Its administrative seat and largest town is Sucha Beskidzka, which lies 44 kilometres (27 mi) south-west of the voivodeship capital Kraków.

Sucha County existed between 1956 and 1975, but on the abolition of the powiats its territory was split between the two newly created voivodeships of Bielsko-Biała and Nowy Sącz.

The county was recreated on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998, which restored the powiats and created 16 large voivodeships.

Its highest point is Babia Gora, 1,725 m (5,659 ft) above sea level, which since 1954 has been a national park and Biosphere Reserve.

This area attracts significant numbers of tourists, particularly to the skiing centre at Zawoja.