Polk Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.4 square miles (81.4 km²), of which, 31.0 square miles (80.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.30%) is water. It is drained by the Pohopoco Creek westward into the Lehigh River. Pohopoco Mountain forms its natural northern boundary. Its villages include Dottersville, Gilbert (also in Chestnuthill Township), Jonas, and Kresgeville.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 6,533 people, 2,301 households, and 1,808 families residing in the township. The population density was 210.5 people per square mile (81.3/km²). There were 2,824 housing units at an average density of 91.0/sq mi (35.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.37% White, 1.84% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.

There were 2,301 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $45,016, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $36,467 versus $25,017 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,090. About 5.3% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Map of Monroe County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Residents of Polk Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Pleasant Valley School District which provides half day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Pleasant Valley School District's enrollment declined to 5,435 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.[5] In 2010, Pleasant Valley School District enrollment was 5,885 pupils. Pleasant Valley School District operates Pleasant Valley High School (9th-12th), Pleasant Valley Middle School (7th-8th), Pleasant Valley Intermediate School (4th-6th), and Pleasant Valley Elementary School (K-3rd). In 2013, Pleasant Valley School District's graduation rate was 85.7%.[6]

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Pleasant Valley School District 285th out of 496 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.[7] In 2012, Pleasant Valley School District declined to ‘’Warning’’ Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) due to lagging student achievement in both reading and mathematics at the high school, the middle school and the elementary school.[8]

High school aged students can attend the taxpayer funded Monroe Career & Tech Institute for training in the building trades other areas. The School is located at 194 Laurel Lake Road, Bartonsville. Monroe Career & Tech Institute is funded by a consortium of the local public school districts, which includes: Pleasant Valley School District, Stroudsburg Area School District, East Stroudsburg Area School District and Pocono Mountain School District.

Polk Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public, cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident's public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools.[9][10] By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Polk Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in neighboring East Stroudsburg. It is one of the 14 state universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Eleventh and twelfth grade students may attend the University at a significant tuition discount through its Dual Enrollment program earning college credits while still earning their high school diploma. Additionally, Pennsylvania residents who are at least 60 years of age and retired may enroll as non-matriculating students tuition free.[11]

Community members have access to the Eastern Monroe County Public Library which is located on 1002 North 9th Street in Stroudsburg. Through it Pennsylvania residents have access to all POWER Library online resources. Polk Township residents may also use the Western Pocono Community Library situated in Brodheadsville.

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Polk 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 slightly humid in Polk Township, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 99 °F (37 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 96.7 °F (36 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 72.2 °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 5.87 inches (149 mm) on 09/30/2010. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −8.0 °F (−22 °C).[12] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −20.7 °F (−29 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −20 °F (−29 °C). The average snowiest month is January which correlates with the average coldest month of the year. 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, Polk Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).[14] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late-April and peak fall color usually occurs in mid-October. The plant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −8.0 °F (−22 °C).[12]