Paradise Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²), of which 21.4 square miles (55.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (0.42%) is water.

{{US Census population

|1870= 662

|1880= 688

|1890= 672

|1900= 727

|1910= 710

|1920= 656

|1930= 681

|1940= 697

|1950= 745

|1960= 982

|1970= 1207

|1980= 1983

|1990= 2230

|2000= 2671

|2010= 3186

|2020= 2898

|estyear=2021

|estimate=2916

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://elibrary.pacounties.org/Documents/Monroe_County/1469;%20Paradise%20Township/4208957856mcp.pdf|title=Paradise Township: Master Plan Volume 1 Background Studies.|publisher=Monroe County Planning Commission|accessdate=August 22, 2021|format=PDF|quote=Historic Population (1870−1985)}}

|align=right

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 2,671 people, 996 households, and 724 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|124.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,306 housing units at an average density of {{convert|60.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 92.40% White, 3.59% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.

There were 996 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,320, and the median income for a family was $57,353. Males had a median income of $35,950 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,408. About 4.9% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Paradise Township has a Temperate Continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo). Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ {{convert|32.0|°F|0}}, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|50.0|°F|0}}, all months with an average mean temperature < {{convert|72.0|°F|0}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid in Paradise Township, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > {{convert|96|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|96.2|°F|0}} on July 22, 2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was {{convert|70.8|°F|0}} on August 1, 2006. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity, which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. The average wettest month is September, which correlates with tropical storm remnants during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.29 inches (160 mm) on September 30, 2010. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 5b, with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-10.6|°F|0}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|accessdate=September 5, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}} Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-21.4|°F|0}} on January 21, 1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < {{convert|-23|°F|0}}. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every couple of years, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| single line = Y

|location = Paradise Twp, Elevation 1043 ft (318 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018

| Jan record high F = 64.5

| Feb record high F = 74.1

| Mar record high F = 83.5

| Apr record high F = 90.3

| May record high F = 92.1

| Jun record high F = 91.8

| Jul record high F = 96.2

| Aug record high F = 95.2

| Sep record high F = 93.2

| Oct record high F = 85.3

| Nov record high F = 76.8

| Dec record high F = 68.2

| year record high F = 96.2

| Jan high F = 33.3

| Feb high F = 36.8

| Mar high F = 45.5

| Apr high F = 58.6

| May high F = 69.3

| Jun high F = 77.2

| Jul high F = 80.8

| Aug high F = 79.8

| Sep high F = 72.7

| Oct high F = 61.3

| Nov high F = 49.6

| Dec high F = 37.6

| year high F = 58.6

| Jan mean F = 24.1

| Feb mean F = 26.8

| Mar mean F = 34.9

| Apr mean F = 46.6

| May mean F = 56.9

| Jun mean F = 65.5

| Jul mean F = 69.5

| Aug mean F = 68.3

| Sep mean F = 61.0

| Oct mean F = 49.5

| Nov mean F = 39.9

| Dec mean F = 29.1

| year mean F = 47.8

| Jan low F = 14.9

| Feb low F = 16.9

| Mar low F = 24.4

| Apr low F = 34.6

| May low F = 44.5

| Jun low F = 53.7

| Jul low F = 58.2

| Aug low F = 56.8

| Sep low F = 49.3

| Oct low F = 37.6

| Nov low F = 30.2

| Dec low F = 20.7

| year low F = 36.9

| Jan record low F = -21.4

| Feb record low F = -12.9

| Mar record low F = -5.1

| Apr record low F = 11.2

| May record low F = 26.9

| Jun record low F = 33.8

| Jul record low F = 38.9

| Aug record low F = 34.6

| Sep record low F = 27.8

| Oct record low F = 16.8

| Nov record low F = -0.3

| Dec record low F = -13.4

| year record low F = -21.4

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.68

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.14

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.70

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.42

| May precipitation inch = 4.56

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.84

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.33

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.27

| Sep precipitation inch = 5.06

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.92

| Nov precipitation inch = 4.10

| Dec precipitation inch = 4.22

| year precipitation inch = 51.24

| Jan snow inch = 14.8

| Feb snow inch = 10.6

| Mar snow inch = 11.0

| Apr snow inch = 2.6

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.1

| Nov snow inch = 2.8

| Dec snow inch = 8.9

| year snow inch = 50.9

| humidity colour = green

| Jan humidity = 72.1

| Feb humidity = 66.4

| Mar humidity = 62.3

| Apr humidity = 58.0

| May humidity = 60.8

| Jun humidity = 70.1

| Jul humidity = 70.3

| Aug humidity = 72.7

| Sep humidity = 73.6

| Oct humidity = 69.9

| Nov humidity = 69.7

| Dec humidity = 73.2

| year humidity = 68.3

| Jan dew point F = 16.4

| Feb dew point F = 17.1

| Mar dew point F = 23.3

| Apr dew point F = 32.6

| May dew point F = 43.5

| Jun dew point F = 55.5

| Jul dew point F = 59.4

| Aug dew point F = 59.2

| Sep dew point F = 52.5

| Oct dew point F = 40.1

| Nov dew point F = 30.8

| Dec dew point F = 21.6

| year dew point F = 37.8

| source = PRISM{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=September 5, 2019 }}}}

{{stack|File:2022-08-09 12 01 18 View north along Pennsylvania State Route 191 (Paradise Valley Road) just north of Pennsylvania State Route 715 in Paradise Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.jpg}}

As of 2013, there were {{convert|57.13|mi}} of public roads in Paradise Township, of which {{convert|20.27|mi}} were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and {{convert|36.86|mi}} were maintained by the township.{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/45208.pdf|title=Paradise Township map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 15, 2023}}

Pennsylvania Route 191, Pennsylvania Route 314, Pennsylvania Route 390, Pennsylvania Route 611, Pennsylvania Route 715 and Pennsylvania Route 940 are the numbered highways serving Paradise Township. PA 191 follows a southeast-northwest alignment across southeastern, central and northern parts of the township. PA 314 brushes the southern edge of the township along an east-west alignment. PA 611 briefly crosses the southwestern corner of the township on a southeast-northwest alignment. PA 715 begins at PA 191 in the southeastern part of the township and heads southwestward. PA 940 begins at PA 191 in the middle of the township and heads westward. Finally, PA 390 begins at PA 940 in the western part of the township and heads northeastward to PA 191 near the northern border of the township, becoming concurrent with PA 191 as they head north out of the township.

File:Paradise Township, Monroe County, PA municipal building, Sept. 2023.jpg

{{PresHead|place=Paradise Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=https://agencies2.monroecountypa.gov/elections/|title=Monroe County Election Results|website=monroecountypa.gov|access-date=October 23, 2024}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|977|745|21|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|905|780|21|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|745|627|69|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|640|719|26|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|711|788|10|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|688|671|8|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|544|497|55|Pennsylvania}}

|}

{{-}}

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Paradise Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|accessdate= September 3, 2019|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}} The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late-April and peak fall color usually occurs in mid-October. The plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-10.6|°F|0}}.

The township is in the Pocono Mountain School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42089_monroe/DC20SD_C42089.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Monroe County, PA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42089_monroe/DC20SD_C42089_SD2MS.txt Text list]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton operates area Roman Catholic schools. The diocese formerly operated Monsignor McHugh School in Paradise Township, with a Cresco address. It opened in 1961. Enrollment declined in the period circa 2015-2020 by 61%. In the 2019-2020 school year, the enrollment was 97. Had the school stayed open, only 70 students were scheduled to attend the following school year.{{cite web|last=Francis|first=Maria|url=https://www.poconorecord.com:443/story/lifestyle/faith/2020/05/07/diocese-announces-closure-monsignor-mchugh/1233443007/|title=Diocese announces closure of Monsignor McHugh School|newspaper=Pocono Record|date=2020-05-07|access-date=2024-10-31}} The school closed that school year.{{cite web|last=Mataloni|first=Carmella|url=https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/catholic-elementary-school-to-close-in-the-poconos/523-af9076a3-8178-465f-a8af-f29f26f3687f|title=Catholic elementary school to close in the Poconos|publisher=WNEP|date=2020-05-06|access-date=2024-10-31}}

• Dale H. Learn, real estate agent and temperance activist.
• Rob Felicetti, bassist in alternative rock/pop punk band Bowling For Soup.

{{commons category}}

{{Monroe County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Pocono Mountains

Category:Populated places established in 1720

Category:Townships in Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Category:Townships in Pennsylvania

Category:1720 establishments in Pennsylvania