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Tobyhanna

Municipality
Coolbaugh Township

Tobyhanna Village, located in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, is a historically rich and geographically distinctive community in northeastern Pennsylvania. Despite sharing its name with Tobyhanna Township, the village itself is not part of that township—it remained in Coolbaugh when the township boundaries were redrawn in 1830.

🏞️ Geography & Setting

  • Location: Along the banks of Tobyhanna Creek, surrounded by forested terrain and state game lands.
  • Elevation: Approximately 1,568 feet, contributing to its cool climate and mountain ecology.
  • ZIP Code: 18466
  • Area Code: 570

🕰️ Historical Highlights

  • The name “Tobyhanna” comes from the Lenape word Topi-hanne, meaning “a stream whose banks are fringed with alder”.
  • In the late 1800s, the area was known as Tobyhanna Mills, home to a lumber mill, clothespin factory, and silk mill operated by the Tobyhanna and Lehigh Lumber Company.
  • By 1900, the village transitioned from lumber to ice harvesting, cutting blocks from local lakes and shipping them via rail to East Coast cities.
  • The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad served the village with a station, telegraph, and post office, anchoring it as a regional hub.
  • The federal government later established the Tobyhanna Military Reservation, now the Tobyhanna Army Depot, a major employer and logistics center.

🏘️ Community Character

  • Tobyhanna today is a mix of residential neighborhoods, vacation homes, and wooded lots, with a diverse population and growing infrastructure.
  • It’s part of the Pocono Mountain School District, and benefits from proximity to Interstate 380, making it accessible to Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Lehigh Valley.