Editing Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
Early 19th-century settlers used the area for lumbering. The "New Mount Pocono" post office was established in 1848. The town's name was changed in 1864 to "Forks", because of its five-way intersection where [[Pennsylvania Route 611]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 940]] cross and [[Pennsylvania Route 196]] begins. The name was changed again in 1886 to "Mount Pocono". The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad provided transportation from New York City and Philadelphia. Mount Pocono quickly developed as a summer resort, advertising clean mountain air, spring water, luxury hotels and excellent fishing.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C17FD3E5911738DDDAC0994DE405B828CF1D3 "Many New Yorkers at Mount Pocono – Trout being sought"], The New York Times, June 15, 1902.</ref>

Initially, the town was part of [[Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Coolbaugh Township]]. In 1927, Mount Pocono borough was incorporated on its own.<ref>{{cite book |title=Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930: Population |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=951 |date=1931 | quote=Mount Pocono borough incorporated from part of Coolbaugh township in 1927 }}</ref>

The boom times lasted into the mid-20th century. Most of the resort hotels burned or closed, and passenger service to the town ended in 1965.

[[Mount Airy Lodge]] in nearby [[Paradise Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Paradise Township]] grew into an 895-room mega-resort. In the mid- and late-20th century it was a popular honeymoon destination, famous for its heart-shaped bathtubs.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/02/nyregion/thrills-are-over-mount-airy-lodge-once-favored-honeymoon-retreat-troubled-resort.html "The thrills are over at Mount Airy Lodge"], The New York Times, October 31, 2001.</ref> It closed in 2001, and was demolished. [[Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board|Casino gambling in Pennsylvania]] became legal in 2004. [[Mount Airy Casino Resort]] was built on the Mount Airy Lodge's lakeside site, and opened in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mountairycasino.com/|title=Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania &#124; Mount Airy Casino Resort}}</ref>

===Resort hotels===
* Pine Hill Lodge (1875), still in business, 11 guest rooms<ref>[http://explorepahistory.com/attraction.php?id=1-B-2CEE Pine Hill Lodge] from Explore PA History.</ref>
* Pocono Mountain House (1878, burned 1973), 250 guest rooms<ref>[http://www.cardcow.com/299732/pocono-haven-mount-pennsylvania/ Pocono Haven] from CardCow.</ref>
* Princess Poconita Resort (1880), now Whispering Hills Motel<ref>[http://explorepahistory.com/attraction.php?id=1-B-3EDE Whispering Hills Motel] from Explore PA History.</ref>
* Pocohasset House (demolished 1938), 100 guest rooms
* Ontwood Resort (c. 1890s, burned 1979), 150 guest rooms
* Mount Pleasant House (burned 1968), 150 guest rooms<ref>[http://www.cardcow.com/89717/mount-pleasant-house-pocono-pennsylvania/ Mount Pleasant House] from CardCow.</ref>
* Mount Airy Lodge (1898, closed 2001, demolished).<ref>[http://www.cardcow.com/142435/mount-airy-lodge-pocono-pennsylvania/ Mount Airy Lodge] from CardCow.</ref> At its peak in the 1960s, the hotel had 895 guest rooms.
* Montanesca Hotel (1901, burned 1911), 125 guest rooms
* The Meadowside (burned 1926)
* Hawthorne Inn (1909, demolished)<ref>[http://www.cardcow.com/205191/hawthorne-inn-cottages-mount-pocono-pennsylvania/ Hawthorne Inn and cottages] from CardCow.</ref>
* Strickland's Mountain Inn (c. 1900, demolished 2007).<ref>[http://www.cardcow.com/264799/stricklands-mountain-inn-pocono-pennsylvania/ Strickland's Mountain Inn] from CardCow.</ref> Began as The Elvin, sold to Strickland in 1945.
* Devonshire Pines (1912, demolished), 200 guest rooms
* The Belmont (burned 1963)

Currently, Mount Pocono serves as the commercial center for the northern part of Monroe County.  Stores from national and regional chains and others are in the borough.  Many businesses are members of the Mount Pocono Association (formerly the Mount Pocono Business Association).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mtpoconoassn.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928030014/https://mtpoconoassn.com/|archive-date=2022-09-28|title=Welcome to Mount Pocono}}</ref>