* [[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==
{{stack|[[File:2022-09-01 11 41 53 View east along U.S. Route 422 (West Shore Bypass) from the overpass for Buttonwood Street in West Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[U.S. Route 422 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 422]] eastbound in West Reading]]}}
As of 2020, there were {{convert|12.92|mi}} of public roads in West Reading, of which {{convert|1.84|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|11.08|mi}} were maintained by the borough.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/06427.pdf|title=West Reading Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 422 in Pennsylvania|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 (Reading, Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 422 Business]] follows the old alignment of US 422 along Penn Avenue through the center of the borough.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://visitwestreading.com/ Love West Reading]
* [https://www.westreadingborough.com/ Borough of West Reading]

{{Berks County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Keystone symbol]]