In 1794, Abraham Voorhees moved his family from Somerset County, New Jersey, building a large double log cabin along the west bank of the Millcreek in Sycamore Township, in present-day Lockland. In the spring of 1795, Harvey Redinbo, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, visited from Reading, Pennsylvania. Pleased with the land that Voorhees had acquired, Redinbo purchased his own land, in the area of Hunt Road and Columbia Avenue. Around 1798, Voorhees platted a town named Voorhees-Town but did not record it with county officials until January 7, 1804. By then, Redinbo had convinced him to rename the town to Reading, after Redinbo's hometown.[7][8][9]
Between 1830 and 1880, Reading grew rapidly to become the largest village in Hamilton County. It was incorporated as a village on March 24, 1851. The village's major industry was clothing manufacturing.[7][9][10]
As of 1912, Reading was a sundown town. African Americans were prohibited from living within the city or remaining there after dark.[13] Most censuses from 1860 through 1960 recorded no African Americans in Reading.[14]
As of the census of 2020, there were 10,600 people living in the city, for a population density of 3,669.09 people per square mile (1,416.64/km2). There were 5,059 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 81.3% White, 9.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.8% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[22]
There were 4,941 households, out of which 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 24.7% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 27.5% had a female householder with no spouse present. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12, and the average family size was 2.80.[22]
17.3% of the city's population were under the age of 18, 65.8% were 18 to 64, and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males.[22]
According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $56,929, and the median income for a family was $77,386. About 10.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. About 63.8% of the population were employed, and 22.6% had a bachelor's degree or higher.[22]
2010 census
As of the census[23] of 2010, there were 10,385 people, 4,554 households, and 2,624 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,593.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,387.4/km2). There were 4,962 housing units at an average density of 1,717.0 per square mile (662.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.1% White, 7.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 4,554 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.4% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.97.
The median age in the city was 39.5 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 11,292 people, 4,885 households, and 2,921 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,867.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,493.3/km2). There were 5,128 housing units at an average density of 1,756.4 per square mile (678.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.69% White, 3.20% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 4,885 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,140, and the median income for a family was $51,858. Males had a median income of $35,466 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,527. About 4.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
"WORLD WAR I MONUMENT–VINE AND JEFFERSON STREETS (Insert) Clarence Halker, first Reading boy to make supreme sacrifice in World War I."
Economy
Like other communities in the Mill Creek Valley, Reading has an economy dominated by heavy industry, including suppliers for aerospace and automotive plants in nearby Sharonville and Evendale. Thermo Fisher Scientific's Patheon subsidiary operates a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant on 30 acres (12 ha) in the city.[24]
The Bridal District along Benson Street in downtown Reading is the most well-known concentration of wedding-related businesses in the United States.[25][26]
The electronics store chain Steinberg's was founded and based in Reading until its bankruptcy and liquidation in 1997.
Government
Reading, Ohio Fire Department in 1951
Reading uses a mayor–council form of government. The city council consists of a tie-breaking President of Council, four members representing wards, and three at-large members.[27] As of 2023[update], the Mayor of Reading is Robert "Bo" Bemmes[28] and the current council president is Kevin Mattscheck.
Reading is one of 23 municipalities in Hamilton County that maintains a mayor's court, in which traffic cases and other misdemeanor cases are heard by a magistrate.
Reading also includes a Roman Catholic all-girl's high school, Mount Notre Dame High School, where the daughter of Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman was one of the first students. Also included is a Catholic elementary school, Sts. Peter and Paul Academy serve students in grades K-8.
^Schaefer, Walt (January 11, 1991). "Encapsuled communities: Mottos sum up ambience of area neighborhoods". The Cincinnati Enquirer (West ed.). pp. 1–2 Extra – via Newspapers.com. READING: 'Wir Tun Unser Bestes' (We Try Our Best). This slogan, which appears on the city flag, was born in a Cub Scout group project for the nation's bicentennial in 1976, said Harold Davis, president of the Reading Board of Education and former leader of Cub Scout Pack 665. Each of 30 scouts created a flag based on Reading history. 'We did not take any one idea but combined ideas into a single thought,' Davis said. 'The motto (on the flag) reflects the German ancestry of our city.'[1]
^"Fear Crowd As Suspect Faces Girls". The Cincinnati Post. Vol. 70, no. 5 (home ed.). Scripps-Howard Newspapers. July 5, 1912. p. 1 – via NewsBank. Negroes are not allowed to live in Reading or stay there after dark and the attack stirred residents to greater indignation than that aroused by several other attacks in the same locality.
^Foreman, B. J. (June 1996). "The Reading Wedding Scene". Cincinnati. Cincinnati: CM Media. p. 79 – via Google Books. In the world of weddings, Reading, Ohio, is a prime destination. They call it 'The Bridal Boutique Capital of the Midwest,' and whether you're shopping for a wedding gown or a wedding cake, a wedding veil, bridesmaids dresses or wedding invitations, you'll surely find what you're looking for along Benson Street.
^Chawkins, Steve (August 24, 2008). "Turlock wants to bring in the brides". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved April 15, 2019. The best-known is in Reading, Ohio, a town outside Cincinnati whose 'Bridal District' has 38 stores and sponsors promotions including a footrace called the Runaway Bride 5K.
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