Wayne County, Pennsylvania
CountyWayne County
StatePennsylvania
Founded dateMarch 21
Founded year1798
Named forAnthony Wayne
Seat wlHonesdale
Largest city wlHonesdale
City typeborough
Area total751 sq mi
Area land726 sq mi
Area water25 sq mi
Area percentage3.3%
Census yr2020
Pop51155
Pop est as of2025
Population est51703
District8th
Time zoneEastern
WebWayneCountyPA.gov
Ex imageWayne County courthouse mod.jpg
Ex image size240
Ex image capThe Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale

Wayne County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The county's population was 51,155 at the 2020 census.[1] The county seat is the Borough of Honesdale.[2] The county was formed from part of Northampton County on March 21, 1798,[3] and was named for the Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne.[2] The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania and Pocono Mountains region of the state.[a]

The Lehigh River, a 109-mile (175-kilometre) tributary of the Delaware River, begins in southern Wayne County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wayne County has a total area of 751 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 726 square miles (1,880 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (3.3%) is water.[4]

The terrain of the county is varied. In the wider northern half, the land is rugged along its border with New York State, while the southern portion tends to be swampier. Higher hills and mountains are predominantly found along the county's western edge, while lower ones are more common in the east, near the Delaware River. The middle section of Wayne County is a wide plain.

The highest elevation in the county, 2,659 ft (810 m), is the summit of Mount Ararat in Orson. Two other summits at the north end of the same ridge also exceed 2,640 ft (800 m) in elevation. The county's lowest point, at approximately 680 ft (210 m) above sea level, is along the Delaware, near Wayne County's border with Pike County, Pennsylvania.

Most of Wayne County is drained by the Delaware (which separates Pennsylvania from New York), with the exception of a few small areas in the western part of the county, which are drained by either the Starrucca Creek or the Lackawanna River (which both eventually flow into the Susquehanna River).

The county has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Honesdale range from 22.8 °F in January to 67.9 °F in July.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 51,155. The median age was 49.1 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.7 males age 18 and over.[6]

The racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population.[7]

Wayne County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000[8]Pop 2010[9][10]% 2000% 2010
White alone (NH)45,64748,590style='background: #ffffe6; |44,82195.65%91.98%style='background: #ffffe6; |87.61%
Black or African American alone (NH)7311,563style='background: #ffffe6; |1,6471.53%2.95%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6785style='background: #ffffe6; |730.14%0.16%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
Asian alone (NH)178252style='background: #ffffe6; |4180.37%0.47%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.81%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)13style='background: #ffffe6; |00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
Other race alone (NH)1232style='background: #ffffe6; |1650.02%0.06%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)275481style='background: #ffffe6; |1,6840.57%0.91%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.29%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)8111,816style='background: #ffffe6; |2,3471.693.43%style='background: #ffffe6; |4.58%
Total47,72252,822style='background: #ffffe6; |51,155100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

13.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 86.2% lived in rural areas.[11]

There were 20,794 households in the county, of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.0% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[6]

There were 31,910 housing units, of which 34.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.[6]

2010 census

As of the Census of 2010, there were 52,822 people, 20,625 households, and 13,952 families in Wayne County. The county's population density was 72.797 /mi2, and there were 31,653 housing units at an average density of 43.623 /mi2. The racial makeup of the populace was 94.2% White, 3.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% of other races, and 1.1% of two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of all races made up 3.4% of the population.[4][12]

67.6% of Wayne County's households were families, 53.9% were headed by a heterosexual married couple (Pennsylvania did not allow same-sex marriage until May 20, 2014, after the 2010 Census had been completed), and 26.6% included children under the age of 18. 9.2% of households were headed by a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% by a male householder with no wife present, and 32.4% consisted of non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% consisted of a person 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87.[12]

Wayne County's age distribution was 21.1% under the age of 18, 4.5% between the ages of 18 and 24, 23.1% between 25 and 44, 32.4% between 45 and 64, and 19.0% 65 years of age or older. The population's median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 110 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112 males in the same age range.[12]

American Community Survey

According to American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, the median income for a household in Wayne County in 2013 was $49,313, and the median income for a family was $58,934. Males had a median income of $36,173, while females had a median income of $23,636. The per capita income for the county was $24,005. 8.4% of families and 12.2% of people were below the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds (different from the federally defined poverty guidelines), including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[13][14]

According to self-reported ancestry figures recorded by the ACS, the five largest ancestral groups in Wayne County in 2013 were Germans (30.3%), Irish (22.1%), Italians (13.9%), English (10.9%), and Poles (10.1%). Those reporting American ancestry made up 8.6% of the population.[15]

Politics

As of January 8, 2024, there were 35,181 registered voters in Wayne County, with the following party breakdown:[16]

Wayne has long been one of the most Republican counties in Pennsylvania, as Republicans consistently win easily in federal, state and local elections. In 2000, Republican George W. Bush won 59.21 percent of the vote to Democrat Al Gore's 36.50 percent,[17] and in 2004, Bush won with 62.43 percent to Democrat John Kerry's 36.69 percent.[18] In 2008, Republican John McCain won with 55.39 percent of the vote to Democrat Barack Obama's 43.14 percent,[19] and in 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won with 59.50 percent to Obama's 38.74 percent.[20] In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won with 67.63 percent to Hillary Clinton's 29.18 percent.

Wayne County was one of the four counties that Barry Goldwater won in Pennsylvania in 1964;[21] the last Democrat to win a plurality in the county was Grover Cleveland in 1892.[22][23] Since then, only three Democrats have won even forty percent of the county's vote – William Jennings Bryan in 1900, Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and Barack H. Obama in 2008.

Government and infrastructure

United States senators

United States representative

State representatives

Source:[24]

  • Jonathan Fritz, Republican (111th district) - Buckingham, Clinton (partially), Lebanon, Manchester, Mount Pleasant, Oregon, Preston, and Scott Townships, and Starrucca Borough
  • Jeffrey Olsommer (139th district) - Berlin, Cherry Ridge, Clinton (partially), Damascus, Dyberry, Palmyra, Paupack, South Canaan, and Texas Townships, and Bethany, Hawley, Honesdale, and Prompton Boroughs

State senator

County commissioners

  • Brian W. Smith, Republican (Chairman)[25]
  • James Shook, Republican[25]
  • Jocelyn Cramer, Democrat[25]

Other county officers

  • Auditors:[26] Carla J. Komar, Republican; Kathy Schloesser, Democrat; Catherine Jane Rickard, Republican
  • Coroner:[27] Edward R. Howell, Republican
  • District Attorney:[28] A.G. Howell, Republican
  • Prothonotary:[29] Edward "Ned" Sandercock, Republican
  • Recorder of Deeds[30] and Register of Wills:[31] Debbie Bates, Republican
  • Sheriff:[32] Christopher Rosler, Republican
  • Treasurer:[33] Brian T. Field, Republican

Healthcare services

Wayne County is served by the Wayne Memorial Health System. The Health System consists of Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale and several other subsidiaries and/or affiliates. In addition, the community has a number of physicians and other professionals providing needed care. The Farview State Hospital is located in Farview.

Emergency services

Paramedic services are provided by three different agencies:

BLS services are provided as dispatched through the Wayne County Communication Center. These agencies include:

Maplewood Fire and Rescue provides QRS "quick response service" to all medical calls in Lake townships.

Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons United States Penitentiary, Canaan is in Canaan Township, near Waymart.[39][40]

Education

Public school districts

School districts include:[41]

Private schools

There are five private or parochial schools in Wayne County:

  • Saint Dominic's Academy[43] in Honesdale

Libraries

The Wayne Library Alliance[44] operates seven public libraries throughout the county:

  • The Bethany Public Library[45] in Bethany
  • Hamlin Community Library[46] in Hamlin
  • The Hawley Public Library[47] in Hawley
  • The Newfoundland Area Public Library[48] in Newfoundland
  • The Northern Wayne Community Library[49] in Lakewood
  • The Pleasant Mount Public Library[50] in Pleasant Mount
  • The Wayne County Public Library[51] in Honesdale

Seminaries

There is one seminary, St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary[52] in South Canaan.

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: boroughs, cities, townships, and one town. Wayne County has only boroughs and townships. The latter type is classified based on population by the state government; all of its townships are second-class. A complete list of the county's municipalities follows:

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

In addition, Pennsylvania also has a few types of unincorporated communities, namely villages and private communities. Villages are unincorporated communities within a township, often defined by ZIP code boundaries, property deeds, and local consensus, but which have no official boundaries or population, unless they are also census-designated places (CDPs), geographical areas designated by the US Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. Regardless of whether or not they are CDPs, however, they are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Private communities are gated settlements usually governed by a community association, which also often defines the boundaries of the community and may keep track of the number of its members. However, like villages, private communities have no official boundaries or populations, unless they are CDPs, and are never Pennsylvanian jurisdictions. The following is an incomplete list by necessity, but more complete lists of Wayne County's villages and private communities may be found in the corresponding township entry.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Wayne County.[53]

† county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2010 Census)
1† HonesdaleBorough4,480
2The HideoutCDP3,013
3WaymartBorough1,341
4Wallenpaupack Lake EstatesCDP1,279
5Big Bass Lake (mostly in Lackawanna County)CDP1,270
6HawleyBorough1,211
7Pocono SpringsCDP926
8Gouldsboro (partially in Monroe County)CDP890
9White MillsCDP659
10PromptonBorough250
11BethanyBorough246
12StarruccaBorough173

See also

References

  1. ^ Includes Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Schuylkill, Carbon, Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan Counties
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Wayne County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Wayne County, PA". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Goodrich, Phineas G. (1992 [1880]). History of Wayne County. Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc.
  4. ^ 2014 Census National Counties Gazetteer File for Pennsylvania. United States Census Bureau. 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University"
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  8. ^ [https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=050XX00US42127 "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wayne County, Pennsylvania"]. United States Census Bureau
  9. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wayne County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  10. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wayne County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Wayne County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2010. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Selected Economic Characteristics 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wayne County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  14. ^ Occupation by Sex and Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2013 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) For the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wayne County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  15. ^ Selected Social Characteristics in the United States 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wayne County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  16. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (May 15, 2023). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Leip, Dave (2012). "2000 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  18. ^ Leip, Dave (2012). "2004 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  19. ^ Leip, Dave (2012). "2008 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Leip, Dave (2012). "2012 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  21. ^ Leip, Dave (2012). "1964 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. David Leip. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  22. ^ "Presidential election of 1892 - Map by counties". geoelections.free.fr. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  23. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  24. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  25. ^ "Commissioners". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  26. ^ "Auditors". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  27. ^ "Coroner". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  28. ^ "District Attorney". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  29. ^ "Prothonotary". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  30. ^ "Recorder of Deeds". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  31. ^ "Register of Wills". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  32. ^ "Sheriff". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  33. ^ "Treasurer". Wayne County, PA. Wayne County Courthouse. 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  34. ^ "Wayne Ambulance - Ambulance Service Area". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  35. ^ Writer), Michael Iorfino (Staff (July 29, 2013). "Moses Taylor Hospital acquires Lackawanna Ambulance". thetimes-tribune.com. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  36. ^ Cottage Hose Ambulance Employee Manual
  37. ^ Ambulance Company still struggles after fire, Wayne Independence, January 14, 2013
  38. ^ "Northern Wayne Fire Company - Lakewood, PA". FireDepartment.net. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  39. ^ "USP Canaan Contact Information Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on February 23, 2011. "3057 Easton Turnpike Waymart, PA 18472."
  40. ^ "Canaan township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania[dead link]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on February 23, 2011.
  41. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wayne County, PA". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-10-31. - Text list
  42. ^ "Canaan Christian Academy". Canaan Christian Academy. 2014. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  43. ^ "Saint Dominic's Academy". Saint Dominic's Academy. 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  44. ^ "Wayne County Pennsylvania Public Libraries". Wayne County Pennsylvania Public Libraries. 2014. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  45. ^ "Bethany Public Library Home Page!". Bethany Public Library Home Page!. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  46. ^ "Hamlin Community Library". Hamlin Community Library. Wix.com. March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  47. ^ "Hawley Public Library". Hawley Borough. Dynamic Technology Software, Inc. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  48. ^ "Newfoundland Area Public Library". Wayne County Pennsylvania Public Libraries. 2014. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  49. ^ "Northern Wayne Community Library". Wayne County Pennsylvania Public Libraries. 2014. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  50. ^ "Pleasant Mount Public Library". Facebook. Facebook, Inc. November 20, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  51. ^ "Wayne County PA Library". Facebook. Facebook, Inc. December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  52. ^ "Welcome to St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary". St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  53. ^ Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 7, 2018.