<P> The city, which is approximately halfway between the state's most populous city, Philadelphia, and the state capital, Harrisburg (as well as about halfway between Allentown and Lancaster) is strategically situated along a major transportation route from Central to Eastern Pennsylvania, and lent its name to the now - defunct Reading Railroad, which transported anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania Coal Region to the eastern United States via the Port of Philadelphia . Reading Railroad is one of the four railroad properties in the classic United States version of the Monopoly board game . </P> <P> Reading was one of the first localities where outlet shopping became a tourist industry . It has been known as "The Pretzel City", because of numerous local pretzel bakeries . Currently, Bachman, Dieffenbach, Tom Sturgis, and Unique Pretzel bakeries call the Reading area home . </P> <P> According to the 2010 census, Reading has the highest share of citizens living in poverty in the nation . </P> <P> In recent years, the Reading area has become a destination for cyclists . With more than 125 miles of trails in five major preserves, it is an International Mountain Bicycling Association Ride Center and held the Reading Radsport Festival on September 8--9, 2017 . </P>

Is reading pa the poorest city in america