# Forest County, Pennsylvania

Forest County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 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 Pennsylvania region of the state.

## 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 square miles (1,100 km$^2$), of which 427 square miles (1,110 km$^2$) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km$^2$) (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

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

## Demographics

As of the census 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/km$^2$). There were 8,701 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km$^2$). 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.

### 2020 census

Forest County Racial Composition :
| 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 :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | 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% |

### Law enforcement

As of 2016 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 (61.86%)
* Democratic (26.81%)
* 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:
* 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
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type | Incorporated |
| 1 | Marienville | 3,137 | CDP | |
| 2 | † Tionesta | 483 | Borough | 1805 |