Forest County was created on April 11, 1848, from part ofJefferson County. The county was enlarged on October 31, 1866, when part ofVenango County was incorporated into the county. Forest County was named for the forests contained within its limits.[5]
According to theU.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-summerhumid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Tionesta range from 25.3 °F in January to 69.8 °F in July.[7]
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 4,946 people, 2,000 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.40%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.69% fromother races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 19.9% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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 theMid-Atlantic,Northeastern,Appalachian, andGreat Lakes regions of theUnited States.[16]
As of 2016[update] all areas in the county use thePennsylvania State Police (PSP) in a law enforcement capacity, either with part-time police departments or with no other police departments.[20]
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:
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2010 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 theState Correctional Institution - Forest (SCI - Forest) in October 2004. SCI Forest houses approximately 2,200 inmates at their facility in Marienville, PA.
^abCenter, Legislativate Data Processing."Find Your Legislator".The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. RetrievedMay 11, 2017.
