Reading, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reading, Ohio
City
Benson Street downtown
Mottoes:  "The Crossroads of Opportunity", Wir Tun Unser Bestes (German: "We Do Our Best")
Location in Hamilton County and the state of Ohio.
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Hamilton
Settled	1797
Incorporated	March 24, 1851
Became a city	January 1, 1932
Withdrew from Sycamore Township	May 19, 1943
Area
• Total	2.89 sq mi (7.48 km2)
• Land	2.89 sq mi (7.48 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	755 ft (230 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,600
• Estimate  (2022)	10,397
• Density	3,669.09/sq mi (1,416.64/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	45215, 45236, 45237
Area code(s)	513
FIPS code	39-65732
GNIS feature ID	1086225

Reading (pronounced RED-ing) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. It's home to about 10,600 people, based on the 2020 census. Reading is a close neighbor to Cincinnati and is part of the larger Cincinnati area.

History of Reading

Early Settlement and Naming

In 1794, a man named Abraham Voorhees moved his family to the area. They built a large log cabin near the Millcreek. A year later, Harvey Redinbo, from Reading, Pennsylvania, visited. He liked the land and bought his own property nearby.

Around 1798, Voorhees planned a town called Voorhees-Town. But Redinbo convinced him to change the name to Reading, after his own hometown. The town was officially recorded in 1804.

Growth and Development

Between 1830 and 1880, Reading grew a lot. It became the biggest village in Hamilton County. On March 24, 1851, it officially became a village. A big part of the local economy back then was making clothes.

Benson Street Bridge

The Benson Street Bridge was built in 1901. It crosses the Mill Creek and connects Reading with Lockland. This bridge was special because it was the first of its kind in Ohio made from concrete.

Becoming a City

Reading officially became a city on January 1, 1932. Later, in 1943, it separated from Sycamore Township. This created its own local government area, sometimes called a "paper township."

A Difficult Past

For many years, from the 1860s to the 1960s, Reading had rules that made it hard for African Americans to live there. They were not allowed to stay in the city after dark. Because of these rules, very few African Americans were recorded living in Reading during those times.

Geography of Reading

Reading is located in Ohio, and it covers about 2.89 square miles of land. It's surrounded by several other communities. To the south is Cincinnati's Roselawn neighborhood. To the east are Amberley Village, Sycamore Township, and Blue Ash. Evendale is to the north, and Lockland and Arlington Heights are to the west and southwest. The Mill Creek river forms a natural border between Reading and Lockland and Arlington Heights.

Getting Around Reading

You can reach Reading by car using major roads like Interstate 75, Ohio State Route 126, or U.S. Route 42. There are also train lines that run through Reading, used for moving goods.

People of Reading (Demographics)

Reading is home to a diverse group of people. Here's a look at the population based on recent information:

2020 Census Information

In 2020, there were 10,600 people living in Reading. Most residents, about 81.3%, were White. About 9.9% were Black or African American, and 1.5% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 2.8% of the population.

There were about 4,941 households in the city.

• 19% of households had children under 18.
• 39.1% were married couples.
• The average household had 2.12 people.

The median age in Reading was 44.4 years old.

• 17.3% of the population was under 18.
• 65.8% were between 18 and 64.
• 16.9% were 65 or older.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, Reading had 10,385 people. The population density was about 3,593 people per square mile.

• 89.1% of residents were White.
• 7.3% were African American.
• 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino.

The median age in 2010 was 39.5 years.

• 21.6% of residents were under 18.
• About 27.2% were between 25 and 44 years old.

Economy of Reading

Reading's economy is strong in manufacturing, especially for things like aerospace and car parts. These parts are often sent to big factories in nearby towns like Sharonville and Evendale.

One important company in Reading is Patheon, which is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. They have a large factory that makes medicines.

Reading is also famous for its "Bridal District" on Benson Street. This area has many shops that specialize in everything you need for a wedding!

A well-known electronics store chain called Steinberg's started in Reading. It was based there until it closed down in 1997.

Education in Reading

Reading has its own school system, the Reading Community City School District. This includes Reading High School. A new school building for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade opened in 2019.

There are also private schools in Reading:

• Mount Notre Dame High School: This is a Catholic high school just for girls. A fun fact is that the daughter of famous Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman was one of its first students!
• Sts. Peter and Paul Academy: This is a Catholic elementary school for students in kindergarten through 8th grade.

For reading and research, Reading has a branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Media in Reading

Reading is part of the larger Cincinnati area for news and entertainment. This means people in Reading get their newspapers, radio, and TV from Cincinnati. There is also a local radio station, WMKV (89.3 FM), which broadcasts from a retirement community in Reading.

Notable People from Reading

Many interesting people have come from Reading, Ohio! Here are a few:

• Ed Biles: A professional football coach.
• John Boehner: He was the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, a very important job in the American government.
• Rick Christophel: Another professional football coach.
• Ralph Davis: A professional basketball player.
• Richard E. Meyer: A businessman and music producer.
• Brian O'Connor: A professional baseball pitcher.
• Merle Robbins: The person who invented the popular card game Uno!
• Joseph G. Wilson: A Republican politician.
• DeShawn Wynn: A professional football player.

See also

In Spanish: Reading (Ohio) para niños