Port Reading, New Jersey

Port Reading, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Location of Port Reading in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Port Reading Location in Middlesex County Show map of Middlesex County, New Jersey Port Reading Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Port Reading Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°33′42″N74°14′38″W / 40.561643°N 74.244018°W / 40.561643; -74.244018
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Middlesex
Township	Woodbridge
Area [1]
• Total	2.20 sq mi (5.70 km2)
• Land	1.98 sq mi (5.12 km2)
• Water	0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2)  22.61%
Elevation [2]	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	3,921
• Density	1,984.31/sq mi (766.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07064 [4]
Area code(s)	732/848
FIPS code	34-60540 [5] [6] [7]
GNIS feature ID	02389698 [5] [8]

Port Reading is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) ^[9] in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. ^{[10] [11] [12]} As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,921. ^[3]

History

Port Reading was built in the late 19th century by the Reading Railroad of Pennsylvania to serve their shipping needs, especially coal from the Pennsylvania anthracite coal fields. In 1892 Port Reading was connected to the Reading Railroad system via a new branch line from Port Reading Junction near Bound Brook, New Jersey, known as the Port Reading Secondary. The Port Reading Refinery was located in the district.

Geography

Port Reading is in northeastern Middlesex County, in the northeast part of Woodbridge Township. It is bordered to the north and east by the borough of Carteret, to the northwest by Avenel within Woodbridge Township, to west by Woodbridge proper, and to the south by Sewaren, also within Woodbridge Township. It is bordered to the southeast by the tidal Arthur Kill, across which is Staten Island, New York.

The New Jersey Turnpike passes through Port Reading, with the closest access being Exit 12 in Carteret.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Port Reading has an area of 2.20 square miles (5.70 km²), including 1.98 square miles (5.13 km²) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²) of water (10.26%) lying within the Arthur Kill. ^[1]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	3,977		—
2000	3,829		−3.7%
2010	3,728		−2.6%
2020	3,921		5.2%
Population sources: 1990-2010 [10] 2000 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [3]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,728 people, 1,283 households, and 998 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,662.2 people per square mile (641.8 people/km²). There were 1,342 housing units at an average density of 598.3 units per square mile (231.0 units/km²). The racial makeup was 79.75% (2,973) White, 7.19% (268) Black or African American, 0.24% (9) Native American, 4.99% (186) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 5.53% (206) from other races, and 2.31% (86) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.84% (665) of the population. ^[14]

Of the 1,283 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18; 57.2% were married couples living together; 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.2% were non-families. Of all households, 18.7% were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.31. ^[14]

22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.1 males. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census ^[6] there were 3,829 people, 1,337 households, and 1,069 families living in the CDP. The population density was 663.2 people/km² (1,718 people/sq mi). There were 1,357 housing units at an average density of 235.0 units/km² (609 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.99% White, 2.61% African American, 2.40% Asian, 1.78% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.57% of the population. ^[13]

There were 1,337 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21. ^[13]

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males. ^[13]

The median income for a household in the CDP was $58,945, and the median income for a family was $64,259. Males had a median income of $50,142 versus $30,283 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,978. About 1.7% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Education

Public school

Elementary school (K-6)

• Port Reading School #9 ^[15]

See also

• List of neighborhoods in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
• List of neighborhoods in Edison, New Jersey

References

1. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: New Jersey". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Port Reading Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed November 30, 2012.
3. Census Data Explorer: Port Reading CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2023.
4. Look Up a ZIP Code for Port Reading, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed November 30, 2012.
5. Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
6. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
7. Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
8. US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
9. State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
10. New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 30, 2012.
11. GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Middlesex County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.
12. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015.
13. DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Port Reading CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.
14. DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Port Reading CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.
15. Port Reading School #9, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed December 15, 2022.

External links

• McMyler Coal Dumper - Built in 1917, located in Port Reading, New Jersey
• City Data on Port Reading, NJ