Reading, Minnesota
Reading is an unincorporated community in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. It lies about 7.5 miles northwest of Worthington and is near the geographic center of the county. It has a post office with ZIP code 56165.
In 1876, land for Reading was claimed by H. H. Read, who farmed there until 1899 when the railroad arrived. Thomas H. Brown bought land to start a townsite, plus 20 acres from George Dayton, who founded Dayton’s Department Store. A. J. Keller arrived as station agent in fall 1899. In 1900, H. H. Douglas and Rothchild Grain built grain elevators after a coin flip decided their locations. Coal and lumber yards were started by James S. Ramage. By summer 1900, the town had a general store, hardware store, blacksmith, and a restaurant. The Summit Lake Presbyterian Church moved into town, and a small schoolhouse followed. The Reading State Bank opened in 1902. The Farmer’s Mutual Telephone Company started in 1905 with lines to Rushmore, Wilmont, and Fulda.
The Burlington Railroad was later taken over by the Rock Island Railroad and operated until the 1970s; the line was abandoned in the 1980s and the tracks were removed. Minnesota State Highway 266 was built in 1949, connecting Worthington, Reading, and Wilmont. It was state-maintained for 50 years, and in 2003 Nobles County took over, renaming it Nobles County Road 25.
Reading is in Minnesota’s 1st congressional district. At the state level, it is in Senate District 22 and House District 22A. It is part of Summit Lake Township and is represented by Nobles County Commissioner Justin Ahlers.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:20 (CET).