Reading, Massachusetts

Reading ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, north of central Boston. The population was 25,518 at the 2020 census.

History

Settlement

thumb|[[Parker Tavern, built in 1694, is the oldest surviving building in Reading and was owned and operated by Ephraim Parker, great-grandson of Thomas Parker, one of Reading's founders for whom the town is likely named; the tavern is now a museum.]]

Many of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's original settlers arrived from England in the 1630s through the ports of Lynn and Salem.

In 1639, some citizens of Lynn petitioned the government of the colony for a "place for an inland plantation". They were initially granted six square miles, followed by an additional four. The first settlement in this grant was at first called "Lynn Village" and was located on the south shore of the "Great Pond", now known as Lake Quannapowitt. On June 10, 1644, the settlement was incorporated as the town of Reading, taking its name from the town of Reading in England.

The first church was organized soon after the settlement, and the first parish separated and became the town of "South Reading" in 1812, renaming itself as Wakefield in 1868. Thomas Parker was one of the founders of Reading. He also was a founder of the 12th Congregational Church (now the First Parish Congregational Church), and served as deacon there. He was a selectman of Reading and was appointed a judicial commissioner. There is evidence that Parker was "conspicuous in naming the town" and that he was related to the Parker family of Little Norton, England, who owned land by the name of Ryddinge.

A special grant in 1651 added land north of the Ipswich River to the town of Reading. In 1853 this area became the separate town of North Reading. The area which currently comprises the town of Reading was originally known as "Wood End", or "Third Parish". Vandals broke into the basketball player's home and damaged his property, leaving racial epithets in their wake as well as defecating in Russell's bed. Russell left Reading after retiring as coach of the Boston Celtics in 1969.

In recent years the town of Reading struggled with the decisions to build a new elementary school, to cope with the influx of new families to the community, and renovate Reading Memorial High School which was opened in 1954 with an addition added in 1971. Both of these projects were approved and in August 2007 the new $57 million renovation at the High School was completed.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.7 km). No significant amount of land is covered permanently by water, although there is a plethora of vernal pools in various areas of conservation land.

Reading borders the towns of Woburn, Stoneham, Wakefield, Lynnfield, North Reading, and Wilmington.

Climate

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 24,747 people, 9,617 households, and 6,437 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 9,617 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 92.4% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.2% 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 1.5% 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.

As of 2015, according to the Census Bureau, the median income for a household in the town was $107,654 and the median income for a family was $124,485. The per capita income for the town was $47,981. Of the families in Reading, 1.0% were below the poverty line, as opposed to 1.9% of the general population. 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over were under the poverty line.

Arts and culture

Points of interest

The Parker Tavern – The town's oldest remaining 17th-century structure, built in 1694. This property, on Washington Street, is currently owned and operated by the non-profit Reading Antiquarian Society.
The Stephen Hall House, a building on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Capt. Nathaniel Parker Red House, a building on the National Register of Historic Places, known for its Red exterior. It was the original town Tavern, and a meeting place for notable American Revolutionaries.
The Walnut Street School, a building on the National Register of Historic Places, and current home to a local community theatre.

Government

thumb|Reading Town Hall

Since 1944, the municipal government of the town of Reading comprises a representative town meeting, whose 192 members are elected from eight precincts. Prior to 1944, the town was governed by an open town meeting.

The town elects a five-member select board by general election, who serve for overlapping three-year terms. The select board are responsible for calling the elections for the town meeting, and for calling town meetings. They initiate legislative policy by proposing legislative changes to the town meeting, and then implement the votes subsequently adopted. They also review fiscal guidelines for the annual operating budget and capital improvements program and make recommendations on these to the town meeting. In addition the board serves as the local road commissioners and licensing board, and appoints members to most of the town's other boards, committees, and commissions.

The day-to-day running of the town government is the responsibility of a town manager, appointed by the board of selectmen.

Reading Memorial High School
Coolidge Middle School
Walter S. Parker Middle School
A. M. Barrows Elementary School
Birch Meadow Elementary School
Joshua Eaton Elementary School
JW Killam Elementary School
Wood End Elementary School

Austin Preparatory School, is a co-ed, independent school, in the Augustinian Catholic tradition, founded in 1962. It is located on 55 acres of land and has an enrollment of 700 students, providing instruction for students in grades 6–12.

Media

The Daily Times Chronicle publishes a Reading edition of the newspaper on weekdays.
The Reading Advocate publishes weekly and is delivered by mail.
Reading's Community Access Television station is RCTV, which provides trainings and air-time for residents to produce their own programs.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Reading is located close to the junction of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95/Massachusetts Route 128 to the north of Boston. I-93 provides a direct route south to central Boston and beyond via the Big Dig, whilst I-95/128 loops around Boston to the west, crosses Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike, and then continues south before meeting up with I-93 again at Canton.

Reading is served by Reading station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Haverhill/Reading commuter rail line, which links the town to Boston's North Station. Plans existed during the 1970s, when this line of track was bought by the MBTA, to extend the Orange Line rapid transit service out as far as Reading. Although new stations were successfully constructed at Malden Center and Oak Grove station, residents just past Oak Grove complained and such plans were put on hold.

Reading is also served by MBTA bus service routes 136 and 137, which run between Reading station and Malden station.

Notable people

Jess Brallier, award-winning publisher, best-selling author, and web publisher
James Cerretani, pro tennis player and ranked No. 50 in the world in doubles play
Clarence DeMar, seven-time winner of the Boston Marathon, died in Reading, June 11, 1958
John Doherty, Major League Baseball player for parts of two seasons for the California Angels
Mark Erelli, folk musician
William M. Fowler, U.S. naval historian, professor at Northeastern University and former director of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Fred Foy, radio and television announcer for the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, and Dick Cavett shows
John Hart, originally from Ipswich (born October 13, 1751); served as a regimental surgeon during the American Revolution
Thomas Junta, hockey dad convicted of involuntary manslaughter
Danny McBride, lead guitarist for Sha Na Na, a member of the RMHS class of '63
Kate McCulley, travel blogger and shipwreck survivor
Lennie Merullo, professional baseball player who played for the Chicago Cubs for seven seasons and became a professional baseball scout until the age of 85
Moses Nichols, officer during the American Revolutionary War
Thomas Parker, founder of Reading
Eddie Peabody, banjo player
Chris Pizzotti, former Harvard University and New York Jets quarterback
Bill Russell, former member of the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969
Matt Siegel, WXKX-FM disc jockey once lived on the West Side
Tom Silva, general contractor for This Old House on PBS
Cousin Stizz, rapper, made songs with Migos and has his song "Butterfly" in NBA 2k20
Charles Stuart, murderer
Mollie Sweetser, American politician
Jonathan Temple (1796–1866), Los Angeles, California, landowner, cattle rancher and politician, born in Reading
William Weston, Vermont politician who served as a member of the Vermont Senate, born in Reading
Brad Whitford, guitarist for Aerosmith, a member of the RMHS class of '70