Port Reading, Woodbridge, NJ

Port Reading, Woodbridge, NJ, is home to one of the largest oil refineries in New Jersey. A typical facility processes over 285,000 barrels of crude oil every day, which is then used to fuel heating systems and automobiles alike. This makes Port Reading a critical energy facility for Garden State’s population base.

The refinery was first opened by Standard Oil Company (now Exxon Mobil Corp.) in 1954, and has since been producing high-quality petroleum products. Today, the refinery is capable of typesettings such as regular gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuels and heating oil.

Port Reading’s history dates back to 1916 when Standard Oil purchased large tracts of land around the Arthur Kill area for drilling purposes. The success of these ventures allowed the crude oil to be transported further south into other refineries. These days, petroleum tankers transport their shipments from Port Reading across the Atlantic Ocean and beyond able.

As part of ExxonMobil’s continued investments in energy production, Port Reading has undergone numerous changes over the past couple of decades. The company decided to remove one of its older-model hydrocrackers and replace it with a new one, which can process more crude oil into other petroleum products. The new model is capable of producing the same amount that the previous model did, even though it’s about 25% smaller in size.

Port Reading Parks and Recreation

Port Reading has several parks, picnic areas, woods and an environmental center that the community is proud of.

The Port Reading Environmental Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about the environment. It features displays on recycling, energy production, meteorology and more. Visitors can also enjoy classes on topics such as water conservation or gardening for wildlife.

Among other places to visit are the Port Reading Bike Trail, Lassie Park, the Community Pool and the Community Ice Rink. There’s plenty for residents to do within walking distance of their homes.

Port Reading Schools

The children of Port Reading attend schools in the Woodbridge Public Schools system. The district has several elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. These schools include the Parkway School, Lincoln Jr. High School and Memorial High School.

In particular, Port Reading has access to the Woodbridge High Memorial, which is one of the best public schools in New Jersey. It ranked 8th among all other public high schools in the state for its academic performance during recent years. The school offers many vocational courses to students planning to attend college after graduation or enter the workforce immediately.

For those wishing to attend college, the district encourages high school students to take courses through the Woodbridge Adult School which will give them a head start on their degree requirements.  The system also has a special education department that’s available to all students.