It is part of the New York metropolitan area, but also receives media from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia radio and television markets.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Monroe County was one of the fastest-growing counties in Pennsylvania, largely due to Pocono Mountain-related tourism and partly due to an influx of residents from New York City and its metropolitan area who sought a lower cost of living while still being close enough to commute to the city.

[6] It has a humid continental climate (Dfb except for some Dfa in the southern and SE tiers) and the hardiness zone ranges from 5a to 6b.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has designated Monroe County as the East Stroudsburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has also designated Monroe County as part of the larger Allentown-Bethlehem-East Stroudsburg, PA-NJ Combined Statistical Area.

Additionally, the Democratic presidential candidates carried the county in 2012 (Obama), 2016 (Hillary Clinton), and 2020 (Joe Biden).

They are:[23] Private schools are as reported in EdNA school database maintained and published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2011 The Tobyhanna Army Depot, the U.S. Department of Defense's largest center for the repair and fabrication of electronic systems, is located in Monroe County.

[27] The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which "includes nearly 70,000 acres (280 km2) of mountains, valleys and floodplains," is partially located in Monroe County.

David Pierce wrote in the Pocono Record, "The 2,184-mile [3,515 km] public footpath—from Georgia to Maine—has a particularly scenic but rugged section that straddles Monroe County’s southern border..." He stated that "trail hiking has long been an integral part of Monroe County's identity..."[30] During the Revolutionary War in 1779, General John Sullivan marched his troops through Monroe County on their expedition to fight the Iroquois tribe in New York State.

[32] Sergeant Moses Fellows of the Third New Hampshire Regiment described the area as "...very poor & Barren and I think as never will Be Settled.”[33] The Long Pond Conservation Easement has over 10,000 acres (40 km2) of public access land with numerous trail systems.

[44] The Quakers "brought a quiet, unostentatious style to the region,"[44] but their hotels later developed from religious retreats into "luxurious mountain resorts.

[44][47] Skytop Lodge, built in 1928, is also located in Monroe County and has been described as a "Dutch Colonial-style manor house.

[44] Skytop offers thirty miles of hiking trails, and the main building "is surrounded by 5,000 acres (20 km2) of wood, glacial bogs, hemlock gorges, beaver marshes, and cascading waterfalls.

[49][50][51] Bandleader Fred Waring purchased the resort in 1943, renamed it the Shawnee Inn, and broadcast his radio shows from there.

[53][54] Mount Airy Lodge, which expanded from an eight-room inn into the largest Pocono resort, was located in Monroe County.

[55][56] It heavily advertised in the New York media market with the catchy jingle, "Beautiful Mount Airy Lodge.

"[57] Headliners, such as Bob Hope, Milton Berle, and Connie Francis, performed in the Crystal Room, Mount Airy's 2,000-seat theater.

[58] Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns.

The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Monroe County: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data.

During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −11.2 °F (−24.0 °C).

Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur nearly every year, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.

The average wettest month is September which correlates with tropical storm remnants during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −5.4 °F (−20.8 °C).

Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every couple of years, particularly during nor’easters from December through March.

Glacial Till Barrens are found in Dixon Miller State Forest,[35] and within the Bethlehem Authority property.