Polk Township is a peaceful, rural municipality located in the southwestern corner of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, where the Pocono Mountains begin to soften into the rolling hills of the Lehigh Valley. With its blend of forested ridges, open farmland, and historic hamlets, Polk offers a quiet, grounded sense of place rooted in Appalachian heritage.
🗺️ Geographic & Civic Snapshot
Established: 1846, named after President James K. Polk
Area: ~31.2 square miles (80.8 km²), mostly land
Elevation: ~902 feet (275 m)
Population: 7,473 (2020 Census)
School District: Pleasant Valley School District
🏘️ Villages & Features
Kresgeville: The civic and historical heart of the township, home to the first school (1825) and post office (1845)
Jonas, Dottersville, and Gilbert (shared with Chestnuthill Township): Small hamlets with deep local roots
Pohopoco Creek: Drains the township westward into the Lehigh River, shaping its natural boundaries
Pohopoco Mountain: Forms the northern edge, offering scenic views and forested terrain
🏞️ Landscape & Recreation
Natural Beauty: Rolling hills, dense forests, and open pastures define the landscape
Outdoor Activities: Hiking, fishing, and hunting are popular, with access to nearby state parks and game lands
Historic Sites: Includes the Kresgeville Covered Bridge, a local landmark reflecting 19th-century craftsmanship
🏠 Short-Term Rentals (STRs)
Regulations: STRs are not permitted in R-1 residential zones
Permitted Zones: Allowed in other zoning districts with a license and inspection
🌄 Regional Identity
Polk Township is a place where quiet resilience and natural heritage define daily life. It’s less commercialized than eastern Monroe County, offering a slower pace and stronger connection to land, legacy, and community. Its villages—especially Kresgeville—serve as cultural anchors, with local events and civic pride shaping its identity.
CHESTNUTHILL TWP., Pa. - The Monroe County Republican Party is calling for a District Court Judge to resign, citing a conflict of interest.
Monroe County Magistral District Judge Colleen Mancuso is married to newly-elected District Attorney Michael Mancuso. Both are Democrats.
The Monroe County Republican Committee is calling Judge Mancuso to step down.
"She's going to serve her own interests instead of the peoples' interests and continue to accept a full-time salary." said Tom Whitehead, former Chairman of the Monroe County Republican Committee.
The Polk Township Regular Supervisors Meeting on February 26, 2024 at 6:30PM has been RESCHEDULED to Monday, March 4, 2024 at 6:30 PM at the Polk Township Municipal Building, 165 Polk Twp. Rd, Kresgeville, PA 18333.
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STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — For more than 50 years Monroe County Meals on Wheels has provided food and services to hundreds of people in the Poconos.
Monroe County Meals on Wheels in Stroudsburg is seeing a staggering uptick in clients who need their services as they just surpassed helping more than 350 people every week.
The winner of the sweepstakes to buy the Trexler Scout Reservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sheltering veterans and helping them obtain quality health care.
In a letter posted to its Facebook page Thursday, the Minsi Trails Council Executive Board said it has voted to sell the 755-acre Boy Scout camp in Polk Township, Monroe County, to the Trexler Veterans Initiative for $7.8 million.
The fate of the Trexler Scout Reservation is still in the air, but organizations have been putting together bids to take over the 755-acre piece of nature in Polk Township.
One of them is the Pocono Heritage Land Trust, which recently submitted a bid for the Boy Scout camp, which has a history stretching back more than 90 years. Executive Director Louise Troutman was limited in what she could say because of a non-disclosure agreement, but was worried about potential competition for Camp Trexler.
For generations of Boy Scouts in the Lehigh Valley, the Trexler Scout Reservation has been a chance to get in touch with nature.
The camp features two lakes, a 65-foot climbing wall and zipline, a crafts building, hiking trails and dozens of other activities to pass a summer day.
Detectives from the Monroe County Office of the District Attorney, Criminal Investigation Division (CID), arrested and charged Nicholas John Taylor, 23, of Polk Township, with child pornography and related offenses Monday afternoon.
