Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Founded
- September 1, 1826
- Named after
- Thomas McKean
- Seat
- Smethport
- Largest city
- Bradford
- Total
- 984 sq mi (2,550 km )
- Land
- 979 sq mi (2,540 km )
- Water
- 5.0 sq mi (13 km ) 0.5%
- Estimate 2025
- 38,984
- Density
- 41/sq mi (16/km )
- Time zone
- UTC−5 ( Eastern )
- Summer dst
- UTC−4 ( EDT )
Article
McKean County is a rural county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,432. Its county seat is Smethport. The county was created in 1804 and organized in 1826. It was named in honor of former Pennsylvania Governor and Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
McKean County comprises the Bradford, Pennsylvania micropolitan statistical area. It includes the Allegheny National Forest and borders New York. The Allegheny River flows through much of the eastern portion of the county, and the Allegheny Reservoir is accessible on the county’s western border. McKean County boasts of being "The Black Cherry Capital of the World."