History:

In the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania lie the breathtakingly beautiful Pocono Mountains, which includes Monroe County. Monroe County is known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World". Because of the natural appeal, this area has given rise to some of the finest and most elaborate hotels, resorts and recreational areas/facilities in all of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is also widely recognized as a place for vacationing and romantic weekend "getaways" because of the fiery beauty of the surrounding wooded peaks and valleys. Monroe County has built an industry of service that boasts the finest in personal accommodation anywhere. Visitors and vacationers can find an abundance of activities and places to visit that are guaranteed to be rewarding in any season of the year.

Monroe County was created on April 1, 1836, from parts of Northampton and Pike Counties and named for President James Monroe. The southern boundary of the county was the ridge of the Blue Mountain; to the east, the Delaware River; and to the west, the Lehigh River formed its natural borders. The county did not have a county seat because no site had been selected (that was not done until July 1837). There were also no county facilities, such as a courthouse, offices and jail. These were to await the selection of a site and the election of county commissioners. For eight months following its creation, a Board of Trustees, named in Act 161, managed the county. The five trustees, named  in the  law, were  all well  known and respected residents of  the county. They resided in the most populous townships. At that time, there were 10 townships and 1 borough. The trustees were Moses Coolbaugh - Middle Smithfield; Benjamin Bush -Smithfield; William Van Buskirk - Stroud Township; and Michale Shoemaker and Joseph Trach - Hamilton Township. None was from Stroudsburg Borough; but borough leaders would do much to shape the County's future. These five trustees performed a vital function in the birth of Monroe County, even though they were, in effect, interim commissioners.

On August 31, 1837, Stroudsburg became the county seat. Stroudsburg, incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1815, was named for Jacob Stroud, a settler. (Stroud built this home for his son, which has now been restored and now operates as a museum by the  Monroe County Historical Association at the intersection of 9th and Main Streets.) The new commissioners supervised the erection of the courthouse in 1837, along with a separate building as a jail.

Today, Monroe County is comprised of 16-second class townships and 4 incorporated boroughs with a combined population of approximately 139,000 residents. Three of the boroughs and all of the townships were settled in the 18th century. However, most were not incorporated until the 19th century. The oldest of all the municipalities, in terms of settlement, are Smithfield Township and the borough of East Stroudsburg.