Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 617 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 608 square miles (1,570 km²) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km²) (1.5%) is water.

National protected areas

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 169,842 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile (88/km²). There were 67,581 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile (43/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.5% White Non-Hispanic, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. 13.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.9% were of German, 16.8% Irish, 14.5% Italian, 8.8% Pennsylvania German, 5.4% Polish, 5.1% American and 5.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 49,454 households out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Monroe County of Pennsylvania as the East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census the Metro area had a population of 169,842. The area ranks 12th most populous in the state of Pennsylvania and ranks 244th most populous in the United States.

The United States Office of Management and Budget also has designated Monroe County as part of the larger New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. The larger combined area consists of the Lehigh Valley counties of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton as well as Pike County in Pennsylvania, and several other Metro areas from the States of New Jersey and New York. As of the 2010 US Census, the population of the CSA was 23,076,664, making it the most populous Combined Statistical Area in the United States.

Politics

Party registration leans toward the Democratic Party, a result of continued migration to the county by former New York City residents, many of whom are Democrats. While in the 2004 U.S. presidential election the county was carried by Republican George W. Bush by a margin of four votes, Democrat Barack Obama carried Monroe County in the 2008 U.S. presidential election by a 17-point margin, 58% to 41%. The other three 2008 statewide Democratic candidates also carried the county handily.

As of November 2008, there are 113,960 registered voters in Monroe County.

County commissioners

Other county offices

State Representatives

State Senators

After 2010 redistricting divided into 2 senatorial districts.

U.S. Representative

U.S. Senators

Governor

Transportation

Public transportation throughout the county is provided by the Monroe County Transit Authority, known as the "Pocono Pony". MCTA operates a fixed route bus system and a paratransit curb to curb service for eligible populations.

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

Charter schools

Technology schools

Monroe Career & Technical Institute, Bartonsville

Private schools

Private schools are as reported in EdNA school database maintained and published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2011

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Monroe County:

Boroughs

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Monroe County.

† county seat