Counties of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania counties (clickable map)
Pennsylvania counties (clickable map)
LocationPennsylvania
Number67
Populations4,418 (Cameron) – 1,567,258 (Philadelphia)
Areas132 square miles (340 km2) (Montour) – 1,244 square miles (3,220 km2) (Lycoming)
Government

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 Gettysburg1800Parts of York CountyJohn Adams, second U.S. President 106,027 522 sq mi
(1,352 km2)
State map highlighting Adams County
Allegheny County 003 Pittsburgh1788Parts of Washington and Westmoreland CountiesDelaware word for the Allegheny River, which possibly translates to "beautiful river" 1,233,253 745 sq mi
(1,930 km2)
State map highlighting Allegheny County
Armstrong County 005 Kittanning1800Parts of Allegheny, Lycoming, and Westmoreland CountiesJohn Armstrong, Revolutionary War general 64,747 664 sq mi
(1,720 km2)
State map highlighting Armstrong County
Beaver County 007 Beaver1800Parts of Allegheny and Washington CountiesBeaver River, itself named for the eponymous animal that was sighted along its banks 165,677 444 sq mi
(1,150 km2)
State map highlighting Beaver County
Bedford County 009 Bedford1771Parts of Cumberland CountyFort Bedford, which is named for John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford 47,418 1,015 sq mi
(2,629 km2)
State map highlighting Bedford County
Berks County 011 Reading1752Parts of Chester, Lancaster and Philadelphia CountiesThe English county of Berkshire 430,449 866 sq mi
(2,243 km2)
State map highlighting Berks County
Blair County 013 Hollidaysburg1846Parts of Huntingdon and Bedford CountiesJohn Blair, Pennsylvania state legislator 121,032 527 sq mi
(1,365 km2)
State map highlighting Blair County
Bradford County 015 Towanda1810Parts of Luzerne and Lycoming Counties; originally called Ontario County, renamed as Bradford County in 1812.William Bradford, second U.S. Attorney General 59,866 1,161 sq mi
(3,007 km2)
State map highlighting Bradford County
Bucks County 017 Doylestown1682One of the original counties at the formation of PennsylvaniaThe English county of Buckinghamshire 645,054 622 sq mi
(1,611 km2)
State map highlighting Bucks County
Butler County 019 Butler1800Parts of Allegheny CountyRichard Butler, Revolutionary War general 197,300 795 sq mi
(2,059 km2)
State map highlighting Butler County
Cambria County 021 Ebensburg1804Parts of Somerset and Huntingdon CountiesCambria, the traditional name for Wales 131,441 693 sq mi
(1,795 km2)
State map highlighting Cambria County
Cameron County 023 Emporium1860Parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter CountiesSimon Cameron, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania 4,418 399 sq mi
(1,033 km2)
State map highlighting Cameron County
Carbon County 025 Jim Thorpe1843Parts of Monroe and Northampton CountiesCarbon, the element found in coal 65,460 387 sq mi
(1,002 km2)
State map highlighting Carbon County
Centre County 027 Bellefonte1800Parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Huntingdon CountiesCentre Furnace, the first industrial facility in the area 158,425 1,112 sq mi
(2,880 km2)
State map highlighting Centre County
Chester County 029 West Chester1682One of the original counties at the formation of PennsylvaniaThe English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire 545,823 760 sq mi
(1,968 km2)
State map highlighting Chester County
Clarion County 031 Clarion1839Parts of Venango and Armstrong CountiesClarion River, itself so named for its clarity 37,346 609 sq mi
(1,577 km2)
State map highlighting Clarion County
Clearfield County 033 Clearfield1804Parts 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 77,904 1,154 sq mi
(2,989 km2)
State map highlighting Clearfield County
Clinton County 035 Lock Haven1839Parts of Lycoming and Centre CountiesDeWitt Clinton, New York Governor and prominent statesman 37,931 898 sq mi
(2,326 km2)
State map highlighting Clinton County
Columbia County 037 Bloomsburg1813Parts of Northumberland and Luzerne CountiesColumbia, the first popular and poetic name for the United States 64,926 490 sq mi
(1,269 km2)
State map highlighting Columbia County
Crawford County 039 Meadville1800Parts of Allegheny CountyWilliam Crawford, surveyor who helped to open trans-Appalachian lands to settlement 82,670 1,038 sq mi
(2,688 km2)
State map highlighting Crawford County
Cumberland County 041 Carlisle1750Parts of Lancaster CountyThe historic English county of Cumberland 268,579 551 sq mi
(1,427 km2)
State map highlighting Cumberland County
Dauphin County 043 Harrisburg1785Parts of Lancaster CountyLouis-Joseph, Dauphin of France 288,800 558 sq mi
(1,445 km2)
State map highlighting Dauphin County
Delaware County 045 Media1789Parts of Chester CountyDelaware River, itself named for Lord De La Warr 575,182 191 sq mi
(495 km2)
State map highlighting Delaware County
Elk County 047 Ridgway1843Parts of Jefferson, McKean, and Clearfield CountiesElk, which inhabit the forested county 30,477 832 sq mi
(2,155 km2)
State map highlighting Elk County
Erie County 049 Erie1800Parts of Allegheny County; attached to Crawford County until 1803.Lake Erie 267,689 799 sq mi
(2,069 km2)
State map highlighting Erie County
Fayette County 051 Uniontown1783Parts of Westmoreland CountyThe Marquis de Lafayette, French-born Revolutionary War general 125,755 798 sq mi
(2,067 km2)
State map highlighting Fayette County
Forest County 053 Tionesta1848Parts of Jefferson County; attached to Jefferson County until 1857.Chief natural feature 6,626 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)
State map highlighting Forest County
Franklin County 055 Chambersburg1784Parts of Cumberland CountyBenjamin Franklin, key Founding Father of the United States 156,902 771 sq mi
(1,997 km2)
State map highlighting Franklin County
Fulton County 057 McConnellsburg1850Parts of Bedford CountyRobert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat 14,533 438 sq mi
(1,134 km2)
State map highlighting Fulton County
Greene County 059 Waynesburg1796Parts of Washington CountyNathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general 34,663 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
State map highlighting Greene County
Huntingdon County 061 Huntingdon1787Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Huntingdonshire 43,281 889 sq mi
(2,302 km2)
State map highlighting Huntingdon County
Indiana County 063 Indiana1803Parts of Lycoming and Westmoreland Counties; it was attached to Westmoreland County until 1806.Native Americans 82,957 834 sq mi
(2,160 km2)
State map highlighting Indiana County
Jefferson County 065 Brookville1804Parts of Lycoming County Attached to Westmoreland County until 1806 and to Indiana County until 1830.Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. President 43,794 657 sq mi
(1,702 km2)
State map highlighting Jefferson County
Juniata County 067 Mifflintown1831Parts of Mifflin CountyJuniata River, itself named for the Iroquoian word Onayutta, meaning "Standing Stone" 23,339 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
State map highlighting Juniata County
Lackawanna County 069 Scranton1878Parts of Luzerne CountyLackawanna River, itself named for the Delaware word meaning "stream that forks" 215,615 465 sq mi
(1,204 km2)
State map highlighting Lackawanna County
Lancaster County 071 Lancaster1729Parts of Chester CountyThe English city of Lancaster 556,629 984 sq mi
(2,549 km2)
State map highlighting Lancaster County
Lawrence County 073 New Castle1849Parts of Beaver and Mercer CountiesJames Lawrence, War of 1812 captain 84,849 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
State map highlighting Lawrence County
Lebanon County 075 Lebanon1813Parts of Dauphin and Lancaster CountiesLebanon, the Biblical term for "White Mountain", which references the piety of the county's Moravian founders 144,011 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
State map highlighting Lebanon County
Lehigh County 077 Allentown1812Parts of Northampton CountyLehigh River 376,317 349 sq mi
(904 km2)
State map highlighting Lehigh County
Luzerne County 079 Wilkes-Barre1786Parts of Northumberland CountyAnne-César, Chevalier de la Luzerne, French ambassador to the U.S. who aided republican causes 326,369 907 sq mi
(2,349 km2)
State map highlighting Luzerne County
Lycoming County 081 Williamsport1795Parts of Northumberland CountyLycoming Creek, itself named for the Delaware word iacomic meaning "great steam" 113,104 1,244 sq mi
(3,222 km2)
State map highlighting Lycoming County
McKean County 083 Smethport1804Parts 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 39,866 984 sq mi
(2,549 km2)
State map highlighting McKean County
Mercer County 085 Mercer1800Parts of Allegheny CountyHugh Mercer, Revolutionary War general 109,220 683 sq mi
(1,769 km2)
State map highlighting Mercer County
Mifflin County 087 Lewistown1789Parts of Cumberland and Northumberland CountiesThomas Mifflin, first Governor of Pennsylvania 45,988 415 sq mi
(1,075 km2)
State map highlighting Mifflin County
Monroe County 089 Stroudsburg1836Parts of Pike and Northampton CountiesJames Monroe, fifth U.S President 167,198 617 sq mi
(1,598 km2)
State map highlighting Monroe County
Montgomery County 091 Norristown1784Parts of Philadelphia CountyThe historic Welsh county of Montgomeryshire or Richard Montgomery, a general killed in the 1775 Battle of Quebec 864,683 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
State map highlighting Montgomery County
Montour County 093 Danville1850Parts of Columbia CountyMadame Montour, colonial ambassador to the Native Americans 18,091 132 sq mi
(342 km2)
State map highlighting Montour County
Northampton County 095 Easton1752Parts of Bucks CountyThe English town of Northampton 318,526 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
State map highlighting Northampton County
Northumberland County 097 Sunbury1772Parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton CountiesThe English county of Northumberland 90,133 477 sq mi
(1,235 km2)
State map highlighting Northumberland County
Perry County 099 New Bloomfield1820Parts of Cumberland CountyOliver Hazard Perry, War of 1812 commodore 46,114 556 sq mi
(1,440 km2)
State map highlighting Perry County
Philadelphia County 101 Philadelphia1682One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania"Brotherly love" from Greek philos ("love") and adelphos ("brother") 1,567,258 143 sq mi
(370 km2)
State map highlighting Philadelphia County
Pike County 103 Milford1814Parts of Wayne CountyZebulon Pike, explorer of the American West 60,558 567 sq mi
(1,469 km2)
State map highlighting Pike County
Potter County 105 Coudersport1804From 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 16,220 1,081 sq mi
(2,800 km2)
State map highlighting Potter County
Schuylkill County 107 Pottsville1811Parts of Berks and Northampton CountiesSchuylkill River, itself a Dutch corruption of a Delaware word possibly meaning "hidden river" 143,104 778 sq mi
(2,015 km2)
State map highlighting Schuylkill County
Snyder County 109 Middleburg1855Parts of Union CountySimon Snyder, third Governor of Pennsylvania 39,652 332 sq mi
(860 km2)
State map highlighting Snyder County
Somerset County 111 Somerset1795Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Somerset 72,710 1,081 sq mi
(2,800 km2)
State map highlighting Somerset County
Sullivan County 113 Laporte1847Parts of Lycoming County; attached to Lycoming until 1848.John Sullivan, Revolutionary War general 5,855 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
State map highlighting Sullivan County
Susquehanna County 115 Montrose1810Parts of Luzerne County ; attached to Luzerne County until 1812.Susquehanna River, itself named after an Algonquin word for "muddy current" 38,074 832 sq mi
(2,155 km2)
State map highlighting Susquehanna County
Tioga County 117 Wellsboro1804Parts of Lycoming County; attached to Lycoming until 1812.Tioga River, itself named for the Delaware word for "forks of the stream" 41,106 1,137 sq mi
(2,945 km2)
State map highlighting Tioga County
Union County 119 Lewisburg1813Parts of Northumberland CountyThe federal union of the states 42,744 317 sq mi
(821 km2)
State map highlighting Union County
Venango County 121 Franklin1800Parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties; attached to until 1805.A corruption of the Delaware word onenge, meaning "otter" 49,777 683 sq mi
(1,769 km2)
State map highlighting Venango County
Warren County 123 Warren1800Parts 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 37,808 898 sq mi
(2,326 km2)
State map highlighting Warren County
Washington County 125 Washington1781Parts of Westmoreland CountyGeorge Washington, first U.S. President 210,383 861 sq mi
(2,230 km2)
State map highlighting Washington County
Wayne County 127 Honesdale1798Parts of Northampton CountyAnthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general 51,173 751 sq mi
(1,945 km2)
State map highlighting Wayne County
Westmoreland County 129 Greensburg1773Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Westmorland 352,057 1,036 sq mi
(2,683 km2)
State map highlighting Westmoreland County
Wyoming County 131 Tunkhannock1842Parts of Luzerne CountyThe Delaware word xwéːwaməŋk, meaning "at the big river flat" 26,014 405 sq mi
(1,049 km2)
State map highlighting Wyoming County
York County 133 York1749Parts of Lancaster CountyThe English city of York 461,058 910 sq mi
(2,357 km2)
State map highlighting York County

Former counties

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.

County
FIPS code[4] County seat[8][9] Est.[8][9] History[8][10] Etymology[10] Population[11] Area[9] Map
Kent County 001 Dover1680Created from Whorekill (Hoarkill) District. Formerly known as St. Jones County.Named in 1682 by William Penn for the English county of Kent. 184,149 800 sq mi
(2,072 km2)
State map highlighting Kent County
New Castle County 003 Wilmington1664Original County (Formally New Amstel)Named in 1673 by Dutch Governor Anthony Colve for the town of New Castle, Delaware as an Anglicization of Nieuw Amstel. 571,708 494 sq mi
(1,279 km2)
State map highlighting New Castle County
Sussex County 005 Georgetown1664Created from Whorekill (Hoarkill) District. Formerly known as Deale CountyNamed in 1682 by William Penn for the English county of Sussex, which was his home county. 247,527 1,196 sq mi
(3,098 km2)
State map highlighting Sussex County

See also

References

  1. Petshek, Kirk R. (1973). The Challenge of Urban Reform. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-87722-058-9.
  2. "City and County Merger Believed OK'd by Voters". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 7, 1951 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county". Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  6. "Pennsylvania Counties". Pennsylvania State Archives. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
  7. Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Delaware Genealogical Society (1997). "Delaware Counties and Hundreds". Delaware Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
  9. 1 2 3 National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  10. 1 2 The Historical Society of Delaware (1997). "Delaware Counties". Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
  11. Delaware Census Data Archived 2016-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
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