List of counties in Pennsylvania
The following is a list of the 67 counties of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania . The city of Philadelphia is coterminous with Philadelphia County , the municipalities having been consolidated in 1854, and all remaining county government functions having been merged into the city after a 1951 referendum .[ 1] [ 2] Eight of the ten most populous counties are in the southeastern portion of the state, including four out of the top five, and eight of the top ten most populous counties are in either the Greater Philadelphia or Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Areas .
FIPS code
An 1836 map of Pennsylvania 's counties
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, used by the U.S. government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. FIPS codes are five-digit numbers; for Pennsylvania the codes start with 42 and are completed with the three-digit county code. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for the specific county.[ 3]
County list
County
FIPS code[ 4]
County seat[ 5]
Established[ 5]
Origin
Etymology[ 6]
Population[ 7]
Area[ 5]
Map
Adams County
001
Gettysburg
1800
Parts of York County
John Adams , second U.S. President
106,748
522 sq mi (1,352 km2 )
Allegheny County
003
Pittsburgh
1788
Parts of Washington and Westmoreland Counties
Delaware word for the Allegheny River , which possibly translates to "beautiful river"
1,224,825
745 sq mi (1,930 km2 )
Armstrong County
005
Kittanning
1800
Parts of Allegheny, Lycoming, and Westmoreland Counties
John Armstrong , Revolutionary War general
64,074
664 sq mi (1,720 km2 )
Beaver County
007
Beaver
1800
Parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties
Beaver River , itself named for the eponymous animal that was sighted along its banks
165,631
444 sq mi (1,150 km2 )
Bedford County
009
Bedford
1771
Parts of Cumberland County
Fort Bedford , which is named for John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
47,350
1,015 sq mi (2,629 km2 )
Berks County
011
Reading
1752
Parts of Chester, Lancaster and Philadelphia Counties
The English county of Berkshire
432,821
866 sq mi (2,243 km2 )
Blair County
013
Hollidaysburg
1846
Parts of Huntingdon and Bedford Counties
John Blair (1766-1832) a local pioneer farmer, merchant, and public servant[ 8]
120,273
527 sq mi (1,365 km2 )
Bradford County
015
Towanda
1810
Parts of Luzerne and Lycoming Counties; originally called Ontario County, renamed as Bradford County in 1812.
William Bradford , second U.S. Attorney General
59,695
1,161 sq mi (3,007 km2 )
Bucks County
017
Doylestown
1682
One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania
The English county of Buckinghamshire
645,984
622 sq mi (1,611 km2 )
Butler County
019
Butler
1800
Parts of Allegheny County
Richard Butler , Revolutionary War general
198,413
795 sq mi (2,059 km2 )
Cambria County
021
Ebensburg
1804
Parts of Somerset and Huntingdon Counties
Cambria , the traditional name for Wales
130,668
693 sq mi (1,795 km2 )
Cameron County
023
Emporium
1860
Parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties
Simon Cameron , U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
4,380
399 sq mi (1,033 km2 )
Carbon County
025
Jim Thorpe
1843
Parts of Monroe and Northampton Counties
Carbon , the element found in coal
65,458
387 sq mi (1,002 km2 )
Centre County
027
Bellefonte
1800
Parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Huntingdon Counties
Centre Furnace, the first industrial facility in the area
157,795
1,112 sq mi (2,880 km2 )
Chester County
029
West Chester
1682
One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania
The English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire
549,784
760 sq mi (1,968 km2 )
Clarion County
031
Clarion
1839
Parts of Venango and Armstrong Counties
Clarion River , itself so named for its clarity
36,970
609 sq mi (1,577 km2 )
Clearfield County
033
Clearfield
1804
Parts of Lycoming and Huntingdon Counties; Clearfield functioned as a part of Centre County for judiciary purposes until 1822.
The cleared fields from logging in the area
77,090
1,154 sq mi (2,989 km2 )
Clinton County
035
Lock Haven
1839
Parts of Lycoming and Centre Counties
DeWitt Clinton , New York Governor and prominent statesman
37,607
898 sq mi (2,326 km2 )
Columbia County
037
Bloomsburg
1813
Parts of Northumberland and Luzerne Counties
Columbia , the first popular and poetic name for the United States
65,439
490 sq mi (1,269 km2 )
Crawford County
039
Meadville
1800
Parts of Allegheny County
William Crawford , surveyor who helped to open trans-Appalachian lands to settlement
82,001
1,038 sq mi (2,688 km2 )
Cumberland County
041
Carlisle
1750
Parts of Lancaster County
The historic English county of Cumberland
270,738
551 sq mi (1,427 km2 )
Dauphin County
043
Harrisburg
1785
Parts of Lancaster County
Louis-Joseph, Dauphin of France
289,234
558 sq mi (1,445 km2 )
Delaware County
045
Media
1789
Parts of Chester County
Delaware River , itself named for Lord De La Warr
576,720
191 sq mi (495 km2 )
Elk County
047
Ridgway
1843
Parts of Jefferson, McKean, and Clearfield Counties
Elk , which inhabit the forested county
30,198
832 sq mi (2,155 km2 )
Erie County
049
Erie
1800
Parts of Allegheny County; attached to Crawford County until 1803.
Lake Erie
267,571
799 sq mi (2,069 km2 )
Fayette County
051
Uniontown
1783
Parts of Westmoreland County
The Marquis de Lafayette , French -born Revolutionary War general
123,915
798 sq mi (2,067 km2 )
Forest County
053
Tionesta
1848
Parts of Jefferson County; attached to Jefferson County until 1857.
Chief natural feature
6,449
431 sq mi (1,116 km2 )
Franklin County
055
Chambersburg
1784
Parts of Cumberland County
Benjamin Franklin , key Founding Father of the United States
157,854
771 sq mi (1,997 km2 )
Fulton County
057
McConnellsburg
1850
Parts of Bedford County
Robert Fulton , inventor of the steamboat
14,468
438 sq mi (1,134 km2 )
Greene County
059
Waynesburg
1796
Parts of Washington County
Nathanael Greene , Revolutionary War general
34,357
578 sq mi (1,497 km2 )
Huntingdon County
061
Huntingdon
1787
Parts of Bedford County
The historic English county of Huntingdonshire
43,514
889 sq mi (2,302 km2 )
Indiana County
063
Indiana
1803
Parts of Lycoming and Westmoreland Counties; it was attached to Westmoreland County until 1806.
From the Indiana Grant of 1768, that the Iroquois Six Nations were forced to make to "suffering traders" under the Fort Stanwix Treaty of 1768 .
83,094
834 sq mi (2,160 km2 )
Jefferson County
065
Brookville
1804
Parts of Lycoming County Attached to Westmoreland County until 1806 and to Indiana County until 1830.
Thomas Jefferson , third U.S. President
43,612
657 sq mi (1,702 km2 )
Juniata County
067
Mifflintown
1831
Parts of Mifflin County
Juniata River , itself named for the Iroquoian word Onayutta , meaning "Standing Stone"
23,243
394 sq mi (1,020 km2 )
Lackawanna County
069
Scranton
1878
Parts of Luzerne County
Lackawanna River , itself named for the Delaware word meaning "stream that forks"
216,123
465 sq mi (1,204 km2 )
Lancaster County
071
Lancaster
1729
Parts of Chester County
The English city of Lancaster
558,589
984 sq mi (2,549 km2 )
Lawrence County
073
New Castle
1849
Parts of Beaver and Mercer Counties
James Lawrence , War of 1812 captain
84,472
363 sq mi (940 km2 )
Lebanon County
075
Lebanon
1813
Parts of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties
Lebanon , the Biblical term for "White Mountain", which references the piety of the county's Moravian founders
144,252
363 sq mi (940 km2 )
Lehigh County
077
Allentown
1812
Parts of Northampton County
Lehigh River , from the Lenape Lechewuekink , "where there are forks ".
377,754
349 sq mi (904 km2 )
Luzerne County
079
Wilkes-Barre
1786
Parts of Northumberland County
Anne-César, Chevalier de la Luzerne , French ambassador to the U.S. who aided republican causes
327,388
907 sq mi (2,349 km2 )
Lycoming County
081
Williamsport
1795
Parts of Northumberland County
Lycoming Creek , itself named for the Delaware word iacomic meaning "great steam"
112,724
1,244 sq mi (3,222 km2 )
McKean County
083
Smethport
1804
Parts of Lycoming County; Attached to Centre County until 1814 and to Lycoming County until 1826 for judicial and elective purposes. McKean was fully organized only in 1826.
Thomas McKean , second Governor of Pennsylvania
39,519
984 sq mi (2,549 km2 )
Mercer County
085
Mercer
1800
Parts of Allegheny County
Hugh Mercer , Revolutionary War general
108,503
683 sq mi (1,769 km2 )
Mifflin County
087
Lewistown
1789
Parts of Cumberland and Northumberland Counties
Thomas Mifflin , first Governor of Pennsylvania
45,922
415 sq mi (1,075 km2 )
Monroe County
089
Stroudsburg
1836
Parts of Pike and Northampton Counties
James Monroe , fifth U.S President
166,053
617 sq mi (1,598 km2 )
Montgomery County
091
Norristown
1784
Parts of Philadelphia County
The historic Welsh county of Montgomeryshire or Richard Montgomery , a general killed in the 1775 Battle of Quebec
868,742
487 sq mi (1,261 km2 )
Montour County
093
Danville
1850
Parts of Columbia County
Madame Montour , colonial ambassador to the Native Americans
17,860
132 sq mi (342 km2 )
Northampton County
095
Easton
1752
Parts of Bucks County
The English town of Northampton
319,091
377 sq mi (976 km2 )
Northumberland County
097
Sunbury
1772
Parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton Counties
The English county of Northumberland
90,120
477 sq mi (1,235 km2 )
Perry County
099
New Bloomfield
1820
Parts of Cumberland County
Oliver Hazard Perry , War of 1812 commodore
46,083
556 sq mi (1,440 km2 )
Philadelphia County
101
Philadelphia
1682
One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania
"Brotherly love" from Greek philos ("love") and adelphos ("brother")
1,550,542
143 sq mi (370 km2 )
Pike County
103
Milford
1814
Parts of Wayne County
Zebulon Pike , explorer of the American West
61,247
567 sq mi (1,469 km2 )
Potter County
105
Coudersport
1804
From Lycoming county Attached to Lycoming County until 1826 and to McKean County until 1835 for judicial purposes, Potter was not fully organized until 1835.
James Potter , Revolutionary War general
15,999
1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2 )
Schuylkill County
107
Pottsville
1811
Parts of Berks and Northampton Counties
Schuylkill River , itself a Dutch corruption of a Delaware word possibly meaning "hidden river"
143,786
778 sq mi (2,015 km2 )
Snyder County
109
Middleburg
1855
Parts of Union County
Simon Snyder , third Governor of Pennsylvania
39,717
332 sq mi (860 km2 )
Somerset County
111
Somerset
1795
Parts of Bedford County
The historic English county of Somerset
72,197
1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2 )
Sullivan County
113
Laporte
1847
Parts of Lycoming County; attached to Lycoming until 1848.
John Sullivan , Revolutionary War general
5,834
452 sq mi (1,171 km2 )
Susquehanna County
115
Montrose
1810
Parts of Luzerne County ; attached to Luzerne County until 1812.
Susquehanna River , itself named after an Algonquin word for "muddy current"
38,109
832 sq mi (2,155 km2 )
Tioga County
117
Wellsboro
1804
Parts of Lycoming County; attached to Lycoming until 1812.
Tioga River , itself named for the Delaware word for "forks of the stream"
40,840
1,137 sq mi (2,945 km2 )
Union County
119
Lewisburg
1813
Parts of Northumberland County
The federal union of the states
42,042
317 sq mi (821 km2 )
Venango County
121
Franklin
1800
Parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties; attached to until 1805.
A corruption of the Delaware word onenge , meaning "otter"
49,431
683 sq mi (1,769 km2 )
Warren County
123
Warren
1800
Parts of Allegheny and Lycoming counties; attached to Crawford County until 1805 and then to Venango until Warren was formally organized in 1819.
Joseph Warren , Revolutionary War general
37,572
898 sq mi (2,326 km2 )
Washington County
125
Washington
1781
Parts of Westmoreland County
George Washington , first U.S. President
210,232
861 sq mi (2,230 km2 )
Wayne County
127
Honesdale
1798
Parts of Northampton County
Anthony Wayne , Revolutionary War general
51,262
751 sq mi (1,945 km2 )
Westmoreland County
129
Greensburg
1773
Parts of Bedford County
The historic English county of Westmorland
351,163
1,036 sq mi (2,683 km2 )
Wyoming County
131
Tunkhannock
1842
Parts of Luzerne County
The Delaware word xwéːwaməŋk , meaning "at the big river flat"
25,902
405 sq mi (1,049 km2 )
York County
133
York
1749
Parts of Lancaster County
The English city of York
464,640
910 sq mi (2,357 km2 )
The Province of Pennsylvania 's Three Lower Counties had been transferred from New York Colony in 1682. In 1701 these counties became a separate colony called Delaware Colony , although it shared the same colonial governor as Pennsylvania until independence in 1776.
See also
References
^ Petshek, Kirk R. (1973). The Challenge of Urban Reform . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 39 . ISBN 978-0-87722-058-9 .
^ "City and County Merger Believed OK'd by Voters" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . November 7, 1951 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing" . US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved July 24, 2007 .
^ a b "EPA County FIPS Code Listing" . EPA.gov . Retrieved February 23, 2008 .
^ a b c National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county" . Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2008 .
^ "Pennsylvania Counties" . Pennsylvania State Archives . Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009 .
^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website" . United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 19, 2024 .
^ "John Blair Historical Marker" . The Historical Marker Database . Retrieved September 8, 2024 .
^ a b c Delaware Genealogical Society (1997). "Delaware Counties and Hundreds" . Delaware Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006 .
^ a b c National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county" . Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved April 30, 2008 .
^ a b The Historical Society of Delaware (1997). "Delaware Counties" . Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006 .
^ Delaware Census Data Archived December 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine