Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg was laid out by Colonel Jacob Stroud in 1799. Stroud's family founded Stroudsburg in the mid-1700s, and the town was incorporated on February 5, 1815.{{cite web|url=https://www.monroehistorical.org/articles_files/110111_stbgestbg.html|title=Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg founded in the 1730s|publisher=Monroe County Historical Association|accessdate=11 July 2024}}

Stroudsburg was the location of the lynching of Richard Puryear in March 1894. A Black railroad worker accused of murdering a white storekeeper, Puryear was lynched by a mostly white mob after he escaped from prison. Despite a grand jury investigation, no one was charged or convicted for Puryear's murder.{{Cite news |date=1894-03-16 |title=He Broke Jail to be Lynched |pages=1 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107018839/he-broke-jail-to-be-lynched/ |access-date=2022-08-05}}{{Cite book |last=Pfeifer |first=Michael J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CR0TMCIfE14C |title=Lynching Beyond Dixie: American Mob Violence Outside the South |publisher=University of Illinois Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-252-09465-1 |location=Urbana |pages=301 |language=en |oclc=800721338}}

The Academy Hill Historic District, Kitson Woolen Mill, Monroe County Courthouse, and Stroud Mansion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

{{stack|Image:Stroudsburg 1884.jpg}}

Stroudsburg is located at {{Coord|40|59|9|N|75|11|43|W|type:city}} (40.985764, -75.195352).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

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

Stroudsburg is located {{convert|38|mi|km}} north of Allentown and {{convert|53|mi|km}} southeast of Scranton. Stroudsburg's elevation is {{convert|500|ft|m}} above sea level.

Stroudsburg is located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains and serves as the Monroe County seat.

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 home to more than 24 restaurants, nine art galleries, three women's clothing stores, numerous antique stores, several general merchandisers, many specialty shops, two hotels, the local YMCA, 11 financial institutions and the core of the legal profession in Monroe County. There are 600 hotel rooms within {{convert|2|mi|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 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.

File:Downtown Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.jpg|Downtown

File:Downtown courthouse.jpg|Courthouse

File:Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (4094522517).jpg|Restaurant district

{{stack|{{US Census population

|1840= 407

|1850= 811

|1860= 1315

|1870= 1793

|1880= 1860

|1890= 2419

|1900= 3450

|1910= 4379

|1920= 5278

|1930= 5961

|1940= 6186

|1950= 6361

|1960= 6070

|1970= 5451

|1980= 5148

|1990= 5312

|2000= 5756

|2010= 5567

|2020= 5927

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

}}}}

As of the 2000 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 5,756 people, 2,422 households, and 1,237 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,245.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,630 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,482.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 58.05% White, 30.01{{cite web|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20150718/NEWS/150719471|title = Spurred by faith, city man mobilizes homeless-aid effort}}% 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.

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.

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.

Stroudsburg is part of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre media market. Since 1947, WPCO-840 AM 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.

{{stack|File:2022-08-15 12 57 36 View west along Interstate 80 and south along U.S. Route 209 (Keystone Shortway) from the overpass for Pennsylvania State Route 611 (Park Avenue) in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.jpg}}

As of 2020, there were {{convert|22.68|mi}} of public roads in Stroudsburg, of which {{convert|7.99|mi}} were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and {{convert|14.69|mi}} were maintained by the borough.{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/45404.pdf|title=Stroudsburg Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 15, 2023}}

Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 209 are the most prominent highways serving Stroudsburg. They traverse the borough concurrently via the Keystone Shortway along an east–west alignment across the southern portion of the borough. U.S. Route 209 Business follows Main Street along a southwest–northeast alignment through the center of the borough. Pennsylvania Route 191 follows Broad Street and Fifth Street along a north–south alignment across the eastern part of the borough. Finally, Pennsylvania Route 611 follows Foxtown Hill Road, Park Avenue, Main Street, and Ninth Street along a southeast–northwest alignment through the center of the borough, including a short concurrency with US 209 Business.

File:Summer excursion routes and rates (1897) (14759200922).jpg

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.gomcta.com/fixedrouteroutes.php|title=Pocono Pony Routes}}

Until the mid-1960s the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and later the Erie Lackawanna Railroad served the town with the Phoebe Snow, the Lake Cities and several other trains. Since 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.Stacy M. Brown, "Pocono Record," May 17, 2016 http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20160517/grants-keep-poconos-to-new-york-commuter-train-moving

Martz Bus and Aegean Transportation provide service to NYC, while various smaller companies provide service to Paterson, New Jersey and Upper Manhattan.

PPL Corporation and FirstEnergy subsidiary Met-Ed both provide electricity to Stroudsburg.{{cite web|title=Service Area|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|access-date=August 20, 2017}}{{cite web|title=General Tariff|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|date=June 20, 2017|page=4|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Our Service Area|publisher=FirstEnergy|url=https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/customer/help/making_service_requests/our_service_area.html|access-date=October 10, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Electric Service Tariff|publisher=Met-Ed|date=July 17, 2017|pages=8–10|url=https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/dam/customer/Customer%20Choice/Files/PA/tariffs/ME-Tariff-52-Supp-43.pdf|access-date=October 10, 2017}} In the borough, the two companies' service areas overlap and they share utility lines, with the electric provider varying by home or business. Originally, customers could not change the company that maintained the electric line that connected to the home or business, but in 2014, a ruling by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission allowed a business owner to change the owner of the line from Met-Ed to PPL Electric Utilities.{{cite news|last=Witkowski|first=Wayne|title=Stroudsburg attorney wins right to choose electricity provider|work=Pocono Record|date=June 1, 2014|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20140601/News/406020321|access-date=October 10, 2017}} UGI Central Penn Gas provides natural gas to Stroudsburg.{{cite web|title=Geographic Footprint|publisher=UGI|url=https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|access-date=October 4, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Gas Tariff|publisher=UGI Central Penn Gas|date=July 7, 2017|pages=5–12|url=http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIC/docs/Distribution%20Tariff/Distribution%20Tariff.pdf|access-date=October 10, 2017}} The Brodhead Creek Regional Authority provides water to Stroudsburg and surrounding areas, with its water supply coming from the Brodhead Creek.{{cite web|title=Home|publisher=Brodhead Creek Regional Authority|url=http://www.brodheadcreekregionalauthority.us|access-date=October 10, 2017}} The Stroudsburg Borough Sewer Department provides sewer service to the borough, operating a wastewater treatment plant.{{cite web|title=Water and Sewer|publisher=Stroudsburg Borough|url=http://stroudsburgboro.com/water-and-sewer/|access-date=October 10, 2017}} Trash collection in Stroudsburg is provided by private haulers while recycling collection is provided by the borough.{{cite web|title=Trash and Recycling Collection|publisher=Stroudsburg Borough|url=http://stroudsburgboro.com/trash-and-recycling-collection/|access-date=October 10, 2017}}

The borough is served by the Stroudsburg Area School District. Within this district there are four neighborhood elementary (K-4) schools: Arlington Heights Elementary, B.F. Morey Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, and Stroudsburg Chipperfield Elementary School. There are three other schools within the district: 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 and white.

{{PresHead|place=Stroudsburg, 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|Democratic|912|1,642|57|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|841|1,784|41|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|778|1,432|100|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|638|1,380|28|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|765|1,563|26|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|857|1,343|15|Pennsylvania}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|773|1,044|79|Pennsylvania}}

|}

In contrast with its past, Stroudsburg borough is now solidly Democratic, voting for President Joseph R. Biden by over 35 percentage points. Former Mayor Tarah Probst (D) resigned from the office after winning a seat in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Stroudsburg mayor resigns |url=https://www.wvia.org/news-briefs/2022-12-01/stroudsburg-mayor-elected-to-new-position-resigns |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=WVIA |language=en}} In December 2022, the City Council appointed Michael Moreno (D) to the office of mayor to fill the remainder of Probst's term, which runs through the 2023 municipal elections.{{Cite web |date= December 29, 2022 |title=Meet the new Mayor of Stroudsburg |url=https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/meet-the-new-mayor-in-stroudsburg-wnep-newswatch16-michael-moreno-amanda-eustice/523-0652622a-08cd-43d5-8b83-431ae44a1d4a |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=wnep.com |language=en-US}} The city council was Democratic controlled, with 6 seats held by Democrats, and 1 seat held by a Democratic/Republican.

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Stroudsburg has a Temperate Continental climate with hot summers, cold winters and year-around precipitation (Dcao). Dcao 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}}, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|72.0|°F|0}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Stroudsburg, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur, with heat index values > {{convert|102|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature has been {{convert|100.1|°F|0}} on July 22, 2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was {{convert|72.6|°F|0}} on August 28, 2018. 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 month of the Atlantic hurricane season. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day has been 6.35 inches (161 mm), on October 8, 2005. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 6b, with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-4.8|°F|0}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date= September 3, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}} Since 1981, the coldest air temperature has been {{convert|-18.1|°F|0}}, on January 21, 1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur, with wind chill values < {{convert|-16|°F|0}}. The average snowiest month is January, which correlates with the average coldest month of the year. 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 February.

{{Weather box

|location = East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 72

|Feb record high F = 75

|Mar record high F = 87

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 97

|Jun record high F = 100

|Jul record high F = 104

|Aug record high F = 103

|Sep record high F = 106

|Oct record high F = 95

|Nov record high F = 86

|Dec record high F = 72

|year record high F = 106

|Jan high F = 35.8

|Feb high F = 39.3

|Mar high F = 48.2

|Apr high F = 61.9

|May high F = 72.1

|Jun high F = 79.6

|Jul high F = 84.3

|Aug high F = 82.3

|Sep high F = 74.9

|Oct high F = 63.0

|Nov high F = 51.0

|Dec high F = 40.4

|year high F = 61.1

|Jan mean F = 27.5

|Feb mean F = 30.0

|Mar mean F = 38.0

|Apr mean F = 49.5

|May mean F = 59.8

|Jun mean F = 67.8

|Jul mean F = 72.7

|Aug mean F = 70.7

|Sep mean F = 63.6

|Oct mean F = 51.7

|Nov mean F = 41.2

|Dec mean F = 32.5

|year mean F = 50.4

|Jan low F = 19.3

|Feb low F = 20.6

|Mar low F = 27.9

|Apr low F = 37.2

|May low F = 47.4

|Jun low F = 56.1

|Jul low F = 61.0

|Aug low F = 59.2

|Sep low F = 52.3

|Oct low F = 40.4

|Nov low F = 31.5

|Dec low F = 24.5

|year low F = 39.8

|Jan record low F = −35

|Feb record low F = −21

|Mar record low F = -11

|Apr record low F = 10

|May record low F = 24

|Jun record low F = 32

|Jul record low F = 36

|Aug record low F = 32

|Sep record low F = 20

|Oct record low F = 14

|Nov record low F = 2

|Dec record low F = −14

|year record low F = -35

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.78

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.12

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.04

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.31

|May precipitation inch = 4.41

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.50

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.71

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.83

|Sep precipitation inch = 5.30

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.24

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.89

|Dec precipitation inch = 4.42

|year precipitation inch = 53.55

|Jan snow inch = 11.3

|Feb snow inch = 10.3

|Mar snow inch = 9.5

|Apr snow inch = 0.9

|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 = 1.5

|Dec snow inch = 8.0

|year snow inch = 41.6

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.7

|Feb precipitation days = 11.2

|Mar precipitation days = 11.4

|Apr precipitation days = 12.4

|May precipitation days = 13.9

|Jun precipitation days = 12.0

|Jul precipitation days = 12.3

|Aug precipitation days = 11.7

|Sep precipitation days = 9.5

|Oct precipitation days = 12.0

|Nov precipitation days = 10.9

|Dec precipitation days = 12.3

|year precipitation days = 142.3

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 7.4

|Feb snow days = 6.1

|Mar snow days = 4.3

|Apr snow days = 0.7

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 1.0

|Dec snow days = 4.9

|year snow days = 24.5

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 9, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00368596&format=pdf

| title = Station: E Stroudsburg, PA

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 9, 2021}}

}}

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Stroudsburg 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|access-date= 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 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-4.8|°F|0}}.

• Bugz Ronin, American record producer and songwriter
• Al Cohn, jazz saxophonist
• George Gorse, art historian
• Sebastian Joseph-Day, football player, Los Angeles Chargers
• Byron K. Lichtenberg, astronaut who flew on STS-9 and STS-45
• Chris Neild, American football player for the Washington Commanders
• Mike Nikorak, baseball player
• A. Mitchell Palmer, 50th attorney general of the United States
• Richard Puryear, African American railroad worker lynched by a mob in 1894
• Debralee Scott, actress
• Joseph Horace Shull, former U.S. Congressman
• G.E. Smith, musician
• John Summerfield Staples, substitute for President Abraham Lincoln as part of the Enrollment Act of 1863{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/01/abraham-lincoln-the-president-paid-a-substitute-to-enlist-in-the-union-army.html |title=The Man Who Fought in Lincoln's Name |last=Onion |first=Rebecca |work=Slate |date=2013-01-10 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418103007/https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/01/abraham-lincoln-the-president-paid-a-substitute-to-enlist-in-the-union-army.html |archivedate=2023-04-18 |accessdate=2023-08-30 }}

{{notelist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Stroudsburg}}

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{{Monroe County, Pennsylvania}}

{{County Seats of Pennsylvania}}

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Category:1810 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Boroughs in Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Category:County seats in Pennsylvania

Category:Pocono Mountains

Category:Populated places established in the 1750s