Most Well-Read Cities in the USA
In this new
Amazon lists the top twenty “most well-read cities” in the USA.
There are a lot of caveats in the claim for me: it’s Amazon’s data, so it might be swayed by the percentage of people who buy books online, versus in a brick-and-mortar store; the cities have to have a population of 100,000; it’s books, magazines, and newspapers…I think many people would just count books…and if newspapers, why not blogs? 
That said, I immediately looked for cities in my area. 
The only California city in the top twenty is Berkeley. My first thought was that Berkeley has been known for some great physical bookstores in the past (like Moe’s and Cody’s). They also have specialty stores, like Dark Carnival and the Builders Booksource.
However, lots of cities in California have many bookstores.
Another obvious thing about Berkeley is the university…and they may have a significant impact. Amazon doesn’t say they separated out textbooks. Their most well-read city is Cambridge, Massachusetts…home to Harvard and MIT.
Clearly, though, having a big university and many bookstores aren’t the only factors, as looking at the list will show you.
I recommend you check it out and see where your area rates.
I will say the Pacific Northwest and the South are particularly well-represented…
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.
May 26, 2011 at 7:45 pm |
I live in Alexandria, VA and can’t help but note with some local pride that not only are we number 2 but our neighbors, Arlington, VA and Washington, DC are numbers 10 and 14. Call us the “literate triangle.”
Seriously, you do see people reading all the time around here and, pace Amazon, not just children’s books. And, yes, people recognize my Kindle without my having to tell them what it is.
May 27, 2011 at 12:40 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roberto!
It’s reassuring to know folks that close to the capital read a lot.
May 27, 2011 at 6:46 am |
I was particularly surprised that Florida had 3 in the top 20. Neither Orlando nor Miami really conjure a reading zeitgeist. And Gainesville? Well, it is home to a major university, but they are more noted for their football prowess than anything else — maybe it’s all those wannabe offensive tackles buying up copies of “The Blind Side” to see what’s what in the modern pro game
???
Also of note neither of the two US cultural hegemons: NYC and LA are ranked — I wonder what that says about the state of culture in these United States these days?
May 27, 2011 at 12:55 pm |
Thanks for writing, Edward!
As to New York and L.A., I was wondering if it’s because they have so many bookstores (I think you’d have a tough time going two blocks in New York without seeing one)
that they don’t order as much online.
May 27, 2011 at 6:56 am |
It’s worth noting that several of the top cities are big retirement areas. I know what I’d like to do more of when I retire: read.
May 27, 2011 at 12:55 pm |
Thanks for writing, Rebecca!
Excellent point!