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Pike County was formed on March 26, 1814. The new county was named for a hero of the time, Zebulon Pike, western explorer, discoverer of Pike’s Peak and an American Army General, who had been killed the previous year in the War of 1812. Pike County has been the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania for the past 3 decades, yet is still very rural in nature.
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The most famous names in Pike County history are James Wilson, Zane Grey, John Roebling and Gifford Pinchot. James Wilson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a local property owner, Zane Grey was a famous western writer from Lackawaxen, John Roebling constructed the first suspension bridge in Pike county and later constructed the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, and Gifford Pinchot was a Governor of Pennsylvania and served in the cabinet of Pr
esident Theodore Roosevelt. For more information about these men and more click here [PoconoHistory.com]
Milford is the county seat for Pike County and sits along the Delaware River. The town is known for the Black Bear Festival, an annual event held every October and the Milford Music Festival that takes place each June. Milford is also home to Pike County Arts and Crafts, an arts education organization and winner of many state awards.
A famous American artifact is housed at the Pike County Historical Society museum in Milford – the Lincoln Flag, the actual blood stained flag that had cushioned the president’s head as he lay dying at Fords Theater in Washington.
Pike County’s biggest attraction is Lake Wallenpauapack, the 5,700 acre lake with 52 miles of shoreline that is 13 ½ miles long featuring thousands of lake homes.