Forest County, Pennsylvania


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

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, of which is land and is water. It has a warm-summer humid continental climate and average monthly temperatures in Tionesta range from 25.3 °F in January to 69.8 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

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.

Demographics

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, <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.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
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%.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 4,7195,8505,27895.41%75.81%75.69%
Black or African American alone 1101,3741,2352.22%17.80%17.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 191180.38%0.14%0.11%
Asian alone 612170.12%0.15%0.24%
Pacific Islander alone 0100.00%0.02%0.00%
Other race alone 4540.08%0.06%0.05%
Mixed race or Multiracial 28451080.56%0.58%1.54%
Hispanic or Latino 604183231.21%5.41%4.63%
Total4,9467,7166,973100.00%100.00%100.00%

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. There were 8,701 housing units at an average density of. 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

Law enforcement

all areas in the county use the Pennsylvania State Police 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.

State Senate

Source:

State House of Representatives

Source:

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Education

The Forest Area School District serves the entire Forest County.
Private schools:
Libraries:
  • Marienville Area Library - Marienville
  • Sarah Stewart Bovard Memorial Library - Tionesta

Communities

[Image:Map of Forest County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png|right|thumb|300px|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 in Pennsylvania|boroughs], townships in Pennsylvania|townships], and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Forest County:

Borough

Townships

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

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
RankCity/Town/etc.Population Municipal typeIncorporated
1Marienville3,137CDP
2† Tionesta483Borough1805