Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

History

Stroudsburg was laid out by Col. Jacob Stroud (1735–1806) in 1799. Jacob Stroud's family had founded Stroudsburg in the mid-1700s.

The Academy Hill Historic District, Kitson Woolen Mill, Monroe County Courthouse, and Stroud Mansion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population

Currently Stroudsburg has an estimated population of about 6,674 people, an estimate from 2010. In 1900, 3,450 people inhabited Stroudsburg; in 1910, 4,379; in 1940, 6,186; in 2000, 5,756; and in 2008, 6,294 people were living here. The immediate greater Stroudsburg area, including Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, Stroud Township, Hamilton Township, and Arlington Heights, has a population of about 50,000.

Geography

Stroudsburg is located at 40°59′9″N 75°11′43″W (40.985764, −75.195352).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²).1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.

Stroudsburg is located 38 miles (61 km) north of Allentown and 53 miles (85 km) southeast of Scranton.

Stroudsburg's elevation is 500 feet (150 m) above sea level.

Stroudsburg is located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, and serves as the Monroe County seat. The Pocono region remains Pennsylvania’s biggest tourist attraction and has nearly $1 billion in economic impact with over 8 million visitors annually.

Downtown

Downtown Stroudsburg is the commercial hub for the surrounding area, serving as the Monroe County seat, and is located just off Interstate 80. It is the only traditional downtown in the area. Downtown Stroudsburg is anchored by Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters and is also home to more than 24 restaurants, 9 art galleries, 3 women’s clothing stores, numerous antique stores, several general merchandisers, many specialty shops, 2 hotels, the local YMCA, 11 financial institutions and the core of the legal profession in Monroe County. There are 600 hotel rooms within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Downtown Stroudsburg. Downtown Stroudsburg also features a wide tree lined Main Street with historically rich architecture, plenty of on street parking, several municipal parking lots, one parking garage and another on the drawing board. Currently the total trade area population is about 250,000. This includes all of Monroe and Pike Counties, as well as northern Northampton County and Warren County, New Jersey.

Downtown Stroudsburg is the anchor for the more and more modern shopping centers that are being built around the area, wanting to be in or near the historic downtown. Businesses include: The Sherman Theater and regional performing arts Center, The MCAC Community Cultural Center, The Monroe County Historical Association, the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, the East Stroudsburg University Business Accelerator, the Pocono Family YMCA, the US Post Office, the Monroe County Courthouse, the Monroe County Administration Center, the largest regional police force in Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce.

Climate

Stroudsburg has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb.)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,756 people, 2,422 households, and 1,237 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,245.1 people per square mile (1,255.6/km²). There were 2,630 housing units at an average density of 1,482.7 per square mile (573.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 58.05% White, 30.01% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.89% Asian, 2.26% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.95% of the population.

The most common ancestries in Stroudsburg is German (26.8%), Irish (20.7%), Italian (10.6%), Dutch (5.2%), and English (3.0%)

There were 2,422 households, out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 15.0% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $32,409, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $31,952 versus $26,863 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,965. About 9.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Stroudsburg is part of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre media market. Since 1947, WVPO-840 AM "Voice of the Poconos" has served the community. Co-owned WSBG-93.5 FM began in 1964. Television stations WBRE-28, WNEP-16, and WYOU-22 each have news bureaus in downtown Stroudsburg. The headquarters of the Pocono Record newspaper is also located in Stroudsburg.

Transportation

The Monroe County Transit Authority (MCTA) serves Monroe County with three bus routes. Stroudsburg is served by MCTA's Blue, Yellow, and Red Routes. Only three of the authority's routes have their hub at the Stroud Mall, the Orange Route goes to Giant in Bartonsville, just northwest of the borough on PA 611 in adjacent Stroud Township. Connections to other MCTA routes are provided at the Stroud Mall. Until the mid-1960s the Erie Lackawanna Railroad served the town with the Phoebe Snow (train) several other trains. For much of the 2010s there have been efforts to restore passenger rail service to New York City, in the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project. Grants have been committed to bridge restoration to ensure the restoration of train movement.

Public education

The Borough is served by the Stroudsburg Area School District. Within this district there are five neighborhood elementary (K-2) schools: Arlington Heights Elementary, B.F. Morey Elementary, Clearview Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, and Ramsey Elementary. There are four other schools within the district: Stroudsburg Intermediate Elementary School (3–4), Stroudsburg Middle School (5–7), Stroudsburg Junior High School (8–9), and Stroudsburg High School (10–12). The athletic teams for Stroudsburg High School are called the Mountaineers, and the school colors are maroon, black, and white.

Camps

Pinemere Camp, a Jewish overnight summer camp for children in grades 2–9, is located on Bartonsville Woods Road. The camp was founded in the 1930s.

Notable people