Forest County, Pennsylvania

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 sqmi, of which 427 sqmi is land and 3.3 sqmi (0.8%) is water. 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.

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.

State protected area

Part of Cook Forest State Park is in Forest County. Part of Cornplanter State Forest is in Forest County.

Major highways

Demographics

1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2017 2024 | align-fn = center

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.

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,

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.

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%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,946 people, 2,000 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 /mi2. There were 8,701 housing units at an average density of 20 /mi2. 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.

Law and government

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Law enforcement

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.

Voter registration

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

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

State Senate

Source:

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

State House of Representatives

Source:

• 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.

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

• 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. 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

References

References

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6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
8. "Wilderness Connect".
9. "Cornplanter State Forest".
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
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17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
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20. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Forest County, Pennsylvania".
21. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. Alex Fitzpark. "Where unmarried Americans live". [[Axios (website).
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
24. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
25. Klibanoff, Eleanor. (2016-05-04). "Half of Pa. municipalities rely fully on state police". [[WHYY-TV]].
26. Pennsylvania Department of State. (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county".
27. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator".
28. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Forest County, PA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
29. "2010 U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].