Forest County, Pennsylvania

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]

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
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

History

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

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

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

National protected area

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

State protected area

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

Major highways

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

Demographics

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

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

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

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

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

Chart of Voter Registration

1. Republican (61.9%)
2. Democratic (26.8%)
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

Source:^[22]

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

State House of Representatives

Source:^[22]

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

United States House of Representatives

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

United States Senate

• Dave McCormick, Republican
• John Fetterman, Democrat

Education

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

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

• Tionesta (county seat)

Townships

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

Census-designated place

• Marienville

Unincorporated communities

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

Population ranking

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

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