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Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania

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Mount Pocono is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state.

As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 3,170 residents.

Geography

Mount Pocono is located at 41°7′23″N 75°21′34″W / 41.12306°N 75.35944°W / 41.12306; -75.35944 (41.123012, −75.359574).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930466—
194064839.1%
1950619−4.5%
196093551.1%
19701,0199.0%
19801,23721.4%
19901,79545.1%
20002,74252.8%
20103,17015.6%
2012 (est.)3,131−1.2%
Sources:[2][3][4]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,742 people, 1,038 households, and 712 families residing in the borough. The population density was 792.2 people per square mile (306.0/km²). There were 1,239 housing units at an average density of 358.0 per square mile (138.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 29.15% White, 33.45% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 3.54% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63.14% of the population.

There were 1,038 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the borough the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $40,224, and the median income for a family was $48,700. Males had a median income of $35,571 versus $23,047 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,068. About 7.6% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Public education

The Borough is served by the Pocono Mountain School District.

Transportation

Mt. Pocono station, D.L. & W.R.R., ca. 1895

Railroad

The main line of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad passed through the southern end of the borough, providing access from New York City via the terminal at Jersey City, New Jersey. A passenger station was built at the crossing of Pennsylvania Route 611 in 1886. Most of the station was demolished in 1937 when the highway was widened. Regular passenger service to the borough ended in 1965.[5] The D., L. & W. tracks now carry freight trains and an occasional excursion train from Steamtown National Historic Site.[6]

Public transit

The Monroe County Transit Authority (MCTA) serves Monroe County with five bus routes. The Authority's Blue Route serves Mount Pocono's Main Street (Pocono Blvd.) with northbound service to Tobyhanna, PA and southbound service to Tannersville, and the Stroud Mall. Connections to other MCTA routes are provided at the Stroud Mall.[7]

Air

Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport is located two miles west of the borough.

History

Early 19th-century settlers used the area for lumbering. The "New Mount Pocono" post office was established in 1848. The town's name was changed in 1864 to "Forks", because of its five-way intersection where Pennsylvania Route 611 and Pennsylvania Route 940 cross and Pennsylvania Route 196 begins. The name was changed again in 1886 to "Mount Pocono". The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad provided transportation from New York City and Philadelphia. Mount Pocono quickly developed as a summer resort, advertising clean mountain air, spring water, luxury hotels, and excellent fishing.[8] The boom times lasted into the mid-20th century. Most of the resort hotels burned or closed, and passenger service to the town ended in 1965.

Mount Airy Lodge grew into an 895-room mega-resort. In the mid- and late-20th century it was a popular honeymoon destination, famous for its heart-shaped bathtubs.[9] It closed in 2001, and was demolished. Casino gambling in Pennsylvania became legal in 2004. Mount Airy Casino Resort was built on the Mount Airy Lodge's lakeside site, and opened in 2007.[10]

Resort hotels

  • Pine Hill Lodge (c. 1875, still in business).[11]
  • Pocono Mountain House (1878, burned 1973), 250 guest rooms.[12]
  • Princess Poconita Resort (1880). Now Whispering Hills Motel.[13]
  • Pocohasset House (demolished 1938), 100 guest rooms.
  • Ontwood Resort (c.1890s, burned 1979), 150 guest rooms.
  • Mount Pleasant House (burned 1968), 150 guests.[14]
  • Mount Airy Lodge (1898, closed 2001, demolished).[15] At its peak in the 1960s, the hotel had 895 guest rooms.
  • Montanesca Hotel (1901, burned 1911), 125 guest rooms.
  • The Meadowside (burned 1926).
  • Hawthorne Inn (1909, demolished).[16]
  • Strickland's Mountain Inn (c. 1900, demolished 2007).[17] Began as The Elvin, sold to Strickland in 1945.
  • Devonshire Pines (1912, demolished), 200 guest rooms.
  • The Belmont (burned 1963).

Currently, Mount Pocono serves as the commercial center for the northern part of Monroe County. Stores from national and regional chains such as Lowe's, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and others are in the Borough. Local businesses include the Casino Theatre, the Village Trader, and Grandpa Pete's Bagels. Many businesses are members of the Mount Pocono Association (formerly, the Mount Pocono Business Association).[18]

  • Mount Pocono Station (1886, demolished 1937), circa 1905.
    Mount Pocono Station (1886, demolished 1937), circa 1905.
  • Montanesca Hotel (1901, burned 1911).
    Montanesca Hotel (1901, burned 1911).
  • Pocono Summit Station, in 1988.
    Pocono Summit Station, in 1988.
  • Mount Pocono Station, in 1991.
    Mount Pocono Station, in 1991.

References

  1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  5. ^ Mount Pocono Borough website
  6. ^ Alan Sweeney, Journey along the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (Tribute Books, 2007), p. 193.
  7. ^ http://www.gomcta.com/schedules.htm
  8. ^ "Many New Yorkers at Mount Pocono – Trout being sought", The New York Times, June 15, 1902.
  9. ^ "The thrills are over at Mount Airy Lodge", The New York Times, October 31, 2001.
  10. ^ Mount Airy Casino Resort
  11. ^ Pine Hill Lodge from Explore PA History.
  12. ^ Pocono Haven from CardCow.
  13. ^ Whispering Hills Motel from Explore PA History.
  14. ^ Mount Pleasant House from CardCow.
  15. ^ Mount Airy Lodge from CardCow.
  16. ^ Hawthorne Inn and cottages from CardCow.
  17. ^ Strickland's Mountain Inn from CardCow.
  18. ^ http://mtpoconoassn.com/
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