[3] The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

[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.

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.

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.

[20] Private schools: Libraries: Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns.

SCI Forest houses approximately 2,200 inmates at their facility in Marienville, PA. † county seat