Census Data for West Reading
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave West Reading a population of 4,291 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave West Reading a population of 4,212 people.
The community of West Reading is located in Berks County. The 2010 Census gave Berks County; a population of 411,442 people. This means that West Reading had 1.02% of the county's total population, making it Berks' 7th most populous community.
At the same time, Pennsylvania had a population of 12,702,379 people, meaning that West Reading had 0.03% of the total population of Pennsylvania - making it the state's 238th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for West Reading has a total area of 0.6 square miles [1.5 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0 square miles [0 km²]).
Berks County has a land area of 856 square miles [2,218.3 km²]. At 0.59 square miles [1.5 km²], West Reading has 0.07% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like West Reading, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for West Reading reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of West Reading might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 40° 20' 1" (or 40.33°)
- Lon: -75° 56' 48" (or -75.95°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, West Reading had 1,738 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 4,212 people, this averages 2.42 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows West Reading had a land area of 0.59 square miles [1.5 km²]. This translates to 2,916 Housing Units per square mile [1,125 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: West Reading had 1,783 Housing Units, a population of 4,049 people and a land area of 0.57 square miles [1.5 km²]. This gives a density of 2.27 people per Housing Unit and 3,117 Housing Units per square mile [1,203 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for West Reading and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Berks County ...
West Reading is located in Berks County<4>.
The county had a population of 411,442 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 4,212 people, West Reading represented 1.02% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of West Reading has a population density of 7,067 people per square mile [2,728 people/km²], Berks County averages 480.4 people per square mile [185.5 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Berks County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for West Reading, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of West Reading. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for West Reading or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of West Reading, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for West Reading.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 40.333761° (or 40°20'1" N)
- Lon: -75.946886° (or -75°56'48" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 40.334083° (or 40°20'2" N)
- Lon: -75.946597° (or -75°56'47" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 142.2 feet to the southwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1214935) to West Reading. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of West Reading. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 40.333148° (or 40°19'59" N)
- Lon: -75.944376° (or -75°56'39" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 732 feet to the west<6> of the point given by the GNIS for West Reading. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Reading.
Miscellaneous Information for West Reading ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Berks County or the community of West Reading:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 42 (Pennsylvania)
- County Code: 011 (Berks County)
- Place Code: 83928 (West Reading)
- State & County Code: 42/011 (Pennsylvania / Berks County)
- State & Place Code: 42/83928 (Pennsylvania / West Reading)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- West Reading is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Reading.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for West Reading: www.westreadingborough.com/
The official website for Berks County: www.co.berks.pa.us/
The official website for State of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties, including Berks, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 145 degrees and a distance of 142.2 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 72 degrees and a distance of 732 feet. |