INTRODUCTION: 2004 RANKINGS
How well does your city cultivate literate,'bookish' behavior in its citizenry?
| 1. Minneapolis, MN |
| 2. Seattle, WA |
| 3. Pittsburgh, PA |
| 4. Madison, WI |
| 5. Cincinnati, OH |
| 6. Washington, DC |
| 7. Denver, CO |
| 8. Boston, MA |
| 9. Portland, OR |
| 10. San Francisco, CA |
America’s Most Literate Cities 2004 finds a statistical answer for 79 cities, drawing on numerous data sources to measure the public’s propensity for reading. The information is compiled from U.S. Census data, newspaper circulation rates, magazine publishing, educational attainment levels, library resources and booksellers.
This year’s ranking enhances the original study done in 2003 by adding 15 new cities, lowering the population threshold to 200,000 or more. The study adds nine new statistical variables and incorporates Census data unavailable last year to provide a richer look at a city’s resources.
Jack Miller, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is author of the study. To see how your city fared, click “Overall Rankings” and “Rank by Category.
