Over the centuries, the Poconos has had quite a few industries that have made it special, from the railroad industry and coal to banking, hospitality, tourism, and manufacturing. Across the four counties, these industries have truly put the Poconos on the map over the years.

In the Pocono Mountains, history is rich with industrial triumphs. In 2026, the region stands as a testament to the staying power of the Poconos. From coal and rail to banking, hospitality, and cutting-edge manufacturing, the very forces that built this region continue shaping its future.

Not long after declaring independence, the United States — particularly Pennsylvania — began mining for coal. Anthracite coal fueled the Industrial Revolution, from the northern part of the Poconos and the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company to the southern Poconos in the former Mauch Chunk, now Jim Thorpe.

“The coal industry really built the infrastructure we have here in Carbon County,” said Tim Wright of the Reading and Northern Railroad. “Between finding the coal and seeing how good of a resource it was going to be, a lot of people started heating their houses and using it for other means. There became such a demand for coal and for transporting coal, especially to major markets between Philadelphia and New York City.”

Coal not only dominated Carbon County, it spurred the creation of the Switchback Railroad, which eventually led to today’s railroad industry. That industry remains highly successful, operated by the Reading and Northern Railroad, hauling freight and providing passenger excursions through the Lehigh Gorge.

“The railroad industry also was born here in the Pocono Mountains, the birthplace of the American railroad,” Wright said. “That happened in Honesdale, in Wayne County, in the northern Poconos. Basically, the same thing that was happening there with the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad and Canal was happening here in Mauch Chunk between the Lehigh Canal and the Switchback Railway. As demand for coal grew, the question became, how do we get it there faster?”

That gravitational pull has attracted generations of visitors and has been part of the fabric of Milford and many other areas of the Poconos since the early 1800s. Dutot opened the first boarding-house hotel in the Poconos in 1829 near the Delaware Water Gap.

Some years later, Louis Fauchère pioneered a culinary destination in the heart of Milford. The 16-room Hotel Fauchère, now 174 years old, is itself a living museum of the hospitality industry. Today it thrives with a coveted Michelin Key designation.

The Rosado family is the latest steward of this historic Pocono gem, welcoming generations of guests whose names are still recognized today.

“As they make their way through the hallways, we have a wall of fame,” said a member of the Rosado family. “You’ll see royalty in the manufacturing world like Andrew Carnegie. You’ll see elites in sports like Babe Ruth. General Sherman is on the wall, and there have been a number of U.S. presidents ranging from Bill Clinton to JFK.”

Other iconic resorts, including The Castle Inn, Shawnee, and Skytop, also share a lasting legacy tied to what remains the Poconos’ largest industry today. Hotel Fauchère proudly maintains its Gilded Age retreat, a style that simply cannot be replicated today or in the future.

“With inflation adjusted, there’s no answer as to what it originally cost to build,” Rosado said. “But to rebuild something of this scale today would be in the ten to twelve million dollar range, because of the style of the building, the materials, and the trades that are almost non-existent anymore.”

Another chapter of the Poconos’ past remains very much part of its present in Swiftwater, where vaccine manufacturing was pioneered. Today, Sanofi operates a global vaccine manufacturing site there, employing roughly 3,000 people.

“The Sanofi Swiftwater site is a 129-year-old site established with Doctor Slee in 1897,” said Rakesh Kakkar of Sanofi. “Over the last 129 years, we have made vaccines that serve communities across the U.S. and around the globe in over 100 countries.”

A museum on the sprawling historic campus tells the story of the lab where Dr. Slee began producing smallpox vaccines, making global history. The flu vaccine was eventually invented there. The Poconos is also home to other manufacturers with deep roots, including the Tobyhanna Army Depot, which supports the military industrial complex.

“Yes, it is a source of pride for us because we make vaccines for almost fifteen preventable diseases and serve over 100 countries,” Kakkar said. “Flu vaccine is one of the largest vaccines we make. We produce one-third of the flu vaccine used in the United States, serving children, adults, and the elderly.”

Serving the full range of ages for nearly two centuries, Honesdale National Bank is one of three independent banks operating in Honesdale. Neighbor Wayne Bank is about a century and a half old.

“It is very rare to have three banks founded in a town like Honesdale,” said Kate Bryant of Honesdale National Bank. “We are friendly competitors, and we’re all invested in doing the right thing for the community and helping small businesses.”

Bryant oversees an institution operating in five counties with 13 locations, all of which trace their origins back to the Poconos shortly after the formation of the nation.

“We’ve definitely been through a lot of economic change,” Bryant said. “What’s given us staying power over 190 years is our ability to adapt to changing environments and the economic needs of the communities we serve.”

Community banks like these, supporting small businesses, new homes, retirements, and long-term investments, reflect the same staying power seen across the Poconos’ historic industries.

Then.
Now.
And for years to come.