Honesdale, Pennsylvania

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Honesdale, Pennsylvania, as depicted on an 1890 panoramic map.
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Honesdale, Pennsylvania, as depicted on an 1890 panoramic map.

Honesdale is the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania and is located 44 miles (71 km) northeast of Scranton.

Honesdale is located in an area known as "the lake region of the Poconos". The surrounding area provides many recreational opportunities including: boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, skiing, biking, and rafting.

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[edit] History

The Wayne County courthouse
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The Wayne County courthouse

[edit] Birthplace of american railroading

Honesdale, formerly named Dyberry Forks, takes its name from Philip Hone, former New York City Mayor and President of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company (later known as the Delaware and Hudson Railway). (The bluff that overlooks the town center is named Irving Cliff for his friend and business associate Washington Irving.)

Honesdale was a big part of the coal industry and is home of the first steam locomotive to be operated in the United States, the Stourbridge Lion. Anthracite coal transported by rail from the mines in Carbondale was unloaded in Honesadle and barged by canal boat to the New York City market. Parts of the original Stourbridge Lion are on display at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The Wayne County Historical Society & Museum contains a full-scale replica. The museum also houses many interesting photographs and artifacts.

The move to elect Abraham Lincoln was begun in Honesdale during the spring of 1859. Four men, Horace Greeley, Senator Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, Andrew G. Curtin, (later governor of PA) and Samuel Dimmick (later Attorney General of PA) met at that time and it has been said that the plans made by these four men in Honesdale resulted in the nomination of Lincoln by the Republican party.

During the beginning of August each year Honesdale hosts the Wayne County Fair. The Fair is always a popular event, spanning a full week and drawing thousands of visitors.

The children's magazine Highlights for Children has their Editorial Headquarters in Honesdale.

Honesdale High School is home to the Hornets.

[edit] Geography

Honesdale is located at 41°34′27″N, 75°15′21″W (41.574214, -75.255966)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²). 10.7 km² (4.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.20%) is water. Every year during the first week of August, Honesdale hosts the Wayne County fair. It draws visitors from all over and is a very popular attraction drawing thousands of people each year. The fair has rides, food vendors, farm animals and shows like the demolition derby at its grandstand.

[edit] What it is like

Honesdale has changed little in the last 30 years.

Some big box realtors have moved into the town near the Route 6 Plaza. The Plaza was built at the site of a small airport that used to handle single engine private planes. On a trip to Honesdale you will find a quiet but thriving Main Street with Mom and Pop stores.

The local daily newspaper, the Wayne Independent, established in 1878, emphasizes local stories. The Weekly Almanac, also a medium for local news, was begun in 1990. The community has little if any industry beyond the remnants of a once thriving population of family owned dairy farms.

The Wayne County Historical Society Museum is a popular tourist attraction. The local hospital, Wayne Memorial Hospital just completed a multi-million dollar expansion project.

The community has many Victorian age structures and is dominated by tall church steeples and a memorial park near the courthouse. Irving Cliff, 300 feet high, overlooks the town and is above the confluence of the Lackawaxen River and Dyberry Creek. The cliff contains a 50 foot electric framework displaying a Christmas Star, visible for miles.

Tourists can ride antique railroad cars along a right-of-way that skirts sections of the 175-year-old Delaware & Hudson canal.

[edit] Notable people

  • Richard B. Smith, who co-wrote the song Winter Wonderland in 1934, was born in Honesdale.
  • Mary Dimmick Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, was born in Honesdale.
  • Lyman Louis Lemnitzer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was born and lived in Honesdale
  • Art Wall, 1959 Masters Golf Champion was born and lived in Honesdale.
  • Edgar Jadwin, former Chief of Army Corp of Engineers, was born in Honesdale.
  • Ruth McGinnis, a member of the Billiard Hall of Fame, was a Honesdale resident.
  • David McKelvey Peterson, a flying ace of World War I, was born in Honesdale.
  • Homer Greene, author and poet, was born and lived in Honesdale.
  • Christy Mathewson, Hall of Fame pitcher, played semi-pro for Honesdale for two seasons in 1898 and 1899 before entering professional ball with the New York Giants. He was one of first five players entered into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
  • Michael Hunt, artist, was born in Honesdale.

[edit] Demographics

In 1900, 2,864 people lived in Honesdale; in 1910, 2,945 people made it their home; and in 1940, 5,687 lived there.As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 4,874 people, 2,166 households, and 1,251 families residing in the borough. The population density was 456.8/km² (1,182.9/mi²). There were 2,414 housing units at an average density of 226.2/km² (585.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.64% White, 0.66% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.

There were 2,166 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,209, and the median income for a family was $41,336. Males had a median income of $30,153 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,464. About 9.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Popular culture

[edit] External links


Municipalities and Communities of Wayne County, Pennsylvania
(County Seat: Honesdale)
Boroughs Bethany | Hawley | Honesdale | Prompton | Starucca | Waymart
Townships Berlin | Buckingham | Cannan | Cherry Ridge | Clinton | Damascus | Dreher | Dyberry | Lake | Lebanon | Lehigh | Manchester | Mount Pleasant | Oregon | Palmyra | Paupack | Preston | Salem | Scott | South Cannan | Sterling | Texas
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