Pennsylvania County Map

Pennsylvania County Maps

Pennsylvania is divided into 67 counties. The state’s a real mix of landscapes. You’ve got the Appalachian Mountains running through it, rolling farmland, and even some coastal areas along Lake Erie.

Pennsylvania Counties

In terms of population, Philadelphia County is the heavyweight. It’s home to Philly, the state’s largest city so it’s not much of a surprise. Then you’ve got Forest County as the least populous county in Pennsylvania. It’s tucked away in the northwest, mostly covered in trees. There’s not a lot going on there unless you’re into hiking or really like squirrels.

Size-wise, Lycoming County is largest, covering about 1,244 square miles. That’s a lot of space but it’s mostly mountains and forests. Montour County is the smallest county, which is only about 132 square miles. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in farmland. That’s right, it has some of the most fertile soil in the state.

Pennsylvania’s counties have some interesting backstories. Like how Lackawanna County got its name from a Native American word meaning “stream that forks.” Or how Washington County was the first county in the U.S. named after George Washington. You’ll find that Pennsylvania counties are often named after notable figures in American history, geographic features, or Native American words.

The oldest county, Philadelphia, was one of the three original counties William Penn set up back in 1682. From big cities to farm fields, each of Pennsylvania’s counties has something unique going for it.