Paradise Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²), of which, 21.4 square miles (55.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.42%) is water.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,671 people, 996 households, and 724 families residing in the township. The population density was 124.6 people per square mile (48.1/km²). There were 1,306 housing units at an average density of 60.9/sq mi (23.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.40% White, 3.59% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.

There were 996 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,320, and the median income for a family was $57,353. Males had a median income of $35,950 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,408. About 4.9% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Paradise Township has a Temperate Continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo). Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid in Paradise Township, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 96 °F (36 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 96.2 °F (36 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 70.8 °F (22 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. The average wettest month is September which correlates with tropical storm remnants during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.29 inches (160 mm) on 09/30/2010. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.6 °F (−24 °C).[5] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −21.4 °F (−30 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −23 °F (−31 °C). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every couple of years, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Paradise Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).[7] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late-April and peak fall color usually occurs in mid-October. The plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.6 °F (−24 °C).[5]

• Dale H. Learn, real estate agent and temperance activist