Poconos Facts
Fact 1: Named for a geological formation of grey quartz that's prevalent in the four counties that make up what's known as "the Poconos," the Poconos Mountain area spans more than 2500 square miles, making this popular destination's land mass double the size of Rhode Island, the nation's smallest state.
Fact 2: If you're a numbers person, here are a few of interest. The largest town in the Poconos is East Stroudsburg, which boasts a population of 9800 (still pretty small). The next three fall in line as follows: Stroudsburg (6100), Lehighton (5900) and Honesdale (5000). In fact, its small town charm plus its accessibility to big cities is what make the Poconos so attractive. It's just 75 miles from New York City, 85 from Philadelphia, 125 from Harrisburg and 180 from Baltimore.
Fact 3: Despite being spread out over 4 counties, the Poconos area draws over $1.5 billion annually in tourism dollars, meaning this area outpaces any other in the entire state by way of tourism revenues. The tourism industry employs more than 18,000 people throughout Wayne, Monroe, Carbon and Pike counties.
Fact 4: The playground of honeymooners, families with kids, and singles looking for adventure, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a national park that abounds in natural resources and beauty, making it the 11th most-visited park in the National Park system. Visitors enjoy hiking, boating, canoeing, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities.
Fact 5: Located along the LeHigh River, the town of Jim Thorpe is known as the "Switzerland of America." It boasts charming European architecture set against a breathtaking natural landscape that endears it to the hearts of many return visitors. Visitors to Jim Thorpe dine at streetside cafes, shop in boutiques and take in concerts at the notable Penn's Peak live entertainment venue. Nature and adventure lovers have endless opportunities for hiking, biking, boating and white-water rafting.
Fact 6: A popular part of the Poconos, Pike County retains a tranquil peacefulness that's been relatively uninterrupted by commercial growth. This is thanks in part to the fact that of a total of 350,000 county acres, over 140,000 of them are purpose defined as state forests and game lands, making them unavailable to developers. This shelters the environment and ensures the maintenance of the area's rugged natural beauty.
Fact 7: It's more than just kid stuff! Highlights for Children magazine is produced in Honedale (one of the larger cities in the Lake Wallenpaupack area) and has been delighting generations of children since 1946. It has a circulation of over 3 million, the most sizeable subscription list of any national magazine crafted specifically for the junior set.
Fact 8: The highest elevation in the Poconos mountains is North Knob in Elk Hills. It extends upward 2693 feet. The coldest area is that of Lake Wallenpaupack. Average temperatures hover around 25 degrees during winter time with records of at least 1 inch of snow covering the ground throughout most of the season. The mountains and ridges of this area, as well as the cold temperatures, make it the ideal ski destination for travelers from all over.
Fact 9: Looking to get away from it all? Ready for some real R&R? Then a trip to the Poconos is just what the doctor ordered. The extensive area known as the Poconos includes one state forest, six designated natural areas, seven state parks, seventeen state game lands and one national park. Take time to look at the breathtaking landscape, stroll nature trails, breathe deeply of country air and reflect on what's really important.
Fact 10: Cool temps or hot, sunny or cloudy, fun can be had around the water here in the Poconos. These mountains shelter 150 lakes, 18 waterfalls, 170 miles of river, the 5600 acre man-made Lake Wallenpaupack and 52 miles of uninterrupted shoreline. Canoeing, white-water rafting, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, hiking and waterfall gazing can all be enjoyed at any number of these natural treasures.
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