Tunkhannock Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Tunkhannock Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,983 at the 2000 census. The Bethlehem Municipal Water Authority is the most notable landowner in this township.

Not to be confused with Tunkhannock Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.

Tunkhannock Township
Township
Fields and woods in the township
Tunkhannock Township Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°59′59″N 75°30′04″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Monroe
Area [1]
• Total	38.84 sq mi (100.58 km^2)
• Land	38.55 sq mi (99.83 km^2)
• Water	0.29 sq mi (0.75 km^2)
Elevation	1,841 ft (561 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	6,789
• Estimate  (2016)[2]	6,652
• Density	172.57/sq mi (66.63/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	570

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 38.9 square miles (100.9 km²), of which 38.6 square miles (100.1 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) (0.80%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
2000	4,983		—
2010	6,789		36.2%
Est. 2016	6,652	[2]	−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

At the 2000 census,[4] there were 4,983 people, 1,661 households and 1,333 families residing in the township. The population density was 129.0 per square mile (49.8/km²). There were 2,967 housing units at an average density of 76.8/sq mi (29.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.49% White, 7.06% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.47% of the population.

There were 1,661 households, of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.35.

31.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median household income was $42,448 and the median family income was $46,996. Males had a median income of $38,669 compared with $23,986 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,927. About 10.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Tunkhannock Township has a Temperate Continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo). Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid in Tunkhannock Township, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 92 °F (33 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 94.1 °F (34.5 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 70.8 °F (21.6 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.66 inches (169 mm) on 09/30/2010. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.3 °F (−23.5 °C).[5] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −22.7 °F (−30.4 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −23 °F (−31 °C). The average snowiest month is January which correlates with the average coldest month of the year. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur nearly every year, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.

Climate data for Tunkhannock Twp, Elevation 1,874 ft (571 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	61.9 (16.6)	71.9 (22.2)	80.7 (27.1)	86.9 (30.5)	89.0 (31.7)	88.9 (31.6)	94.1 (34.5)	91.9 (33.3)	89.6 (32.0)	82.2 (27.9)	74.0 (23.3)	66.0 (18.9)	94.1 (34.5)
Average high °F (°C)	30.9 (−0.6)	34.3 (1.3)	42.6 (5.9)	55.3 (12.9)	66.3 (19.1)	73.9 (23.3)	78.3 (25.7)	76.4 (24.7)	69.6 (20.9)	57.8 (14.3)	47.1 (8.4)	35.2 (1.8)	55.7 (13.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)	22.9 (−5.1)	25.7 (−3.5)	33.3 (0.7)	44.8 (7.1)	55.5 (13.1)	63.6 (17.6)	68.2 (20.1)	66.7 (19.3)	59.9 (15.5)	48.4 (9.1)	38.8 (3.8)	27.6 (−2.4)	46.4 (8.0)
Average low °F (°C)	15.0 (−9.4)	17.1 (−8.3)	23.9 (−4.5)	34.3 (1.3)	44.6 (7.0)	53.3 (11.8)	58.0 (14.4)	57.0 (13.9)	50.1 (10.1)	39.0 (3.9)	30.5 (−0.8)	20.1 (−6.6)	37.0 (2.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−22.7 (−30.4)	−12.5 (−24.7)	−5.4 (−20.8)	11.0 (−11.7)	27.5 (−2.5)	33.5 (0.8)	38.7 (3.7)	35.1 (1.7)	28.7 (−1.8)	18.0 (−7.8)	0.3 (−17.6)	−13.6 (−25.3)	−22.7 (−30.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.33 (110)	3.62 (92)	4.56 (116)	4.86 (123)	4.63 (118)	4.90 (124)	5.12 (130)	4.66 (118)	5.21 (132)	5.68 (144)	5.12 (130)	5.04 (128)	57.73 (1,466)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	19.7 (50)	14.1 (36)	14.6 (37)	3.5 (8.9)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	3.7 (9.4)	11.8 (30)	67.5 (171)
Average relative humidity (%)	72.6	67.7	63.6	59.9	62.3	71.5	70.9	73.9	73.5	70.4	70.4	74.0	69.2
Average dew point °F (°C)	15.4 (−9.2)	16.5 (−8.6)	22.3 (−5.4)	31.7 (−0.2)	42.8 (6.0)	54.2 (12.3)	58.4 (14.7)	58.1 (14.5)	51.4 (10.8)	39.2 (4.0)	30.0 (−1.1)	20.4 (−6.4)	36.8 (2.7)
Source: PRISM[6]

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Tunkhannock Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Hardwood (106) with a dominant vegetation form of Northern hardwood forest (26).[7] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in early-May and peak fall color usually occurs in early-October. The plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.3 °F (−23.5 °C).[5]

The climate of Long Pond PA is variable, and ecosystems vary considerably. Ecosystems range from glacial till barrens habitat, known for frost pockets and globally rare flowering species and associated insects. Mixed hardwood deciduous forests and vast peat bog swamps. Frost pockets can occur in this region in typically frost free months of June, July, and August.

The Nature Conservancy and Bethlehem Municipal Water Authority have preserved large tracts of habitat for globally rare species in this and neighboring townships.

References

1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 14, 2017.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
3. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
6. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved September 6, 2019.
7. "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Retrieved September 6, 2019.