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History of Poconos, Pennsylvania
Before the first permanent settlement at Shawnee by Nicholas Depui in 1725, Native Americans long lived in the Poconos. They were the Delaware, Iroquois, Shawnee, Minisink, Lenape, and Paupack. The Dutch arrived in 1659, but were forced out by the English in 1664. More English and the Germans came in and around 1742. Modern history begins with the first boarding house hotel, built in 1829 by Anthony Dutot. It became the center of the resort industry in the mid-1800s. At the turn of the century, vacationers from Philadelphia and New York City began to flock to the Poconos. Advertised as "Pennsylvania's Playground", the communities began a century's long serious development. Lake Wallenpaupack was created by damming the creek and building a hydro-electric plant. It became the third largest man-made lake in Pennsylvania, sizing at 5,200 acres and 52 miles of quiet, pristine shoreline. In the Poconos, a few eras have passed. During prohibition, the resorts were Puritan in spirit, calling themselves, "Friendly Mountain Resorts"; card-playing and gambling were prohibited and golf, tennis, and other sports were not allowed on Sundays. Before and after World War II, GIs took their wives and families. The Poconos was then dubbed the "Honeymoon Capital of the World". The heart-shaped tub was popularized here in 1963. To this day, resorts set the mood right for honeymooners and vacationing couples. By the 1950s, skiing took hold. The first snow maker (used by blowing water through a nozzle) was patented in the Poconos and then perfected by 1956. Interstates were constructed, which made the region more accessible. Eventually, a speedway was put in, bringing in at least 100,000 NASCAR fans from all over the country twice a year. As the Poconos has entered the 21st century, more resorts, restaurants, ski areas, and golf courses have arisen; property value has also arisen. Population of the entire region is upwards of 300,000 residents.
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