The Latino Heritage of Reading and Berks County

Walk down Penn Street in Reading today, and you’ll hear the rhythms of salsa and merengue drifting from storefronts, smell the savory aromas of arroz con pollo and mofongo wafting from family-owned restaurants, and see signs in both English and Spanish welcoming customers. This is not the Reading of generations past—this is Reading transformed, a city where Latino heritage has become woven into the very fabric of community life.

Reading, Pennsylvania—the fifth-largest city in the Commonwealth—has undergone one of the most remarkable demographic transformations of any American city in the past half-century. Once a predominantly white industrial hub famous for its railroad and iron works, Reading is now a majority-Latino city, with approximately 67% of its 95,000 residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. This transformation represents not merely a change in demographics, but a profound reimagining of what an American city can become.

The First Wave: Puerto Rican Pioneers (1960s–1980s)

Mushroom Fields and New Beginnings

The Latino story of Reading begins in the mushroom fields.

In the mid-1960s, the first significant wave of Latino migrants—predominantly Puerto Ricans—arrived in Berks County, drawn by employment opportunities in the region’s thriving mushroom industry. Chester County, just to the south, had become the mushroom capital of America, and the demand for labor extended into southeastern Pennsylvania.

These early pioneers came as American citizens—Puerto Ricans have held U.S. citizenship since 1917—yet they arrived in a land that often felt foreign. They came from the tropical island of Puerto Rico to the cold Pennsylvania winters, from a Spanish-speaking culture to English-only workplaces, from close-knit barrios to scattered rural communities.

Michael Toledo, whose grandfather was among these first arrivals, recalled the family stories of those early days. His grandfather worked the mushroom fields, saved his earnings, and eventually settled in Reading proper. Today, Toledo serves as Executive Director of Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, carrying forward the legacy of community service that began with those first Puerto Rican settlers.

Building Community Infrastructure

As the Puerto Rican population grew through the 1970s and 1980s, community institutions began to take root. Churches offered Spanish-language services. Small businesses—bodegas, barbershops, restaurants—opened their doors. And in 1972, Centro Hispano Daniel Torres was established, becoming the anchor institution for Reading’s growing Latino community.

For over fifty years, Centro Hispano has served as more than just a community center. It has been a lifeline—offering English classes to new arrivals, job training programs, legal assistance, and a gathering place where Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, and other Latino families could find support and solidarity.

By 1990, Puerto Ricans numbered approximately 21,000 in the Reading metropolitan area, forming the largest Hispanic subgroup and establishing the cultural foundation upon which subsequent waves would build.

The Second Wave: Dominicans and Mexicans (1990s–2000s)

The New Migrants

The 1990s brought dramatic change. Reading experienced one of the fastest-growing Dominican populations of any metropolitan area in the United States—an increase of nearly 800% during the decade. Alongside Dominicans came growing numbers of Mexican immigrants, transforming the city’s Latino community from predominantly Puerto Rican to a rich tapestry of Caribbean and Latin American cultures.

These new arrivals came for many of the same reasons as the Puerto Ricans before them: opportunity, affordability, and family. But they also came fleeing the crushing costs of gateway cities like New York.

Indiana Hernandez, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic in 2006, found her way to Reading via the well-worn path from the Bronx. “In New York, the rent was impossible,” she explained. “Here, I could afford to live, to work, to dream.”

Tommy Acevedo, another Dominican immigrant, started with an auto repair shop. Today, he owns multiple businesses, including a grocery store, and plans to open a car dealership. His story embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that has characterized Latino Reading.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The demographic transformation was swift and unmistakable:

By 2011, when Reading was designated the poorest city in America with a 40% poverty rate, the Latino community faced particular hardships. Unemployment rates among Dominicans reached 26%, and 63% lived below the poverty line. Yet even in these difficult circumstances, families persevered, businesses opened, and children attended school.

The Dominican Experience: Dreams and Discrimination

A New Destination

A groundbreaking 2004 study of Dominican immigrants in Reading revealed the complex realities facing newcomers. Researchers found that Dominicans in Reading were predominantly recent arrivals—one-third had been in the United States for five years or fewer. They came seeking the American dream but often found the path strewn with obstacles.

Facing Discrimination

The study documented troubling patterns of discrimination:

• 42% reported institutional discrimination—being treated unfairly by employers, police, landlords, or educators
• 20.7% reported being denied a job, promotion, or being fired unfairly
• 18.7% reported negative encounters with police, including being stopped, searched, questioned, or threatened
• 19.7% reported being forbidden to speak Spanish at work or school
• 45.9% experienced interpersonal discrimination at least once per year

Perhaps most telling: 78% of those reporting unfair treatment attributed it to their race or ethnicity. The discrimination was not imagined—it was embedded in daily interactions, workplace dynamics, and institutional practices.

Those with darker skin reported higher levels of police discrimination. Men experienced more institutional discrimination than women. And in a cruel irony, those with greater English proficiency were more likely to perceive discrimination—perhaps because their language skills allowed them to recognize slights that others might miss.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Yet despite these challenges, the Dominican community in Reading has flourished. They opened businesses, raised families, and contributed to the civic life of their adopted city. They joined Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians, and others in building a Latino Reading that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Making History: Latino Political Power

The Rise of Eddie Moran

On November 5, 2019, Reading made history. Eddie Moran, a Democrat and first-generation American, was elected as the 84th Mayor of Reading—and the first Latino to lead a major city in Pennsylvania’s history.

Moran’s election was no accident. It was the culmination of decades of demographic change, community organizing, and civic engagement. In a city where Latinos now constitute over two-thirds of the population, political representation had finally begun to reflect demographic reality.

“I understand what it’s like to struggle,” Moran told supporters on election night. As a migrant himself, he embodied the journey of his constituents—from newcomer to community leader, from outsider to the city’s highest office.

A Council Transformed

In January 2024, Reading made history again when the city swore in not just Mayor Moran for his second term, but also the first Pennsylvania city council to include two Latinas serving simultaneously. The ceremonial event marked a milestone: Latino political power in Reading had moved from aspiration to reality.

Political Influence Beyond Reading

Reading’s transformation has implications far beyond Berks County. In the 2024 presidential election, Pennsylvania emerged as a crucial swing state, and Reading’s Latino voters found themselves at the center of national attention. Political operatives from both parties descended on Penn Street, recognizing that the Latino vote in cities like Reading could determine not just local races but the presidency itself.

Faith and Community: The Spiritual Foundations

Catholic Traditions

For many Latino families, faith provides the foundation of community life. St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, with its Spanish-language masses and traditional celebrations, has become a spiritual home for Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican parishioners alike.

After Sunday services, families gather for meals of chicken with rice and beans, sharing food and fellowship in the church halls. These gatherings bridge generations—grandparents who remember Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic breaking bread with grandchildren who have known only Reading.

The Rise of Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches

Alongside Catholic parishes, evangelical and Pentecostal congregations have flourished. Often meeting in converted storefronts or nondescript buildings, these churches offer passionate worship services, tight-knit communities, and support networks for new arrivals.

One remarkable story captures this religious transformation: an aging white Protestant congregation, recognizing that their numbers were dwindling while Latino churches were growing, made the decision to donate their historic building to Iglesia Jesucristo es el Rey, a thriving Latino congregation led by Puerto Rican pastors Carol and Jose Pagan.

This passing of the torch—from one Christian community to another, from one culture to the next—symbolizes Reading’s transformation in microcosm.

Economic Contributions and Entrepreneurship

Small Business Revolution

Drive through Reading today, and you’ll see the evidence of Latino entrepreneurship everywhere:

• Restaurants serving Puerto Rican mofongo, Dominican sancocho, Mexican tacos al pastor, and Colombian bandeja paisa
• Barbershops like Lucy’s, where customers catch up on community news while getting their hair cut
• Auto repair shops and mechanics serving families who depend on reliable transportation
• Grocery stores stocking ingredients from across Latin America
• Professional services including lawyers, accountants, and healthcare providers serving Spanish-speaking clients

The Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce supports this growing business community, advocating for Latino entrepreneurs and connecting them with resources and opportunities.

The Economic Future

Reading’s young and growing Latino population represents the city’s economic future. While the older, predominantly white population ages, Latino families are raising children, starting businesses, and investing in the community. Economic development experts recognize that Reading’s prosperity is inextricably linked to the success of its Latino residents.

Cultural Impact: A City Transformed

Music and Celebration

The sounds of Reading have changed. Salsa, merengue, bachata, and reggaeton pour from car windows and house parties. Spanish-language radio stations broadcast news, music, and community announcements. And during summer weekends, the rhythms of Latin America fill the city’s parks and gathering places.

Each September, Reading celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a full calendar of events. The Puerto Rican Day Parade, organized by the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce, fills Penn Street with floats, dancers, and marching bands. The Berks Cultural Diversity Festival showcases the traditions of multiple Latino communities alongside other immigrant groups.

Food and Cuisine

Perhaps nothing captures cultural identity like food. Reading’s restaurant scene has been transformed by Latino cuisines:

• Puerto Rican restaurants serve pasteles, alcapurrias, and lechón asado
• Dominican establishments offer mangú, tostones, and habichuelas guisadas
• Mexican taquerias provide carnitas, barbacoa, and agua frescas
• Colombian cafés serve empanadas, arepas, and strong coffee

These restaurants are more than businesses—they are cultural embassies, introducing non-Latinos to the rich culinary traditions of the Caribbean and Latin America while providing comfort food for homesick immigrants.

Language and Identity

Reading has become a bilingual city. Spanish is heard in shops and schools, in churches and courthouses. Many young people speak “Spanglish”—a fluid blend of English and Spanish that reflects their bicultural identity.

This linguistic diversity has not been without controversy. Some longtime residents have expressed discomfort with the changes, while others celebrate the multilingual character of their community. The debate over language mirrors broader national conversations about immigration, assimilation, and American identity.

Challenges and Tensions

The Urban-Suburban Divide

A stark divide separates Reading from the surrounding Berks County. While the city is majority-Latino and struggles with poverty, the county remains predominantly white and relatively affluent. This demographic divide has created an “us and them” environment that community leaders are working to bridge.

County residents sometimes hold negative opinions of Reading, avoiding downtown altogether. Some express sadness at “what Reading has turned into,” revealing discomfort with the demographic transformation. Politicians have been accused of scapegoating immigrant communities for economic problems that have deeper structural roots.

Poverty and Economic Challenges

Despite the vibrancy of Latino culture, economic challenges persist. Reading’s 2011 designation as America’s poorest city highlighted systemic issues that affect Latino residents disproportionately:

• High unemployment rates, particularly among recent immigrants
• Lower educational attainment, with only 60% high school graduation rates
• Limited access to healthcare and social services
• Housing instability and food insecurity

Notably, 67% of Berks County’s poor residents live within Reading’s city limits—a concentration of poverty that requires regional solutions.

Building Bridges

Yet there are signs of progress. Organizations like Centro Hispano, Tec Centro (a workforce development program), and the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance are working to connect Latino residents with education, job training, and economic opportunities. Penn State Berks has expanded its relationships with Latino communities, offering programming and support for students. And interfaith coalitions are bringing together diverse congregations to address shared challenges.

Looking Forward: The Next Chapter

A Demographic Preview

Reading offers a preview of America’s demographic future. By 2044, the United States is projected to become a “majority-minority” nation, with no single racial or ethnic group constituting a majority. Reading arrived at that milestone years ago.

The city’s experience—with all its challenges and achievements—offers lessons for communities across the country grappling with demographic change. How can diverse communities build shared identity? How can longtime residents and newcomers find common ground? How can economic opportunity be expanded to include all residents?

Community Voices

“We have the power to absolutely take hold of this city and be agents of positive change,” Michael Toledo of Centro Hispano has said. His optimism is shared by many Latino leaders who see Reading’s transformation not as something that happened to the city, but as something the Latino community is actively shaping.

Mayor Eddie Moran echoes this sentiment, working to revitalize downtown Reading while ensuring that Latino residents benefit from economic development. His administration represents a new chapter in the city’s history—one written in both English and Spanish.

A Living Heritage

The Latino heritage of Reading and Berks County is not a story confined to the past. It is a living, breathing reality that continues to evolve with each new family that arrives, each business that opens, each child who grows up bilingual and bicultural.

From the mushroom fields of the 1960s to the mayor’s office of the 2020s, Latino Reading has traveled an extraordinary journey. The Puerto Rican pioneers who first arrived half a century ago could scarcely have imagined that their grandchildren would lead the city they helped build.

Yet here we are: in a Reading transformed, a Reading that honors its Pennsylvania Dutch past while embracing its Latino present and future. In the rhythms of the music, the flavors of the food, the prayers of the faithful, and the dreams of the entrepreneurs, the Latino heritage of Reading lives on.

Key Dates in Reading’s Latino History