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Reading is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,708 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Reading is located at (42.52585, -71.109939).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.7 km² (9.9 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,708 people, 8,688 households, and 6,437 families residing in the town. The population density was 921.8/km² (2,388.3/mi²). There were 8,823 housing units at an average density of 343.1/km² (888.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.47% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 8,688 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $77,059, and the median income for a family was $89,076. Males had a median income of $61,117 versus $39,817 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,888. About 1.7% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Community Facts
- The Burbank Arena skating rink and the Bear Hill condos are built on top of decommissioned missile silos.
- Reading was an early and active participant in Boston's METCO program, which brought African-American and inner-city students from Boston to attend grades K-12. Reading's participation in the program continued without incident, even when other suburban communities started turning their backs on Boston's black student population and dropping out of the program.
- Reading is home to the Burbank Ice Area where, in July 2000, youth hockey dad Tom Junta engaged in a fight with a Lynnfield hockey dad, Michael Costin, over his son's stick practice, resulting in Costin's death. On January 11, 2002, Junta was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
- African American Basketball player Bill Russell lived in Reading in the 1960s next to a gas station on Main Street, but later moved a more upperclass part of town. Due to his race, vandals broke into the basketball player's home and damaged his property, and his residency was petitioned against by a small group of townspeople. Russell left Reading after several years.
- The building that housed the library from 1918 to 1984, located at 16 Lowell Street, was founded by Andrew Carnegie. The old building is now a part of Reading Town Hall, and the Reading Public Library now resides at 64 Middlesex Avenue.
- In 2005, Reading made an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by passing a library book the furthest distance in history. Though the old record would have been demolished, shoddy paperwork and bad public relations led to Guinness declining the attempt's authenticity.
Notable figures
- Reading was the birthplace (February 19, 1902) of renowned banjo player Eddie Peabody.
- Folk musician Mark Erelli is from Reading.
- Brad Whitford, who replaced Ray Tabano (aka Crazy Raymond) as the second guitarist of Aerosmith is from Reading, Ma.
- The infamous Charles Stuart, and his pregnant wife Carol DiMaiti Stuart, were both residents of Reading when he murdered her.
- Moses Nichols an officer during the American Revolutionary War was born in Reading.
- Hollywood actress JoAnne McGee
External links
- Informed Residents Of Reading website (an evangelical viewpoint on the new high school being built in the town)
- Town of Reading website
- Reading Public Library
- Reading Public School System
"Reading, Massachusetts"