Forest County, Pennsylvania
County in Pennsylvania, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania | |
| 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 (8.5 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,973 |
6,614  | |
| • Density | 15.5/sq mi (6.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 15th |
| Website | www |
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
Demographics
| 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% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 6,614 | [10] | −5.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900–90[13] 1990–00[14] 2010–20[15] 2025[1] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[20] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 5,024 | 4,722 | 4,719 | 5,850 | 5,278 | 99.05% | 98.33% | 95.41% | 75.82% | 75.69% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 11 | 43 | 110 | 1,374 | 1,235 | 0.22% | 0.90% | 2.22% | 17.81% | 17.71% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 13 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 0.26% | 0.23% | 0.38% | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 0.14% | 0.06% | 0.12% | 0.16% | 0.24% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [23] | x [24] | 28 | 45 | 108 | x | x | 0.57% | 0.58% | 1.55% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15 | 23 | 60 | 418 | 323 | 0.30% | 0.48% | 1.21% | 5.42% | 4.63% |
| Total | 5,072 | 4,802 | 4,946 | 7,716 | 6,973 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,973. The median age was 45.4 years. 9.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 236.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 252.6 males age 18 and over.[25]
The racial makeup of the county was 76.0% White, 17.7% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% from some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population.[26]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[27]
There were 2,034 households in the county, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.4% were married-couple households, 25.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]
There were 6,949 housing units, of which 70.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.1% were owner-occupied and 16.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.[25]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census[28], 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.[29]
Law and government
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 917 | 57.24% | 612 | 38.20% | 73 | 4.56% |
| 1892 | 938 | 54.31% | 660 | 38.22% | 129 | 7.47% |
| 1896 | 1,224 | 57.74% | 805 | 37.97% | 91 | 4.29% |
| 1900 | 1,309 | 61.25% | 714 | 33.41% | 114 | 5.33% |
| 1904 | 1,328 | 68.14% | 411 | 21.09% | 210 | 10.77% |
| 1908 | 1,119 | 60.91% | 512 | 27.87% | 206 | 11.21% |
| 1912 | 240 | 15.38% | 373 | 23.91% | 947 | 60.71% |
| 1916 | 617 | 47.03% | 463 | 35.29% | 232 | 17.68% |
| 1920 | 993 | 56.36% | 389 | 22.08% | 380 | 21.57% |
| 1924 | 1,130 | 71.20% | 280 | 17.64% | 177 | 11.15% |
| 1928 | 1,707 | 84.59% | 289 | 14.32% | 22 | 1.09% |
| 1932 | 1,090 | 63.34% | 569 | 33.06% | 62 | 3.60% |
| 1936 | 1,757 | 59.50% | 1,157 | 39.18% | 39 | 1.32% |
| 1940 | 1,811 | 66.19% | 919 | 33.59% | 6 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 1,344 | 65.95% | 673 | 33.02% | 21 | 1.03% |
| 1948 | 1,209 | 62.29% | 687 | 35.39% | 45 | 2.32% |
| 1952 | 1,511 | 69.92% | 627 | 29.01% | 23 | 1.06% |
| 1956 | 1,535 | 71.13% | 622 | 28.82% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 1,497 | 64.19% | 828 | 35.51% | 7 | 0.30% |
| 1964 | 900 | 41.78% | 1,249 | 57.99% | 5 | 0.23% |
| 1968 | 1,172 | 59.40% | 669 | 33.91% | 132 | 6.69% |
| 1972 | 1,374 | 71.75% | 509 | 26.58% | 32 | 1.67% |
| 1976 | 1,135 | 51.90% | 1,017 | 46.50% | 35 | 1.60% |
| 1980 | 1,206 | 56.12% | 819 | 38.11% | 124 | 5.77% |
| 1984 | 1,468 | 63.36% | 839 | 36.21% | 10 | 0.43% |
| 1988 | 1,159 | 56.13% | 895 | 43.34% | 11 | 0.53% |
| 1992 | 801 | 37.36% | 890 | 41.51% | 453 | 21.13% |
| 1996 | 902 | 40.98% | 964 | 43.80% | 335 | 15.22% |
| 2000 | 1,371 | 60.05% | 843 | 36.93% | 69 | 3.02% |
| 2004 | 1,571 | 61.06% | 989 | 38.44% | 13 | 0.51% |
| 2008 | 1,366 | 55.35% | 1,038 | 42.06% | 64 | 2.59% |
| 2012 | 1,383 | 59.51% | 896 | 38.55% | 45 | 1.94% |
| 2016 | 1,684 | 69.59% | 626 | 25.87% | 110 | 4.55% |
| 2020 | 1,882 | 70.91% | 728 | 27.43% | 44 | 1.66% |
| 2024 | 1,902 | 71.50% | 724 | 27.22% | 34 | 1.28% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1994 | 1,096 | 57.59% | 722 | 37.94% | 85 | 4.47% |
| 2000 | 1,406 | 62.52% | 786 | 34.95% | 57 | 2.53% |
| 2006 | 938 | 47.69% | 1,029 | 52.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2012 | 1,356 | 58.93% | 884 | 38.42% | 61 | 2.65% |
| 2018 | 1,201 | 62.16% | 693 | 35.87% | 38 | 1.97% |
| 2024 | 1,808 | 68.25% | 741 | 27.97% | 100 | 3.78% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1992 | 1,101 | 51.28% | 944 | 43.97% | 102 | 4.75% |
| 1998 | 1,052 | 68.09% | 442 | 28.61% | 51 | 3.30% |
| 2004 | 1,533 | 62.27% | 752 | 30.54% | 177 | 7.19% |
| 2010 | 1,121 | 59.91% | 750 | 40.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 1,502 | 63.27% | 708 | 29.82% | 164 | 6.91% |
| 2022 | 1,434 | 65.72% | 694 | 31.81% | 54 | 2.47% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1970 | 880 | 54.09% | 728 | 44.74% | 19 | 1.17% |
| 1974 | 979 | 55.91% | 755 | 43.12% | 17 | 0.97% |
| 1978 | 974 | 49.82% | 972 | 49.72% | 9 | 0.46% |
| 1982 | 1,050 | 56.15% | 810 | 43.32% | 10 | 0.53% |
| 1986 | 966 | 53.76% | 813 | 45.24% | 18 | 1.00% |
| 1990 | 595 | 34.96% | 1,104 | 64.86% | 3 | 0.18% |
| 1994 | 1,197 | 63.07% | 480 | 25.29% | 221 | 11.64% |
| 1998 | 987 | 63.80% | 375 | 24.24% | 185 | 11.96% |
| 2002 | 1,170 | 64.43% | 613 | 33.76% | 33 | 1.82% |
| 2006 | 1,059 | 53.27% | 929 | 46.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2010 | 1,257 | 66.51% | 633 | 33.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2014 | 820 | 50.15% | 815 | 49.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,159 | 59.80% | 746 | 38.49% | 33 | 1.70% |
| 2022 | 1,340 | 61.13% | 825 | 37.64% | 27 | 1.23% |
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.[37]
Voter registration
As of February 5, 2024, there are 3,159 registered voters in Forest County.[38]
- Republican (61.9%)
- Democratic (26.8%)
- Independent (7.28%)
- 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:[39]
State House of Representatives
Source:[39]
- Donna Oberlander, Republican, Pennsylvania's 63rd Representative District
- Kathy L. Rapp, Republican, Pennsylvania's 65th Representative District
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Education
The Forest Area School District serves the entire Forest County.[40]
Private schools:
- Cornell Abraxas I Arlene Lissner (9th-12th) Marienville
Libraries:
- Marienville Area Library - Marienville
- Sarah Stewart Bovard Memorial Library - Tionesta
Communities
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
Census-designated place
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.[41] 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 |