Day 33: From Prosperity to Poverty

In the 1930s, Reading, PA had a population of nearly 120,000 and was one of the wealthiest cities in the state. The garment industry (especially stockings), foundries (mostly tools and implements), and railroads were thriving, and grand homes and sycamores graced the streets. The next several decades saw a decline in heavy industry and the railroads that shipped their goods, and the city's prosperity waned. Its fall was both far and fast. By 1980, its population had dropped to under 80,000, and many of those were unemployed. As recently as 2011, Reading had the highest poverty rate in the nation (41% of residents living below the poverty level), and its homicide rate was nearly triple the state average (about six times the rate of Salem, OR). Abandoned buildings, run-down housing, litter, and rough roads are commonplace. An influx of people from nearby Philadelphia (only about an hour away), especially Hispanics, has caused its population to grow to nearly 90,000 residents. The Hispanic/Latino population is now the majority (about 56% of the population), with Puerto Ricans being the largest single group (1/3 of the total in the city). About 15% of the population is African-American.

Major employers in the city now include hospitals, county and state government, the local school district, and Walmart, The city is also home to several colleges: Reading Area Community College, Alvernia University, the Berks campus of Penn State, and Albright College, although a relatively small percentage of people in the area have a bachelor's degree.

My friend gave me a tour of the Albright campus today, followed by parts of the city. Today's blog will focus on the city, and tomorrow's entry will be on the campus.

Near downtown Reading, PA.

The former Reading Foundry and Supply Co.

Reading was home of some of the country's first outlet centers, including this one that has been vacant for some time.

There are literally thousands of row houses in the city, and some of them sell for as little as $8,000 (as low as $3 a square foot!). Of course, those need a huge amount of repair, but even many nicer ones sell for $25,000 to $30,000. 

In Hampden Heights, a nicer part of Reading near Albright College and just below Mt. Penn.