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 Philadelphia or Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

A map of the counties of Pennsylvania in 1836

Counties of Pennsylvania
LocationPennsylvania
Number67
Populations4,459 (Cameron) – 1,576,251 (Philadelphia)
Areas132 square miles (340 km2) (Montour) – 1,244 square miles (3,220 km2) (Lycoming)
Government

FIPS code

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, used by the United States 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 104,127 522 sq mi
(1,352 km2)
Allegheny County 003 Pittsburgh1788Parts of Washington and Westmoreland CountiesDelaware word for the Allegheny River, which possibly translates to "beautiful river" 1,238,090 745 sq mi
(1,930 km2)
Armstrong County 005 Kittanning1800Parts of Allegheny, Lycoming, and Westmoreland CountiesJohn Armstrong, Revolutionary War general 65,093 664 sq mi
(1,720 km2)
Beaver County 007 Beaver1800Parts of Allegheny and Washington CountiesBeaver River, itself named for the eponymous animal that was sighted along its banks 166,624 444 sq mi
(1,150 km2)
Bedford County 009 Bedford1771Parts of Cumberland CountyFort Bedford, which is named for John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford 47,461 1,015 sq mi
(2,629 km2)
Berks County 011 Reading1752Parts of Chester, Lancaster and Philadelphia CountiesThe English county of Berkshire 429,342 866 sq mi
(2,243 km2)
Blair County 013 Hollidaysburg1846Parts of Huntingdon and Bedford CountiesJohn Blair, Pennsylvania state legislator 121,767 527 sq mi
(1,365 km2)
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 59,892 1,161 sq mi
(3,007 km2)
Bucks County 017 Doylestown1682One of the original counties at the formation of PennsylvaniaThe English county of Buckinghamshire 646,098 622 sq mi
(1,611 km2)
Butler County 019 Butler1800Parts of Allegheny CountyRichard Butler, Revolutionary War general 194,273 795 sq mi
(2,059 km2)
Cambria County 021 Ebensburg1804Parts of Somerset and Huntingdon CountiesCambria, the traditional name for Wales 132,167 693 sq mi
(1,795 km2)
Cameron County 023 Emporium1860Parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter CountiesSimon Cameron, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania 4,459 399 sq mi
(1,033 km2)
Carbon County 025 Jim Thorpe1843Parts of Monroe and Northampton CountiesCarbon, the element found in coal 65,412 387 sq mi
(1,002 km2)
Centre County 027 Bellefonte1800Parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Huntingdon CountiesCentre Furnace, the first industrial facility in the area 157,527 1,112 sq mi
(2,880 km2)
Chester County 029 West Chester1682One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania.The English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire 538,649 760 sq mi
(1,968 km2)
Clarion County 031 Clarion1839Parts of Venango and Armstrong CountiesClarion River, itself so named for its clarity 37,156 609 sq mi
(1,577 km2)
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 80,082 1,154 sq mi
(2,989 km2)
Clinton County 035 Lock Haven1839Parts of Lycoming and Centre CountiesDeWitt Clinton, New York Governor and prominent statesman 37,465 898 sq mi
(2,326 km2)
Columbia County 037 Bloomsburg1813Parts of Northumberland and Luzerne CountiesColumbia, the first popular and poetic name for the United States 64,872 490 sq mi
(1,269 km2)
Crawford County 039 Meadville1800Parts of Allegheny CountyWilliam Crawford, surveyor who helped to open trans-Appalachian lands to settlement 83,351 1,038 sq mi
(2,688 km2)
Cumberland County 041 Carlisle1750Parts of Lancaster CountyThe historic English county of Cumberland 262,919 551 sq mi
(1,427 km2)
Dauphin County 043 Harrisburg1785Parts of Lancaster CountyLouis-Joseph, Dauphin of France 287,400 558 sq mi
(1,445 km2)
Delaware County 045 Media1789Parts of Chester CountyDelaware River, itself named for Lord De La Warr 573,849 191 sq mi
(495 km2)
Elk County 047 Ridgway1843Parts of Jefferson, McKean, and Clearfield CountiesElk, which inhabit the forested county 30,783 832 sq mi
(2,155 km2)
Erie County 049 Erie1800Parts of Allegheny County; attached to Crawford County until 1803.Lake Erie 269,011 799 sq mi
(2,069 km2)
Fayette County 051 Uniontown1783Parts of Westmoreland CountyThe Marquis de Lafayette, French-born Revolutionary War general 126,931 798 sq mi
(2,067 km2)
Forest County 053 Tionesta1848Parts of Jefferson County; attached to Jefferson County until 1857.Chief natural feature 7,032 431 sq mi
(1,116 km2)
Franklin County 055 Chambersburg1784Parts of Cumberland CountyBenjamin Franklin, key Founding Father of the United States 156,289 771 sq mi
(1,997 km2)
Fulton County 057 McConnellsburg1850Parts of Bedford CountyRobert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat 14,523 438 sq mi
(1,134 km2)
Greene County 059 Waynesburg1796Parts of Washington CountyNathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general 35,369 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
Huntingdon County 061 Huntingdon1787Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Huntingdonshire 43,889 889 sq mi
(2,302 km2)
Indiana County 063 Indiana1803Parts of Lycoming and Westmoreland Counties; it was attached to Westmoreland County until 1806.Native Americans 82,886 834 sq mi
(2,160 km2)
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 44,114 657 sq mi
(1,702 km2)
Juniata County 067 Mifflintown1831Parts of Mifflin CountyJuniata River, itself named for the Iroquoian word Onayutta, meaning "Standing Stone" 23,297 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
Lackawanna County 069 Scranton1878Parts of Luzerne CountyLackawanna River, itself named for the Delaware word meaning "stream that forks" 215,663 465 sq mi
(1,204 km2)
Lancaster County 071 Lancaster1729Parts of Chester CountyThe English city of Lancaster 553,652 984 sq mi
(2,549 km2)
Lawrence County 073 New Castle1849Parts of Beaver and Mercer CountiesJames Lawrence, War of 1812 captain 85,497 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
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 143,493 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
Lehigh County 077 Allentown1812Parts of Northampton CountyLehigh River 375,539 349 sq mi
(904 km2)
Luzerne County 079 Wilkes-Barre1786Parts of Northumberland CountyAnne-César, Chevalier de la Luzerne, French ambassador to the U.S. who aided republican causes 326,053 907 sq mi
(2,349 km2)
Lycoming County 081 Williamsport1795Parts of Northumberland CountyLycoming Creek, itself named for the Delaware word iacomic meaning "great steam" 113,605 1,244 sq mi
(3,222 km2)
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 39,941 984 sq mi
(2,549 km2)
Mercer County 085 Mercer1800Parts of Allegheny CountyHugh Mercer, Revolutionary War general 109,972 683 sq mi
(1,769 km2)
Mifflin County 087 Lewistown1789Parts of Cumberland and Northumberland CountiesThomas Mifflin, first Governor of Pennsylvania 46,136 415 sq mi
(1,075 km2)
Monroe County 089 Stroudsburg1836Parts of Pike and Northampton CountiesJames Monroe, fifth U.S President 169,273 617 sq mi
(1,598 km2)
Montgomery County 091 Norristown1784Parts of Philadelphia CountyThe historic Welsh county of Montgomeryshire or Richard Montgomery, a general killed in the 1775 Battle of Quebec 860,578 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
Montour County 093 Danville1850Parts of Columbia CountyMadame Montour, colonial ambassador to the Native Americans 18,087 132 sq mi
(342 km2)
Northampton County 095 Easton1752Parts of Bucks CountyThe English town of Northampton 313,628 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
Northumberland County 097 Sunbury1772Parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton CountiesThe English county of Northumberland 91,266 477 sq mi
(1,235 km2)
Perry County 099 New Bloomfield1820Parts of Cumberland CountyOliver Hazard Perry, War of 1812 commodore 45,986 556 sq mi
(1,440 km2)
Philadelphia County 101 Philadelphia1682One of the original counties at the formation of Pennsylvania."Brotherly love" from Greek philos ("love") and adelphos ("brother") 1,576,251 143 sq mi
(370 km2)
Pike County 103 Milford1814Parts of Wayne CountyZebulon Pike, explorer of the American West 59,952 567 sq mi
(1,469 km2)
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 16,259 1,081 sq mi
(2,800 km2)
Schuylkill County 107 Pottsville1811Parts of Berks and Northampton CountiesSchuylkill River, itself a Dutch corruption of a Delaware word possibly meaning "hidden river" 143,264 778 sq mi
(2,015 km2)
Snyder County 109 Middleburg1855Parts of Union CountySimon Snyder, third Governor of Pennsylvania 39,621 332 sq mi
(860 km2)
Somerset County 111 Somerset1795Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Somerset 73,627 1,081 sq mi
(2,800 km2)
Sullivan County 113 Laporte1847Parts of Lycoming County; attached to Lycoming until 1848.John Sullivan, Revolutionary War general 5,868 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
Susquehanna County 115 Montrose1810Parts of Luzerne County ; attached to Luzerne County until 1812.Susquehanna River, itself named after an Algonquin word for "muddy current" 38,389 832 sq mi
(2,155 km2)
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" 40,929 1,137 sq mi
(2,945 km2)
Union County 119 Lewisburg1813Parts of Northumberland CountyThe federal union of the states 42,568 317 sq mi
(821 km2)
Venango County 121 Franklin1800Parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties; attached to until 1805.A corruption of the Delaware word onenge, meaning "otter" 49,938 683 sq mi
(1,769 km2)
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 38,134 898 sq mi
(2,326 km2)
Washington County 125 Washington1781Parts of Westmoreland CountyGeorge Washington, first U.S. President 209,470 861 sq mi
(2,230 km2)
Wayne County 127 Honesdale1798Parts of Northampton CountyAnthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general 51,431 751 sq mi
(1,945 km2)
Westmoreland County 129 Greensburg1773Parts of Bedford CountyThe historic English county of Westmorland 353,057 1,036 sq mi
(2,683 km2)
Wyoming County 131 Tunkhannock1842Parts of Luzerne CountyThe Delaware word xwéːwaməŋk, meaning "at the big river flat" 26,034 405 sq mi
(1,049 km2)
York County 133 York1749Parts of Lancaster CountyThe English city of York 458,696 910 sq mi
(2,357 km2)

Former counties

Pennsylvania Colony'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)
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)
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)

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. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  5. National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county". Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  6. "Pennsylvania Counties". Pennsylvania State Archives. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  7. Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  8. Delaware Genealogical Society (1997). "Delaware Counties and Hundreds". Delaware Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  9. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  10. The Historical Society of Delaware (1997). "Delaware Counties". Archived from the original on 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
  11. Delaware Census Data Archived 2016-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
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