2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,973. The median age was 45.4 years. 9.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 236.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 252.6 males age 18 and over. [15]
The racial makeup of the county was 76.0% White, 17.7% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% from some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population. [16]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [17]
There were 2,034 households in the county, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.4% were married-couple households, 25.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [15]
There were 6,949 housing units, of which 70.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.1% were owner-occupied and 16.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%. [15]
Forest County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 [18] | Pop 2010 [19] | Pop 2020 [20] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,719 | 5,850 | 5,278 | 95.41% | 75.81% | 75.69% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 110 | 1,374 | 1,235 | 2.22% | 17.80% | 17.71% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 19 | 11 | 8 | 0.38% | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6 | 12 | 17 | 0.12% | 0.15% | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0.08% | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 28 | 45 | 108 | 0.56% | 0.58% | 1.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 60 | 418 | 323 | 1.21% | 5.41% | 4.63% |
| Total | 4,946 | 7,716 | 6,973 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
As of the 2000 census [21] , there were 4,946 people, 2,000 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 8,701 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km2). 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. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.9% were of German, 9.0% Irish, 6.2% English ancestry.
There were 2,000 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 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. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 28.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 111.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males. According to a 2025 Census Bureau survey, Forest County had the highest percentage of unmarried adults of any county in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. [22]
United States
Pennsylvania 
