Middle Smithfield sits between the Delaware River and the Poconos
On the easternmost edge of Pennsylvania, Middle Smithfield Township is positioned between two popular destinations for all-weather outdoor enthusiasts. The Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area offers the serenity of nature while maintaining the antique charm of nineteenth-century industrialization. While home to about 16,000 residents, the Monroe County town welcomes seasonal visitors to its plethora of camping sites and the must-see attractions of the national forest. Popular sites include Bushkill Falls, a 100-foot picturesque cascade, and Millbrook Village, a preserved historic settlement. Locals can access U.S. Route 209, which connects to Interstate 80 and allows for a more manageable 80-mile commute east to New York City.
Delaware Water Gap offers year-round recreation and historic charm
Middle Smithfield Township is seen by some as a year-round camping destination, as the 70,000-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area spans across the town’s east side. The highly-visited and densely-forested region offers more than 150 miles of trails that range in difficulty from wheelchair-accessible to extremely challenging. “The area covers a 40-mile stretch of the Delaware River, where there are lots of hiking trails and spots to kayak,” Weidenbaum says. Millbrook Village, part of the national park, is a historic site that allows visitors to step back in time to the 1800s. Vintage wagons, wells and mills still stand, while old churches and other buildings preserve their old-time interior and exterior appearances. In addition to the many campsites found throughout the Delaware Water Gap, people can also pitch a tent or rent a cabin in other areas of the township, including Otter Lake Camp and Thousand Trails.
About 15 miles west of the township, the Poconos is another nature-friendly destination with mountain trails and a tourist-friendly industry. Popular for camping and hunting during the warmer months and skiing in the wintertime, the area around Pocono Mountain features the Mount Airy Casino, Kalahari Waterpark and Camelback Resort.
Housing styles include cottages, Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals
Residential back roads and unmarked lanes shaded by a canopy of oak and pine trees lead locals home to a variety of single-family housing styles. In the Wilderness Acres subdivision, located in the northern part of Middle Smithfield Township, 600- to 1,600-square-foot ranch-style and raised ranch-style cabins generally range from $115,000 for a property in need of renovations to $280,000 for a home with a wide front porch and a remodeled interior. To the east, in the Mountain Top Estates subdivision, houses get slightly larger and take on more chalet-like and Colonial-inspired styles, many tucked in the woods on an acre or two with an attached garage. While sizes vary from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, prices typically stay between $300,000 and $475,000. In the township’s southeastern portion, including in the Winona Lakes subdivision, more spacious New Traditional styles can be found where the quiet, outdoorsy recreation area of the Delaware Water Gap begins. Sizes can reach upwards of 10,000 square feet, and price tags begin around $500,000, rising to more than $1.5 million for a property on dozens of acres.
U.S. Route 209 is lined with attractions, eateries and markets
U.S. Route 209 is the area’s main thoroughfare, packed with attractions, churches and markets. The public Pocono Hills Golf Course offers 18 holes of play, and nearby, Pocono Guided Zip TreeVentures offers ropes and zipline courses. Continuing south down Route 209, residents can stop into the Pocono Indian Museum, which showcases the history of the Delaware Indigenous Peoples through paints and artifacts. A mile south of there, the Library of the Smithfields shares its campus, which was built in 2021, with the Middle Smithfield Township Community and Cultural Center. Near the library, the highway begins to present more options for dining and shopping, including The Morning Brew Coffee Shop and Mignosi’s supermarket. Across the highway, the Pocono Bazaar is an indoor and outdoor flea market open on Saturdays and Sundays. A bit off Route 209, Tom X Pub serves made-from-scratch burgers and wings and serves beer and wine in a historic Colonial-style Cape Cod.
Downtown Stroudsburg hosts Concerts in the Square in the summer
For a more boutique- and bistro-style retail experience, residents can venture into Downtown Stroudsburg, a historic Main Street district located just south of Middle Smithfield Township. In addition to local eateries and shoppes, the nineteenth-century downtown area is home to Courthouse Square, which hosts a free summer music series. “The Concerts in the Square is a big one every Thursday night,” Weidenbaum says. “It feels like there’s an event in Downtown Stroudsburg every weekend.” Also located in this part of Stroudsburg is Lehigh Valley Hospital, a general hospital with an ER unit.
Students can attend East Stroudsburg public schools and local university
Students living in Middle Smithfield Township are part of East Stroudsburg Area School District, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche. Young learners can begin at Middle Smithfield Elementary School, which also receives a B-minus, before advancing to J.T. Lambert Intermediate School, which has a C-plus. Students can then move on to East Stroudsburg South High School, which holds a B-plus rating and boasts a district championship-winning football team.
Education might continue at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, which is a public college located just south of Middle Smithfield Township. Known for its successful Business programs, the university enrolls about 5,000 undergraduate students and 750 graduate students each year.
Commute in and out of the car-dependent town on U.S. Route 209
U.S. Route 209 serves the town, running north-south along the east side of the community. The highway connects residents to Interstate 80, allowing for a 45-mile commute to Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown and a 115-mile commute to Philadelphia International Airport. Middle Smithfield Township is car-dependent, as no public bus or train services the area.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
