Forest County, Pennsylvania

County in Pennsylvania, United States

County in Pennsylvania

Forest County

County

Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta

Logo

Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 41°31′N 79°14′W﻿ / ﻿41.52°N 79.24°W﻿ / 41.52; -79.24
Country|  United States
State|  Pennsylvania
Founded| September 1, 1857
Seat| Tionesta
Largest community| Marienville
Area

• Total

| 430 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land| 427 sq mi (1,110 km2)
• Water| 3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 6,973

• Estimate

(2024)[1]

| 6,601
• Density| 15.5/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 15th
Website| www.co.forest.pa.us

Forest County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,973,[2] making it the third-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Tionesta.[3] The county was created in 1848 and later organized in 1857.[4] The county is part of the North Central region of the commonwealth.[a]

## History

[edit]

Forest County was created on April 11, 1848, from part of Jefferson County. The county was enlarged on October 31, 1866, when part of Venango County was incorporated into the county. Forest County was named for the forests contained within its limits.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 427 square miles (1,110 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6] It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Tionesta range from 25.3 °F in January to 69.8 °F in July.[7]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Warren County (north)
* McKean County (northeast)
* Elk County (east)
* Jefferson County (south)
* Clarion County (south)
* Venango County (west)

### National protected area

[edit]

Part of Allegheny National Forest covers Forest County. Part of Allegheny Islands Wilderness is in Forest County.[8]

### State protected area

[edit]

Part of Cook Forest State Park is in Forest County. Part of Cornplanter State Forest is in Forest County.[9]

### Major highways

[edit]

* US 62
* PA 36
* PA 66
* PA 127
* PA 227
* PA 666
* PA 899
* PA 948

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 898| | —
1870| 4,010| | 346.5%
1880| 4,385| | 9.4%
1890| 8,482| | 93.4%
1900| 11,039| | 30.1%
1910| 9,435| | −14.5%
1920| 7,477| | −20.8%
1930| 5,180| | −30.7%
1940| 5,791| | 11.8%
1950| 4,944| | −14.6%
1960| 4,485| | −9.3%
1970| 4,926| | 9.8%
1980| 5,072| | 3.0%
1990| 4,802| | −5.3%
2000| 4,946| | 3.0%
2010| 7,716| | 56.0%
2020| 6,973| | −9.6%
2024 (est.)| 6,601| | −5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2017[14] 2024[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 4,946 people, 2,000 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 8,701 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county, largely a result of the SCI Forest State Penitentiary, was 77.4% White, 21.1% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.9% were of German, 9.0% Irish, 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 2,000 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 28.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 111.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males. According to a 2025 Census Bureau survey, Forest County had the highest percentage of unmarried adults of any county in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States.[16]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Forest County Racial Composition[17] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 5,278  | 75.7%
Black or African American (NH)  | 1,235  | 17.71%
Native American (NH)  | 8  | 0.11%
Asian (NH)  | 17  | 0.24%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 0  | 0%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 112  | 1.6%
Hispanic or Latino | 323  | 4.63%

## Law and government

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Forest County, Pennsylvania[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,902  | 71.50% | 724  | 27.22%  | 34  | 1.28%
2020 | 1,882  | 70.91% | 728  | 27.43%  | 44  | 1.66%
2016 | 1,684  | 69.59% | 626  | 25.87%  | 110  | 4.55%
2012 | 1,383  | 59.51% | 896  | 38.55%  | 45  | 1.94%
2008 | 1,366  | 55.35% | 1,038  | 42.06%  | 64  | 2.59%
2004 | 1,571  | 61.06% | 989  | 38.44%  | 13  | 0.51%
2000 | 1,371  | 60.05% | 843  | 36.93%  | 69  | 3.02%
1996 | 902  | 40.98%  | 964  | 43.80% | 335  | 15.22%
1992 | 801  | 37.36%  | 890  | 41.51% | 453  | 21.13%
1988 | 1,159  | 56.13% | 895  | 43.34%  | 11  | 0.53%
1984 | 1,468  | 63.36% | 839  | 36.21%  | 10  | 0.43%
1980 | 1,206  | 56.12% | 819  | 38.11%  | 124  | 5.77%
1976 | 1,135  | 51.90% | 1,017  | 46.50%  | 35  | 1.60%
1972 | 1,374  | 71.75% | 509  | 26.58%  | 32  | 1.67%
1968 | 1,172  | 59.40% | 669  | 33.91%  | 132  | 6.69%
1964 | 900  | 41.78%  | 1,249  | 57.99% | 5  | 0.23%
1960 | 1,497  | 64.19% | 828  | 35.51%  | 7  | 0.30%
1956 | 1,535  | 71.13% | 622  | 28.82%  | 1  | 0.05%
1952 | 1,511  | 69.92% | 627  | 29.01%  | 23  | 1.06%
1948 | 1,209  | 62.29% | 687  | 35.39%  | 45  | 2.32%
1944 | 1,344  | 65.95% | 673  | 33.02%  | 21  | 1.03%
1940 | 1,811  | 66.19% | 919  | 33.59%  | 6  | 0.22%
1936 | 1,757  | 59.50% | 1,157  | 39.18%  | 39  | 1.32%
1932 | 1,090  | 63.34% | 569  | 33.06%  | 62  | 3.60%
1928 | 1,707  | 84.59% | 289  | 14.32%  | 22  | 1.09%
1924 | 1,130  | 71.20% | 280  | 17.64%  | 177  | 11.15%
1920 | 993  | 56.36% | 389  | 22.08%  | 380  | 21.57%
1916 | 617  | 47.03% | 463  | 35.29%  | 232  | 17.68%
1912 | 240  | 15.38%  | 373  | 23.91%  | 947  | 60.71%
1908 | 1,119  | 60.91% | 512  | 27.87%  | 206  | 11.21%
1904 | 1,328  | 68.14% | 411  | 21.09%  | 210  | 10.77%
1900 | 1,309  | 61.25% | 714  | 33.41%  | 114  | 5.33%
1896 | 1,224  | 57.74% | 805  | 37.97%  | 91  | 4.29%
1892 | 938  | 54.31% | 660  | 38.22%  | 129  | 7.47%
1888 | 917  | 57.24% | 612  | 38.20%  | 73  | 4.56%
United States Senate election results for Forest County, Pennsylvania1[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,808  | 68.25% | 741  | 27.97%  | 100  | 3.78%

### Law enforcement

[edit]

As of 2016[update] all areas in the county use the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) in a law enforcement capacity, either with part-time police departments or with no other police departments.[20]

### Voter Registration

[edit]

As of February 5, 2024, there are 3,159 registered voters in Forest County.[21]

Chart of Voter Registration

1. Republican (61.86%)
2. Democratic (26.81%)
3. Independent (7.28%)
4. Third Party (4.05%)

* Republican: 1,944 (61.86%)
* Democratic: 847 (26.81%)
* Independent: 230 (7.28%)
* Third Party: 128 (4.05%)

### State Senate

[edit]

Source:[22]

* Scott E. Hutchinson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 21st Senatorial District

### State House of Representatives

[edit]

Source:[22]

* Donna Oberlander, Republican, Pennsylvania's 63rd Representative District
* Kathy L. Rapp, Republican, Pennsylvania's 65th Representative District

### United States House of Representatives

[edit]

* Glenn Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

### United States Senate

[edit]

* Dave McCormick, Republican
* John Fetterman, Democrat

## Education

[edit]

The Forest Area School District serves the entire Forest County.[23]

Private schools:

* Cornell Abraxas I Arlene Lissner (9th-12th) Marienville

Libraries:

* Marienville Area Library - Marienville
* Sarah Stewart Bovard Memorial Library - Tionesta

## Communities

[edit]

Map of Forest County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Forest County:

### Borough

[edit]

* Tionesta (county seat)

### Townships

[edit]

* Barnett
* Green
* Harmony
* Hickory
* Howe
* Jenks
* Kingsley
* Tionesta

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Marienville

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Brookston
* Clarington
* Cooksburg‡
* East Hickory
* Endeavor
* Porkey
* West Hickory

### Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Forest County.[24] The jump in census figures between the 2000 and 2010 census, is due in a large part to the opening of the State Correctional Institution - Forest (SCI - Forest) in October 2004. SCI Forest houses approximately 2,200 inmates at their facility in Marienville, PA.

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Population (2010 Census)  | Municipal type  | Incorporated

|
|
|
|

1  | Marienville | 3,137  | CDP  |
2  | † Tionesta | 483  | Borough  | 1805

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Forest County, Pennsylvania

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Includes Clearfield, Jefferson, Tioga, McKean, Warren, Clarion, Elk, Potter, Forest and Cameron Counties

1. ^ a b "Forest County, Pennsylvania". Census.gov.
2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Forest County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 128. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
7. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
8. ^ "Wilderness Connect".
9. ^ "Cornplanter State Forest".
10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. ^ Alex Fitzpark. "Where unmarried Americans live". Axios. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Forest County, Pennsylvania".
18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
19. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
20. ^ Klibanoff, Eleanor (May 4, 2016). "Half of Pa. municipalities rely fully on state police". WHYY-TV. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
21. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
22. ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
23. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Forest County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 23, 2024. \- Text list
24. ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Forest County, Pennsylvania, United States

County seat: Tionesta

Borough|

* Tionesta

Townships|

* Barnett
* Green
* Harmony
* Hickory
* Howe
* Jenks
* Kingsley
* Tionesta

CDP|

* Marienville

Unincorporated
communities|

* Clarington
* Cooksburg‡
* East Hickory
* Endeavor
* Porkey
* West Hickory

Ghost town|

* Fagundus‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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41°31′N 79°14′W﻿ / ﻿41.52°N 79.24°W﻿ / 41.52; -79.24

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