Reading, city, seat of Berks County, southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Schuylkill River, in a rich agricultural area; settled early 18th century, incorporated as a city 1847. It has railroad shops and diversified manufacturing and commercial industries. Products include electronic parts, clothing, machinery, hardware, structural steel and iron, motor vehicles, and foodstuffs. Albright College (1856), Alvernia College (1958), Pennsylvania State University Berks Campus (1958), and a community college are here. The birthplace of the pioneer Daniel Boone is nearby. The site was purchased from the Lenni Lenape people by William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, and was laid out (1748) by Penn's sons Thomas and Richard. An early ironmaking center, Reading was a military depot and prisoner-of-war camp during the American Revolution. Industrial growth was aided by the construction of two canals in the 1820s and a railroad in 1884. The city is named for Reading, England. Population 78,686 (1980); 78,380 (1990); 74,762 (1998 estimate).
