Community Assessment Paper
Community Assessment: Reading, Pennsylvania
Judith Giorgio
Western Governor’s University
Abstract
This paper is an assessment of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. It will describe the city with a focus on the population, economic situation, culture, neighborhood and safety factors. It will also look at what the city has in place in case of a disaster. From this data, I will interpret the overall status of the community and formulate a logical community diagnosis.
Community Description and Data Interpretation
Incorporated in 1847, the City of Reading is located 48 miles Northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is surrounded by multiple communities. The major highway Route 422 connects to the Schuylkill Expressway giving it easy access to Philadelphia. The City of Reading is geographically 9.8 square miles. (Reading…, 2013) In the past, the Reading Railroad, which is no longer in service, transported coal from Central Pennsylvania to the Port of Philadelphia. With its demise, the economy began declining. The peak of population in Reading was 1930 when it was over 110,000 residents. It began declining until about 1990. Its population is now on the rise, which is attributed the flood of persons with Hispanic origins coming down from New York looking for cheaper rent (Reading…, 2014)
Population Economic
According to CityData.com, the population in Reading was 88,102 in 2012. This is an 8.5% increase since 2000. Of this number, 58.4% are Hispanic, 29.6% are white, and 9.3% are black. (Reading…, 2013) From 2000 to 2010 there was a marked increase from 38% latino where the white population declined from 47% to 27%. Latino population is expected to continue to increase to 71% in 2018, and the white population will continue to decrease to 18%. (Berks County…, 2013)
The estimated median household income was $24,682 in 2011, down from $26,698 in 2000. The Poverty Rate is over 41%, making it the nation’s
Judith Giorgio
Western Governor’s University
Abstract
This paper is an assessment of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. It will describe the city with a focus on the population, economic situation, culture, neighborhood and safety factors. It will also look at what the city has in place in case of a disaster. From this data, I will interpret the overall status of the community and formulate a logical community diagnosis.
Community Description and Data Interpretation
Incorporated in 1847, the City of Reading is located 48 miles Northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is surrounded by multiple communities. The major highway Route 422 connects to the Schuylkill Expressway giving it easy access to Philadelphia. The City of Reading is geographically 9.8 square miles. (Reading…, 2013) In the past, the Reading Railroad, which is no longer in service, transported coal from Central Pennsylvania to the Port of Philadelphia. With its demise, the economy began declining. The peak of population in Reading was 1930 when it was over 110,000 residents. It began declining until about 1990. Its population is now on the rise, which is attributed the flood of persons with Hispanic origins coming down from New York looking for cheaper rent (Reading…, 2014)
Population Economic
According to CityData.com, the population in Reading was 88,102 in 2012. This is an 8.5% increase since 2000. Of this number, 58.4% are Hispanic, 29.6% are white, and 9.3% are black. (Reading…, 2013) From 2000 to 2010 there was a marked increase from 38% latino where the white population declined from 47% to 27%. Latino population is expected to continue to increase to 71% in 2018, and the white population will continue to decrease to 18%. (Berks County…, 2013)
The estimated median household income was $24,682 in 2011, down from $26,698 in 2000. The Poverty Rate is over 41%, making it the nation’s
References: Berks County Hazard Vulnerability Assessment and Mitigation Plan Update. (February, 2013) Skelly and Loy. Retrieved from http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/DES/EMA/Documents/Hazard%20Mitigation%20 Update/2013_Berks_Hazard_Vulnerability_Assessment_and_Mitigation_Plan_Update.pdf Berks County, Pennsylvania Community Health Needs Assessment. (January, 2013). Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved from http://www.uwberks.org/wwwpub/assets/base/ pdf/CommunityImpact/CHNAFinalReport.pdf County of Berks Pennsylvania. (n.d.) Department of Emergency Services. Retrieved from http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/DES/Pages/AboutDES.aspx Reading Area Community College. (2013). Berks County Social Services. Retrieved from http://www.racc.edu/BCSS/agency.aspx Reading, Pennsylvania. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/Reading-Pennsylvania.html Reading, Pennsylvania. (2014). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania Tavernise, S. (September, 2011). “Reading, PA Knew It Was Poor. Now It Knows Just How Poor.” The New York Times, September 27, 2011, page A10. The United States Census Bureau. (2014). County and State QuickFacts. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42000.html