Delaware State Forest

{{Short description|State forest in Pennsylvania, US}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Delaware State Forest | iucn_category = VI | iucn_ref =  | image = Painter Swamp.jpg | image_caption = Painter Swamp, Pike County, within Delaware State Forest.  | map = | image_map = Delaware State Forest Locator Map.PNG | map_width = | map_caption = Location of Delaware State Forest in Pennsylvania | relief =  | location = Pennsylvania, United States | nearest_city = | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|41|07|24|N|75|09|59|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref =  | length = | length_mi = | length_km = | width = | width_mi = | width_km = | area_acre = 85114 | elevation = {{convert|1145|ft|m|abbr=on}} | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation =  | authorized = | created = | designated = | established = | named_for = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | governing_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | administrator = | operator = | owner =  | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20040226043031/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delaware.aspx Delaware State Forest] | module = }}

'''Delaware State Forest''' is a {{Convert|85114|acre|km2|adj=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.conservationfund.org/impact/press-releases/pennsylvanias-delaware-state-forest-grows-by-555-acres |title=Pennsylvania's Delaware State Forest Grows by 555 Acres |date=2023-06-26 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Conservation Fund}}</ref> [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|Pennsylvania state forest]] in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #19. The main offices are located in [[Pocono Township, Pennsylvania|Swiftwater]] in [[Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Monroe County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the [[United States]].

The forest is in several tracts in Monroe and [[Pike County, Pennsylvania|Pike]] counties. [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania|Northampton County]] is also in District #19.

==History== Delaware State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr. [[Joseph Rothrock]] became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and Iron companies had harvested the [[old-growth forest]]s for various reasons. They [[clearcutting|clear cut]] the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing [[steam locomotives]] ignited [[wildfire]]s that prevented the formation of [[Secondary forest|second growth forest]]s. The conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for the state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies and the lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that had depleted the natural resources of the forests.<ref name="vfsfhistory">{{cite web |url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |title = History of the William Penn State Forest |access-date = 2007-08-29 |publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823033728/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |archive-date = 2007-08-23}}</ref> The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today's [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]. The [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] passed a piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations". This was the beginning of the State Forest system.<ref name="vfsfhistory"/>

==Neighboring state forest districts== *[[Pinchot State Forest]] (north) *[[William Penn State Forest]] (south) *[[Weiser State Forest]] (west)

==State parks== [[File:Delaware State Forest Glen.jpg|thumb|Spruce Run within Delaware State Forest]] *[[Big Pocono State Park]] *[[Gouldsboro State Park]] *[[Promised Land State Park]] *[[Tobyhanna State Park]]

== Natural and wild areas ==

* [[Bruce Lake Natural Area]] * [[Buckhorn Natural Area]] * [[Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural Area]] * [[Pennel Run Natural Area]] * [[Pine Lake Natural Area]] * [[Stillwater Natural Area]] * [[Stairway Wild Area]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delaware.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040226043031/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delaware.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 26, 2004 | title = Delaware State Forest | access-date = 2006-07-12 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] }} ''Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment.'' *{{cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif |title=State Forest Districts |access-date=2006-07-12 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515050052/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif |archive-date=2006-05-15 |url-status=dead }} ''Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment''

[[Category:Pennsylvania state forests]] [[Category:Pocono Mountains]] [[Category:Protected areas of Northampton County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Monroe County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Pike County, Pennsylvania]]