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] The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

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Forest County
County
Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta
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Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°31′N 79°14′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.co.forest.pa.us

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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]

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]

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.

The Forest Area School District serves the entire Forest County.

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:

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Forest County, Pennsylvania