The distance of Reading from Pottsville and Port
Carbon is about 36 miles. The Union Canal
commences at Middletown, on the great Penn-
sylvania Canal, and unites that canal with the
Schuylkill Canal at Reading, thus opening a
line of transportation, through this place, between
Philadelphia and Pittsburg. These facilities for
business confer upon this place eminent advan-
tages for the encouragement of the spirit of en-
terprise by which the people are distinguished.

This town was laid out in 1748, by direction
of Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietors of the
province. It was incorporated as a borough
September 12, 1783, and reorganized March 29,
1813. It is said to be the largest borough in the
United States. The original inhabitants of the
place were principally German emigrants from
Wirtemburg and the Palatinate, who, by their
early preponderance in numbers, gave a decided
character to the habits of society. The German
language was commonly used in the ordinary
transactions of life, in which it still maintains
itself to a great extent. During the period of
the revolution, Reading was a favorite place of
resort for such persons and families from Phila-
delphia as wished to be somewhat retired from
the stormy agitations and dangerous exposures
of the city ; and thus at that early day the place
acquired a character for refinement and fashion-
able life for which it is still distinguished.

Reading, Yt., Windsor co. The surface of this
town is uneven. Towards the W. part is an
elevated tract of land, extending through the
town from N. to S., from which issue its princi-
pal streams. It is worthy of remark that no
water runs into this town. In the S. W. part
is a natural pond, about 200 rods in length and
80 in breadth. The streams in Reading, though
generally small, afford a tolerable supply of
water for common mills. The soil is of a mid-
dling quality, and affords excellent pasturage.
There are 3 villages in the town, Reading Centre
Village, South Reading, and Felchville. The
settlement was commenced about the year 1772,
by Andrew Spear, who removed his family here
from Walpole, N. H. 53 miles S. from Mont-
pelier, and 10 W. from Windsor.

Readington, N. J., Hunterdon co. Drained by
Rockaway Creek and branches, and by the S.
branch of Raritan River. Surface level in the
Si E. part, but elsewhere hilly; soil red shale,
clav and loam. 8 miles N. E. from Elemington.

keadsboro', Vt., Bennington co. This is a
mountainous township, watered by Deerfield
River. Much of the land is too elevated to ad-
mit of cultivation. When it was first settled is
unknown. 12 miles S. E. from Bennington, and
18 W. by S. from Brattleboro'.

Red Bank, N. J., Monmouth co. On the S.
bank of Neversink River. 46 miles E. from
Trenton. A summer resort for sea bathing and
fishing.

Red Bank, Pa., Clarion co. Red Bank, Ma-
honing, and Beaver Creeks water this town.
Surface undulating; soil loam. Alum is found
here. 190 miles W. N. W. from Harrisburg.

Redfield, N. Y., Oswego co. It is watered by
Salmon River and some of its branches. Surface
undulating; soil well adapted to grass. 15 miles
E. from Pulaski, and 131 N. W. from Albany.

Redford, Mn., Wayne co. The N. branch of
Rouge River and Powers Creek water this town,
which lies 13 miles N. W. from Detroit.

69

Redford, N. Y., Clinton co. On the N. side
of Saranac River. 185 miles N. from Albany.
Iron ore is found in the vicinity.

Redhook, N. Y., Dutchess co. On the E. side
of the Hudson, and watered by a few small
streams flowing into it. Surface rolling; soil
clay and loam. 22 miles N. from Poughkeepsie,
and 51 S. from Albany.

Refugio County. Ts., c. h. at Refugio. S. part,
between Aransas Bay and Neuces River.

Red River County, Ts., c. h. at Clarkesville. In
the N. E. angle of the state, on Red River.

Red Sulphur Springs, Va., Monroe co. On
Indian Creek. 40 miles S. W. from the White
Sulphur Springs, and 249 miles W. from Rich-
mond. See Fashionable Resorts.

Rehoboth, Ms., Bristol co. The original limits
of Rehoboth were extensive, comprehending the
present town, Seekonk, Pautucket, Attleboro',
and part of Swansey; and Cumberland and Bar-
rington, R. I. The first white settler in the
original limits of the town was William Black-
stone, a nonconformist minister of England, who
fled from persecution, and sought an asylum in
the wilds of America. He was the first white
man who lived on the peninsula where the city
of Boston now stands. He located himself in
what is now Cumberland, R. I., on the river which
bears his name. The Indian name of the town
was Wannamoiset. The surface is varied, with
a thin soil, and well watered by Palmer's Eiver,
and other fine mill streams. 10 miles S. W.
from Taunton, and 3 from the depot at Attle-
boro,' from which to Boston is 31 miles.

Remsen, N. Y., Oneida co. Watered by Black
River and some of its branches. A hilly town,
with a soil of tolerably good quality. 18 miles N.
from the city of Utica, and 96 N. W. from Al-
bany.

Rensselaer County, N. Y., c. h. at Troy. It is
bounded N. by Washington co., E. by the states
of Vermont and Massachusetts, S. by Columbia
co., and W. by the Hudson River. Watered by
the Hoosic River, the Poestenkill and Wynants-
kill. Surface hilly and mountainous on the E.,
but more level as you approach the Hudson ; soil
generally good, and in the valleys very fertile.
A few beds of marl and some sulphur springs
comprise its mineral wealth. The Albany and
West Stoekbridge, Rensselaer and Saratoga, and
Schenectady and Troy Railroads cross this
county.

Renssdaerville, N. Y., Albany co. Watered by
Catskill and Poxes Creeks. The surface is
broken by spurs of the Catskill Mountains; soil
mostly rich sandy loam. 24 miles S. W. from
the eity of Albany.

Reynolds County, Mo. S. E. central. Watered
by the Big Black, which flows S. through it.

Rhea County, Te., c. h. at Washington. It is
bounded N. E. by Roane co., E. by the Tennessee
River, separating it from Meigs co., S. by Ham-
ilton, and W. and N. W. by Bledsoe and Morgan
counties. Drained by small streams flowing into
the Tennessee.

Rhinebeck, N. Y., Dutchess co. Watered by
Landtman's Creek on the S. W., and by the Hud-
son River on the W. Has a level or rolling surface,
and the central portions a fertile soil. 17 miles N.
from Poughkeepsie, and 57 S. from Albany.

Rice, N. Y., Cattaraugus co. Incorporated io

1846.

Riceboro\ Ga., c. h. Liberty co. On Newport