It was the discovery of anthracite coal in northeastern Pennsylvania, in the early 1800’s, and the need to transport this fuel to New York City which gave birth to the Delaware and Hudson Canal, the American Railroad and the Borough of Honesdale, the County seat of Wayne County. Farming, ice harvesting, lumbering, tanneries, children’s summer camps and boarding homes all contributed to the early Wayne County economy. Today, farming, lumbering and tourism continue to play an important part in employing the citizens of Wayne County. Small industry and construction are major employers in the Wayne County of the 1990’s, along with the second home and the related commercial enterprises.

Wayne County is made up of 28 local municipalities, 22 townships of the second class and 6 Boroughs. The County consists of 763 square miles or 488,265 acres of land. Between 1991 and 2000 residential land use has increased from 226,995 acres to 240,390 acres and agricultural land use has decreased from 161,037 acres to 149,552 acres. The industrial acreage of Wayne County increased from 528 acres to 978 while the commercial acreage increased from 9,762 to 14,254 acres.

Major highways in Wayne County are Interstate 380 & 84, U.S. Route 6 and Pennsylvania Route 191. Interstate 81 and New York Route 17 are located near Wayne County and play an important role in the overall transportation framework of the County. Rail service is provided in Hawley and Honesdale by the Stourbridge Railroad. All airports in Wayne County are privately owned. The largest of these airports being the Cherry Ridge Airport in Cherry Ridge Township and Spring Hill Airpark in Sterling Township.

The 2000 Census indicated Wayne County’s rate of growth in the 1990’s was 19.5%. It ranks 3rd in the Commonwealth in terms of percentage of increase. The total population in 2000 was 47,722, an increase of 7,778 from 1990. Wayne County is relatively rural. Density, people per square mile, increased from 54.8 in 1990 to 65.4 in 2000. This is an increase of 10.7 people per square mile. In comparison, Montgomery County experienced an increase of 148.8 people per square mile, Bucks County 92.9 and Chester County 75.5. Out of the 67 Pennsylvania Counties, Wayne County ranked 18th in increase in density.

New industrial enterprises have located in Wayne County to take advantage of the increased labor force. Between 1990 and 2000 the age group of 25-54 years increased 19.5%, the same percentage as the total population.

The following table compares the median household income, the median family income and the per capita income for Wayne County between 1989 and 1999.

Wayne County	1989	1999	Percent of Change
Median Household	$24,912	$34,082	37%
Median Family	$28,392	$40,589	43%
Per Capita	$11,257	$16,977	51%

The following information indicates the mobility of the population. The 2000 Census asked the question, Where did you live five years ago (1995)?

Residence in 1995 (population 5 years & over)
	% Wayne County	% Pennsylvania
Same house in 1995	67.0%	63.5%
Different house in the U.S. in 1995	32.4%	35.1%
Same county – different house	14.9%	21.7%
Different county	17.5%	13.4%
Same State – different house	7.7%	7.6%
Different state	9.8%	5.8%
Elsewhere in 1995	0.6%	1.4%

The information on residency indicates Wayne County’s population is less mobile than that of other Pennsylvanians. However it does show a greater percentage of Wayne County’s population who did move in the last five years of the 1990’s came from other states, rather than moving around within the same county as is more common throughout the rest of Pennsylvania.