Monroe County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,327. Its county seat is Stroudsburg. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state. The county was formed from sections of Northampton and Pike counties on April 1, 1836. It was named in honor of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States.
The county borders Northampton County and the Lehigh Valley to its south, Pike and Wayne counties to its north, Carbon and Luzerne counties to its west, and the Delaware River and Warren County, New Jersey to its east. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, but also receives media from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia radio and television markets.
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Monroe County was one of the fastest-growing counties in Pennsylvania, largely due to Pocono Mountain-related tourism and partly due to an influx of residents from New York City and its metropolitan area who sought a lower cost of living while still being close enough to commute to the city. The population increased by over 70% from 1990 to 2010, and the commercial and retail sectors expanded significantly, although population growth has since slowed.
The county is home to East Stroudsburg University.
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, flows southward through Monroe County and then into the Lehigh Valley, where it joins the Delaware River in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is water. It has a humid continental climate (Dfb except for some Dfa in the southern and SE tiers) and the hardiness zone ranges from 5a to 6b. The area code is 570, except in the southwest where the Kunkletown exchange uses 610.
Adjacent counties
Wayne County (north) Pike County (northeast) Sussex County, New Jersey (northeast) Warren County, New Jersey (east) Northampton County (south) Carbon County (west) Luzerne County (northwest) Lackawanna County (northwest)
National protected areas Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part) Middle Delaware National Scenic River (part)
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Monroe County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)67,48991,171117,592119,741104,71697.23%95.26%84.79%70.50%62.21%Black or African American alone (NH)9641,6627,90220,46122,8231.39%1.74%5.70%12.05%13.56%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)481092583582890.07%0.11%0.19%0.21%0.17%Asian alone (NH)2506471,5183,3953,9470.36%0.68%1.09%2.00%2.34%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census306056xx0.02%0.04%0.03%Other race alone (NH)106682295031,4070.15%0.07%0.17%0.30%0.84%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census1,9633,0366,531xx1.42%1.79%3.88%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5522,0529,19522,28828,5580.80%2.14%6.63%13.12%16.97%Total69,40995,709138,687169,842168,327 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 168,327. The median age was 43.2 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 65.9% White, 14.8% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.9% from some other race, and 9.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 17.0% of the population.
43.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 62,284 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 79,114 housing units, of which 21.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 169,842 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 67,581 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 70.5% White Non-Hispanic, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. 13.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.9% were of German, 16.8% Irish, 14.5% Italian, 8.8% Pennsylvania German, 5.4% Polish, 5.1% American and 5.1% English ancestry.
There were 49,454 households, out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
Housing
As of the end of 2021, the median value of all homes in Monroe County was $210,972, an increase of 13% since the prior year.
Micropolitan statistical area
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has designated Monroe County as the East Stroudsburg, PA micropolitan statistical area. Prior to 2023, the area was designated as a metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the Metro area had a population of 169,842. The area ranks 12th most populous in the state of Pennsylvania and ranks 244th most populous in the United States.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has also designated Monroe County as part of the larger Allentown-Bethlehem-East Stroudsburg, PA-NJ Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2020 US Census, the population of the CSA was 1,030,216, making it the third most populous Combined Statistical Area in Pennsylvania, and the 59th most populous in the United States. Monroe County was once part of the New York CSA, but as of 2023, Pike County is the only county in Pennsylvania grouped with New York's CSA.
Politics
In the 19th and early 20th century, Monroe was the most Democratic county in Pennsylvania. For much of the second half of the 20th century, Monroe County was a Republican stronghold. However, in recent years, party registration has leaned toward the Democratic Party, a result of continued migration to the county by former New York City residents, many of whom are Democrats. While in the 2004 U.S. presidential election the county was carried by Republican George W. Bush by a margin of four votes, beginning with the first campaign (2008) of Barack Obama, Democratic candidates carried Monroe County. In that election Obama carried the county by a 17-point margin, 58% to 41%–the first Democrat to win the county since 1964, and only the second since 1940. The other three 2008 statewide Democratic candidates also carried the county handily. Additionally, the Democratic presidential candidates carried the county in 2012 (Obama), 2016 (Hillary Clinton), and 2020 (Joe Biden). The Democratic streak ended in 2024 when Republican Donald Trump narrowly flipped the county, becoming the first Republican to win the county in two decades.
As of November 11, 2024, there are 120,056 registered voters in Monroe County. Democratic: 51,318 (42.74%) Republican: 43,711 (36.41%) Independent: 19,275 (16.06%) Minor Party: 5,752 (4.79%)
Other county offices Controller, Erik Diemer, Democratic Coroner, Thomas Yanac, Democratic District Attorney, Mike Mancuso, Democratic Prothonotary, George Warden, Republican Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills, Kate Best, Democratic Sheriff, Nick Cirranello, Democratic Treasurer, Theresa Johnson, Republican
State representatives Source: Maureen Madden, Democratic, 115th district Jack Rader, Jr., Republican, 176th district Tarah Probst, Democrat, 189th district
State senator Rosemary Brown, Republican, 40th district
United States representatives Ryan Mackenzie, Republican, Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district Robert Bresnahan, Republican, Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
United States senators Dave McCormick, Republican John Fetterman, Democratic
Governor Josh Shapiro, Democratic
Transportation Public transportation Public transportation throughout the county is provided by the Monroe County Transit Authority (MCTA), known as the "Pocono Pony".Monroe County Transit Authority. Gomcta.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2013. MCTA operates a fixed route bus systemPocono Pony Bus Routes. Gomcta.com (June 8, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-09. and a paratransit curb to curb service for eligible populations.Monroe County Transportation Authority, The Pocono Pony's Shared Ride Service. Gomcta.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2013.
New Jersey Transit is restoring train tracks in northwestern New Jersey along the Lackawanna Cut-off. This would, potentially, also involve the train to go to Scranton from Hoboken, which would go through the Poconos, marking the first time since the early 1970s when the Erie Lackawanna Railroad stopped running daily trains through the area.
Major highways
Education
Colleges and universities East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (in East Stroudsburg) Northampton Community College Monroe Campus (in Tannersville)
Public school districts
They are: - Text list East Stroudsburg Area School District Pleasant Valley School District Pocono Mountain School District Stroudsburg Area School District
Charter schools Evergreen Community Charter School, Cresco
Technology schools Monroe Career and Technical Institute, Bartonsville
Private schools Art Learning Center, East Stroudsburg Character Builders Christian Academy, Pocono Pines Monsignor McHugh School, Cresco - Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton, **closed in 2020** Notre Dame Elementary School, East Stroudsburg Notre Dame High School, East Stroudsburg St Pauls Lutheran Pre-School, East Stroudsburg Stroudsburg 7th Day Adventists School, Stroudsburg Triumphant & Excellence Academy 1, East Stroudsburg Triumphant & Excellence Academy 2 TEA Institute, Tobyhanna Triumphant Living Heritage, Marshalls Creek Victory Baptist Christian School, Brodheadsville The Growing Concern Elementary School, Stroudsburg
Private schools are as reported in EdNA school database maintained and published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2011
Industry The Tobyhanna Army Depot, the U.S. Department of Defense's largest center for the repair and fabrication of electronic systems, is located in Monroe County. It was identified in 2004 as the largest employer in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Parks and trails