Shillington, Pennsylvania
Shillington is a borough of 5,492 people in Berks County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1860.
Why visit Shillington
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 20 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Alvernia University, Penn Street Bridge, Astor Theatre and City Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Shillington
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Shillington
Shillington is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 5,475 at the time of the 2020 census the borough is nestled amongst other suburbs outside Reading. It is perhaps best known for being the location of the homestead to Pennsylvania's first governor, Thomas Mifflin, and as the childhood home of American author John Updike. Many of Updike's stories take place in the fictional town of Olinger, a lightly-disguised version of Shillington, and in its environs.
From the Wikipedia article Shillington, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Alvernia University
School · 1.8 mi
Catholic university in Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Museums and landmarks22
Astor Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Former movie theater in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Seat of government in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
GoggleWorks
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Non-profit organization in the USA
Hotel Abraham Lincoln
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic building in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
John Updike Childhood Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Childhood home of American novelist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner John Updike
Keystone Hook and Ladder Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic fire station located at Reading, Pennsylvania
Liberty Fire Company No. 5
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Fire station in Pennsylvania, United States of America
Livingood House-Stryker Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Single-family detached home in Pennsylvania, United States of America
Log House, Hiester House and Market Annex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Metropolitan Edison Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Building in Pennsylvania, United States
Reading Knitting Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Building in Pennsylvania, United States
_at_U.S._Route_222_Business_(Lancaster_Avenue)_in_Shillington,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
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_between_U.S._Route_422_(West_Shore_Bypass)_and_Second_Street_in_Reading,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
Cotton and Maple Streets School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Restaurants and cafes20
Friendly's
Diner · American · 1.0 mi
1535 Lancaster Ave, Reading
Mo-Th,Su 08:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-23:00
Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.0 mi
690 Kenhorst Plaza, Shillington
Mo-Th,Su 10:30-21:30; Fr 10:30-22:30; Sa 10:30-22:00
Mangia! Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Restaurant · Italian · 1.0 mi
322 East Wyomissing Avenue
Mo,We-Th 11:00-21:00; Tu off; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 09:00-20:00
Rooted & Grounded Cafe
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Breakfast, Donut, Pastry · 1.1 mi
1400 Lancaster Avenue, Reading
Tu-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa 08:00-14:00; Su,Mo closed
Liberty Ale House
Bar and pub · 1.0 mi
1501 Lancaster Ave, Reading
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-26:00
Schaylor Brewing Company
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
2390 Lancaster Pike, Shillington
Mo off; Tu-We,Su 11:00-22:00; Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
Lincoln Park Fire Company
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
310 Old Fritztown Road, Reading
Mo-We off; Th,Sa 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-18:00
Rita's Italian Ice
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 1.4 mi
1124 East Lancaster Avenue, Reading
12:00-21:00
8 more on the map.
History
Shillington began in 1860 as part of Cumru Township, when local landowner and borough namesake Samuel Shilling sold some of his lots for residences. The area had an inn, originally built in 1762, called the Three Mile House because it was 3 miles (5 km) from Reading on the Lancaster Pike. The inn was a popular stop for farmers going to the city's markets, and later it sat near a horse racing track built by Aaron Einstein in 1868.
A post office opened in Shillington in 1884. On August 18, 1908, the Quarter Session Court officially incorporated the borough of Shillington as a separate municipality from Cumru Township with a population of 450. Later that year Shillington elected its first official, Adam Rollman, as chief burgess. Borough council meetings were held in various locations over the years until the present town hall was completed in 1932 by order of town election commissioner Steven Myers.
From the History section of Shillington, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship18
Trinity Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Lincoln Park Community United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 1.1 mi
1 Carlisle Avenue, Reading
Saint John Baptist de la Salle Roman Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.5 mi
420 Holland Street, Shillington
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries49
Healthcare2
Map of Shillington
142 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 23°F | 3.0 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 24°F | 2.6 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 3.5 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 42°F | 3.4 in |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.8 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 4.8 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.5 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 57°F | 4.9 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.8 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Reading Spaatz Fld (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Berks County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-03-23: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2011-09-12: Tropical Storm Lee (Flood)
- 2011-09-08: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Reading Municipal Airport (RDG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Kenhorst 1 mi east, about 2 min by car
- Lincoln Park 1 mi northwest, about 2 min by car
- Mohnton 1 mi southwest, about 2 min by car
- Grill 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Wyomissing 2 mi north, about 4 min by car
- West Lawn 2 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Reading 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
- Springmont 3 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Flying Hills 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Colony Park 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Shillington Town Hall, BerksCo PA 01, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Philadelphia Ave 12, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 13 28 31 View west along Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Philadelphia Avenue) at U.S. Route 222 Business (Lancaster Avenue) in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shillington Town Hall War Memorial, BerksCo PA 02, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shillington Town Hall Area, BerksCo PA 03, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 11 39 26 View east along Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Philadelphia Avenue) at U.S. Route 222 Business (Lancaster Avenue) in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mifflin Community Library, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 15 42 17 View south along U.S. Route 222 Business (Lancaster Avenue) just north of Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Philadelphia Avenue) in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 16 00 25 View north along U.S. Route 222 Business (Lancaster Avenue) at Brobst Street in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- W Lancaster Ave 201, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- W Lancaster Ave 200, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 11 31 52 View north along U.S. Route 222 Business and east along Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Lancaster Avenue) at Wyomissing Avenue in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Governor Mifflin School District Building, Shillington, PA, Sept. 2025, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2022-08-23 13 31 31 View south along U.S. Route 222 Business and west along Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Lancaster Avenue) at Wyomissing Avenue in Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- S Wyomissing Ave, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Lukes Evangelical Church, Shillington PA, Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shillington, PA Church of Christ, May 2026, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Governor Mifflin High School campus and field, Shillington, PA, Sept. 2025, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- US 222 Business sb at Lynoak Avenue, Shillington, PA, Sept. 2025, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shillington, PA Municipal Building, May 2026, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wyomissing Avenue nb entering Shillington, PA, May 2026, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trinity Lutheran Reading PA, Smallbones, CC0
- Keystone HnL, Smallbones, CC0
- Speckled Hen Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- HOTEL ABRAHAM LINCOLN, READING, BERKS COUNTY, PA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- JOHN UPDIKE CHILDHOOD HOME, SHILLINGTON, BERKS COUNTY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Livingood House Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- Reading PA City Hall, Smallbones, CC0
- Liberty No 5 Reading PA, Smallbones, CC0
- Knitting Mill Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- Metro Edison Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- Goggle Works, Smallbones, CC0
- Hendel Hat Factory Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- Reading Hardware District, Smallbones, CC0
- Reading Hardware Butt Works, Smallbones, CC0
- Glove Factory Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- Cotton Maple School Reading, Smallbones, CC0
- 2022-08-24 15 36 51 View east along U.S. Route 422 Business (Penn Street) between U.S. Route 422 (West Shore Bypass) and Second Street in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Reading Art Museum, Smallbones, CC0
- 2022-08-23 11 41 37 View east along Pennsylvania State Route 724 (Philadelphia Avenue) between Kings Boulevard and Mifflin Boulevard in Cumru Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
_just_north_of_Pennsylvania_State_Route_724_(Philadelphia_Avenue)_in_Shillington,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Brobst_Street_in_Shillington,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Wyomissing_Avenue_in_Shillington,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Wyomissing_Avenue_in_Shillington,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
_between_Kings_Boulevard_and_Mifflin_Boulevard_in_Cumru_Township,_Berks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
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