For years, the Poconos region survived through reinvention (Philadelphia, Scranton: school districts, property taxes)

[cjseliga]

Here's the next article in the series that the Times is running on the Poconos, it basically talks about the history of the region and where it has come from to become what it is today. Tomorrow the article is going to be about the schools in the Poconos and how they are bursting at the seems.

For years, the Poconos region survived through reinvention

10/08/2007


Daniel Stroud was so flustered by all the Presbyterians and Baptists moving into Stroudsburg in 1804 that the son of the city's founder penned a letter to his fellow Quakers in Philadelphia. "It was unnerving to him he didn't have more Quakers around him. (He thought) 'Heaven forbid all these Protestant groups move in,' " said Amy Leiser, executive director of the Monroe County Historical Association.

[cjseliga]

There was another small article in today's paper about the Poconos and its fragile landscape


Growth pushes fragile landscape into jeopardy

BY DANIEL AXELROD
STAFF WRITER
10/08/2007

The beautiful, fragile landscape that has lured developers and newcomers to the Poconos for decades is endangered under the strain of growth.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

CJ,

Great articles, thanks for sharing. I am passing them on to many folks that are interested.

The Hat

[SteelCityRising]

Thanks, CJ, for the links you have been so kind to provide to all of us. As someone who is intensely researching the anticipated population "spillover" from Monroe/Pike Counties northwestward into Lackawanna/Luzerne Counties in the upcoming years, I found these articles to all be quite intriguing, even though I already knew everything that was said in them.

I also find it peculiar that long-term projections show a decrease in Lackawanna County's population by 2030 but a moderate increase in Luzerne County's population. If anything I'd likewise expect Lackawanna County's population to have increased moderately as well by 2030 when the Moscow/North Pocono area will be transformed from rural to suburban to accomodate the commuter influx. With so many high-earners living just 15 minutes from the Scranton city limits, this could also do wonders to help the Electric City to rebound.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

As property taxes climb, efforts are under way to attract information technology, including Wall Street companies. Such firms could open local facilities to back up their financial data outside New York City in case of a terrorist attack and employ local residents in the Poconos and neighboring counties.
Heard they were building a second site for a financial district near Marshalls Creek and then I did not hear anything after that.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

I found these articles to all be quite intriguing, even though I already knew everything that was said in them.

Paul, I was going to mention that most of the things in the articles have been mentioned by you and some others on this forum before, numerous times. I too thought the Lackawanna County projected decrease to be a little surprising, I guess we'll all see if they are right or not eventually.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

CJ,
Invaluable information and I appreciate what you and SWB have provided for the forum. There is much more interest in this topic than you know. CJ, I am very interested on the info on the School Districts as well. This has much bearing on why people are moving to different areas and why the taxes are jumping through the roof.

The Hat