Forest County, Pennsylvania
Forest County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,973,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Tionesta.[2] The county was created in 1848 and later organized in 1857.[3]
Forest County | |
|---|---|
Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta | |
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania | |
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 41°31′N 79°14′W / 41.52°N 79.24°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 (9 km2) 0.8%% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 6,973 |
| • Density | 16/sq mi (6/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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
State protected area
Part of Cook Forest State Park is in Forest County. Part of Cornplanter State Forest is in Forest County.[8]
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% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2017[13] | |||
As of the census[14] 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/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.
2020 census
| 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
Trump: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 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% |
Voter Registration
As of May 15, 2023, there are 3,149 registered voters in Forest County.[17]
Chart of Voter Registration
- Democratic: 872 (27.69%)
- Republican: 1,930 (61.29%)
- Independent: 218 (6.92%)
- Third Party: 129 (4.10%)
State Senate[18]
State House of Representatives[18]
- 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.
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
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Forest County.[19] 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 |
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Forest County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 128. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
- ^ "Wilderness Connect".
- ^ "Cornplanter State Forest".
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Forest County, Pennsylvania".
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (May 15, 2023). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.