In 1928, the road was designated as PA190 between US209 (now US209 Bus.) in East Stroudsburg and PA90 (now PA191) south of Analomink, PA290 between PA90 in Analomink and PA390 in Canadensis, and as part of PA390 between Canadensis and PA90/PA507 in Newfoundland. PA290 was extended north to Newfoundland in the 1930s, replacing PA390, which was realigned. PA190 was decommissioned in the 1940s. The road between US611 (now I-80) in East Stroudsburg and PA90 in Analomink became a southern extension of PA196 in the 1950s. PA447 was designated onto its current alignment in the 1960s, replacing the southern portion of PA196 and the entire length of PA290.
Route description
PA447 begins at a traffic signal with US209 (Seven Bridges Road) in Smithfield Township, just north of exit309 (formerly52) of I-80. PA447 proceeds northwest along Independence Road through Smithfield Township, a two-lane roadway through a commercial section of the township, passing west of a park and ride lot owned by Martz Trailways. The route soon crosses into the borough of East Stroudsburg, turning westward along Independence Road. PA447 passes south of Terra Greens Golf Course, soon entering the northern reaches of downtown East Stroudsburg. A short distance into the center, PA447 intersects with US209 Bus. (North Courtland Street).[2]
PA447 and US209 Business runs north for three blocks as a concurrency via North Courtland. At the junction with Milford Road, US209 Business turns northeast along Milford while PA447 turns northwest along Analomink Road. Now in Stroud Township, PA447 crosses Samba Creek and bypasses the Gravel Place section of East Stroudsburg, paralleling the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, passing Pinebrook Park, and reaching an intersection with PA191 (North Fifth Street). At this junction, PA191 and PA447 continue northwest along Analomink Road, passing the future site of the AnalominkNew Jersey Transit station.[2][3]
PA191 and PA447 continue northwest and soon bends to the northeast into the Analomink section of Stroud Township. Paralleling Brodhead Creek, the routes continue northeast and soon north past the Evergreen Golf Club. Just north of the golf club, PA447 turns northwest along Creek Road while PA191 continues west along Analomink Road. The route bends northeast along Brodhead Creek, crossing into Price Township, crossing through the dense woods of Monroe County. PA447 and Brodhead Creek wind northwest for several miles, soon turning northward near Circle H Road. Near Laurel Run Road, PA447 soon leaves the dense woods for a residential section of Price Township. When the route and the creek turn northward again, they return to the woods, which begins to break up a short distance later.[2]
PA447 continues north, passing some residences near Snow Hill Road, passing an intersection with Bear Town Road, crossing into Barrett Township. PA447 continues northwest along Brodhead Creek, passing a small pond nearby. At the junction with Spruce Cabin Road, the route turns to the north again, reaching a junction with PA390 (Krummel Hill Road) in Canadensis. PA447 continues northwest from PA390, remaining a two-lane residential street through Barrett Township. After turning northward again, the route remains a two-lane woods/residential road, reaching the village of Coveville. Changing names to Spruce Mountain Road, PA447 climbs Spruce Mountain and turns northeast as it bypasses Lake in the Clouds. Turning northwest once again, PA447, the route continues north past the lake, reaching the Pike County line.[2]
Now in the Pike County municipality of Greene Township, PA447 crosses north past dense woods and residences as Panther Road, a two-lane roadway. The route makes a large curve to the northwest through the area of Lake Russell. Rather than crossing through the dense woods, PA447 becomes a two-lane roadway through fields of Greene Township. At Pine Grove Road, the route turns northward, reaching the village of Panther, a small residential community in Greene Township. The route becomes predominantly flat, crossing a junction with Stoney Lonesome Road, where the Panther Road name is dropped from the roadway. Turning northwest, the route crosses over Wallenpaupack Creek, crossing into Wayne County.[2]
Now in Dreher Township and the village of Newfoundland, PA447 turns west immediately into an intersection with PA191 and PA507 (Main Street). This junction marks the northern terminus of PA447, which continues west as Crestmont Drive towards the village of Jericho.[2]
When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, what is now PA447 was not given a route number.[4] In 1928, the road between US209 (now US209 Bus.) in East Stroudsburg and PA90 (now PA191) south of Analomink was designated PA190, the road between PA90 in Analomink and PA390 in Canadensis was designated PA290, and the roadway between Canadensis and PA90/PA507 in Newfoundland was the northern section of PA390. At this time, these segments were unpaved except for a small portion of PA290 south of Canadensis and the section of PA90 between PA190 and PA290.[5] By 1930, the entire length of PA190 was paved along with a section of PA390 south of Newfoundland.[6] In the 1930s, PA390 was realigned north of Canadensis and PA290 was extended north along the former alignment of PA390 to end at PA90/PA507 in Newfoundland. By this time, the entire length of PA290 was paved.[7]
PA190 was decommissioned in the 1940s, leaving the road between East Stroudsburg and Analomink unnumbered.[8] In 1956, the road between an interchange with US611 (later I-80) in East Stroudsburg and PA90 in Analomink became a southern extension of PA196.[9][10] PA447 was designated to its current alignment between US209 in East Stroudsburg and PA191/PA507 in Newfoundland in the 1960s, replacing the section of PA196 between East Stroudsburg and Analomink and the entire length of PA290 between Analomink and Newfoundland.[11]
Tourist Map of Pennsylvania(PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1930. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
Official Map of Pennsylvania(PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1970. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2014.