Reading, Massachusetts
|
|
Reading is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 23,708.
| Contents |
Geography
Reading is located at 42°31'33" North, 71°6'35" West (42.52585, -71.109939)Template:GR.
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 censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 23,708 people, 8,688 households, and 6,437 families residing in the town. The population density is 921.8/km² (2,388.3/mi²). There are 8,823 housing units at an average density of 343.1/km² (888.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 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. 0.84% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,688 households out of which 36.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% are married couples living together, 8.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% are non-families. 22.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.71 and the average family size is 3.22.
In the town the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $77,059, and the median income for a family is $89,076. Males have a median income of $61,117 versus $39,817 for females. The per capita income for the town is $32,888. 2.6% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 3.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Community Facts
Like every town, Reading has its own quirks and unusual facts.
- Amos Potamia was the only black slave to be buried in Reading.
- [African American] Basketball player Bill Russell was planning on moving to Reading in [date?] and was petitioned by a number of residents of Reading; Russell did not move to Reading.
- The Burbank Arena skating rink and the Bear Hill condos are built on top of decommissioned Nike Missile Silos.
- The Reading Police Department is slightly ill-noted as being slightly prejudiced towards black/African Americans, such as pulling over African Americans frequently (one driver complained of being 'routinely' stopped by Reading Police four times within the span of a year). One of the most notorious of these incidents involved the civil rights violation (illegal search, detainment, arrest, and assault) of an African American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent Paul L. D. Russell Jr., by Officer Robert Moreschi and Sargent Peter Garchinsky.
External links
- Reading official website (http://www.ci.reading.ma.us/)
- offensive local band Swatchdogs' website (http://www.robot-dreams.com/sd/)
- Reading Online Community, Livejournal Community (http://www.livejournal.com/community/reading_oc/)
- Informed Residents Of Reading website (http://www.iror.org)