Port Reading

Located within Woodbridge Township, Port Reading is a census-designated place and unincorporated community. As of the 2010 United States Census,  Port Reading’s total population stands close to 3,728 citizens. Port Reading was founded in the late 19th century by the Reading Railroad of Pennsylvania as a shipping hub and was used to transport coal from the Pennsylvania anthracite coal fields. In 1892, Port Reading was connected to the Reading Railroad system via the Port Reading Junction near Bound Brook, New Jersey.

Within Port Reading lies Port Reading Refinery, also known as Hess Refinery. The refinery ran from 1958 to 2013 when it was decommissioned, and the property was sold. Hess Oil then purchased port Reading Refinery in 1958 under CEO Leon Hess. The refinery was labeled a simple refinery and used to process other refinery products, including heavy sour crude. The refinery had various outlets that connected with Arthur Kill, a tidal strait between Staten Island and New Jersey. This enabled oil barges to make passage through the refinery’s commons. During his career, Leon Hess owned a chain of gas stations and oil refineries while also receiving subsidies from the United States Department of Energy. In addition to his time spent in the oil industry, Mr. Hess is most well known for owning the American football team, the New York Jets. Hess Oil and Chemical would later be used to form America Hess Corporation. 

Today, Port Reading and Woodbridge Township serve as a regional hub for Central New Jersey and a “major bedroom suburb” of New York City. While Port Reading for many years was mostly associated with oil refineries, its main economic draws have been Woodbridge Center, Wakefern Food Corporation, and medical marijuana dispensaries in recent years. Woodbridge Center is currently the third biggest mall in New Jersey and possesses more than 1,633,000 square feet of retail space.

Propane company GasTec understands Port Reading’s modern needs and is committed to providing the highest quality propane services and propane delivery options. For the many residents living in Woodbridge’s “major bedroom suburb,” GasTec offers residential propane services which cater to home-heating, gas fireplaces, cooking, and lighting, pool heating, and back-up generators. Additionally, as Woodbridge Center continues to grow, GasTec will be there to provide green and efficient propane for its various commercial needs.