Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies
ADAMS
22 Jan 1800
ADAMS created from YORK.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2097, sec. 1/16:392)
04 May 1832
Boundary between ADAMS and CUMBERLAND redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1831-1832, no. 175, secs. 21, 24/pp. 457-458)
16 Apr 1838
ADAMS gained small area from FRANKLIN
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile
users see small_changes 1838_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1837-1838, no. 94, sec. 93/p. 607)
ALLEGHENY
24 Sep 1788
ALLEGHENY created from NORTHUMBERLAND, WASHINGTON, and WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1359, sec. 1/13:84-85)
17 Sep 1789
ALLEGHENY gained from WASHINGTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1435, sec. 1/13:319-320)
03 Apr 1792
ALLEGHENY gained all of the Erie Triangle, purchased by Pennsylvania from
the federal government on 3 Mar 1792.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1624, sec. 13/14:238-239)
12 Mar 1800
ALLEGHENY lost to the creation of ARMSTRONG, BEAVER, BUTLER, CRAWFORD, ERIE,
MERCER, VENANGO, and WARREN, lost small area to LYCOMING; BEAVER and BUTLER attached to
ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 454-466)
07 Nov 1803
BEAVER and BUTLER detached from ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
10 Apr 1807
Middle of Monongahela R. fixed as boundary of adjoining counties, including
ALLEGHENY [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2863, sec. 1/18:644)
ARMSTRONG
12 Mar 1800
ARMSTRONG created from ALLEGHENY, LYCOMING, and WESTMORELAND; not fully
organized, attached to WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 459-460)
04 Nov 1805
ARMSTRONG fully organized, detached from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2553, sec. 1/17:920)
19 Mar 1840
Boundary between ARMSTRONG and WESTMORELAND clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1840, no. 73, sec. 1/p. 167)
01 Sep 1840
ARMSTRONG lost to the creation of CLARION.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 27, secs. 1-2/pp. 51-52; Pa. Laws 1840, no. 165,
secs. 1-3, 5/pp. 426-428)
05 May 1864
ARMSTRONG lost to BUTLER to accommodate local property owner
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see
small_changes 1864_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1864, no. 721, sec. 1/p. 826)
BEAVER
12 Mar 1800
BEAVER created from ALLEGHENY and WASHINGTON; not fully organized, attached
to ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, secs. 1, 9/pp. 454-455, 460-461)
07 Nov 1803
BEAVER fully organized, detached from ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
01 Sep 1849
BEAVER lost to the creation of LAWRENCE.
(Pa. Laws 1849, no. 366, secs. 1-2/pp. 551-552)
BEDFORD
09 Mar 1771
BEDFORD created from CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 629, sec. 1/8:46-47)
21 Mar 1772
BEDFORD gained from CUMBERLAND, lost to the creation of
NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 658, sec. 2/8:230; ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
26 Feb 1773
BEDFORD lost to the creation of WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 678, sec. 1/8:314)
30 Sep 1779
BEDFORD gained from CUMBERLAND and NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 848, sec. 1/9:396-398)
20 Sep 1787
BEDFORD lost to the creation of HUNTINGDON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1311, sec. 1/12:512-513)
17 Apr 1795
BEDFORD lost to the creation of SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1851, sec. 1/15:318)
29 Mar 1798
BEDFORD lost to FRANKLIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1993, sec. 1/16:92)
01 Mar 1800
BEDFORD lost to SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2111, sec. 1/16:424-425)
27 Jul 1846
BEDFORD lost to the creation of BLAIR.
(Pa. Laws 1846, no. 55, secs. 1, 13/pp. 64, 66-67)
03 May 1850
Boundary between BEDFORD and BLAIR clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 394, sec. 3/p. 680)
01 Sep 1850
BEDFORD lost to the creation of FULTON.
(Pa. Laws 1851, no. 163, secs. 1, 4/p. 217, and no. 495, secs. 1, 3/pp.
805-806)
BERKS
11 Mar 1752
BERKS created from CUMBERLAND, LANCASTER, PHILADELPHIA, and Non-County Area
1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134)
21 Mar 1772
BERKS lost to the creation of NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
17 Apr 1795
Boundary between BERKS and NORTHUMBERLAND clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1848, sec. 1/15:312)
01 Mar 1811
BERKS lost to the creation of SCHUYLKILL.
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 54, sec. 1/p. 61)
06 Mar 1848
Boundary between BERKS and SCHUYLKILL redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1848, no. 89, sec. 1/pp. 98-99)
29 Mar 1849
Boundary between BERKS and SCHUYLKILL clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1849, no. 215, sec. 6/p. 261)
16 Mar 1865
BERKS lost to LEBANON.
(Pa. Laws 1865, no. 385, sec. 1/p. 396)
BLAIR
27 Jul 1846
BLAIR created from BEDFORD and HUNTINGDON.
(Pa. Laws 1846, no. 55, secs. 1, 13/pp. 64, 66-67)
03 May 1850
Boundary between BLAIR and BEDFORD clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 394, sec. 3/p. 680)
BRADFORD
21 Feb 1810
ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) created from LUZERNE and LYCOMING; not fully
organized, attached to LUZERNE and LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1809-1810, ch. 30, secs. 1, 3/pp. 32-33)
28 Mar 1811
ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) lost to LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 86, sec. 1/pp. 114-115)
24 Mar 1812
ONTARIO renamed BRADFORD.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 1/p. 164)
13 Oct 1812
BRADFORD fully organized, detached from LUZERNE and LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 2/p. 164)
01 May 1831
BRADFORD lost to LYCOMING.
(Meginness, 271; Pa. Laws 1828-1829, no. 115, sec. 1/p. 144; Pa. Laws
1830-1831, no. 83, sec. 1/p. 133)
BUCKS
1682
BUCKS was created as one of three original counties, no territorial
limits were specified [not mapped].
(Bronner, 31-35; Hottenstein and Welch, 24, 37, 108; Penn, 2:299)
01 Apr 1685
BUCKS boundaries were defined; BUCKS was created in 1682, but no territorial
limits were specified.
(Pennsylvania Provincial Council, 1:73-74)
11 Mar 1752
BUCKS lost to the creation of NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 393, sec. 1/5:141)
BUTLER
12 Mar 1800
BUTLER created from ALLEGHENY; not fully organized, attached to
ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 455, 460-461)
07 Nov 1803
BUTLER fully organized, detached from ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
05 May 1864
BUTLER gained small area from ARMSTRONG to
accommodate local property owner [change too small to display on
interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1864_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1864, no. 721, sec. 1/p. 826)
CAMBRIA
26 Mar 1804
CAMBRIA created from HUNTINGDON and SOMERSET; not fully organized, attached
to SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 6, 14/pp. 772, 774-775)
02 Nov 1807
CAMBRIA fully organized, detached from SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2748, sec. 1/18:339)
14 Apr 1840
Boundary between CAMBRIA and INDIANA clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1840, no. 144, sec. 67/p. 344)
30 Apr 1855
CAMBRIA lost to INDIANA.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 390, sec. 2/p. 373)
CAMERON
12 Oct 1860
CAMERON created from CLINTON, ELK, McKEAN, and POTTER.
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 598, secs. 1-2/pp. 697-698)
CARBON
01 Sep 1843
CARBON created from MONROE and NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 41, secs. 1-2/p. 85)
CENTRE
13 Feb 1800
CENTRE created from HUNTINGDON, LYCOMING, MIFFLIN, and
NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2103, sec. 1/16:403)
26 Mar 1804
CLEARFIELD and McKEAN attached to CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, pp. 770-771, 774)
01 Sep 1815
McKEAN detached from CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1813-1814, ch. 116, sec. 1/p. 201)
01 May 1818
CENTRE gained from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1817-1818, ch. 139, sec. 1/p. 263)
01 May 1819
CENTRE lost to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 118, sec. 1/p. 185)
23 May 1820
CENTRE gained from UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1819-1820, ch. 120, sec. 2/pp. 176-177; Linn, 34, 60-61)
29 Jan 1822
CLEARFIELD detached from CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1821-1822, ch. 7, sec. 1/p. 7)
25 May 1836
CENTRE exchanged with LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1835-1836, no. 160, sec. 10/p. 511)
21 Jun 1839
CENTRE lost to the creation of CLINTON.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 145, sec. 1/p. 362)
CHESTER
1682
CHESTER was created as one of three original counties, no
territorial limits were specified [not mapped].
(Bronner, 31-35; Hottenstein and Welch, 24, 37, 108; Penn, 2:299)
01 Apr 1685
CHESTER boundaries were defined; CHESTER was created in 1682, but no
territorial limits were specified.
(Pennsylvania Provincial Council, 1:73-74)
10 May 1729
CHESTER lost to the creation of LANCASTER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 306, sec. 1/4:131-132)
26 Sep 1789
CHESTER lost to the creation of DELAWARE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1443, sec. 1/13:337-338)
30 Jun 1921
CHESTER exchanged narrow strips of territory with NEW CASTLE (Del.) [not
mapped].
(Lunt, 59, 61; Van Zandt, 83)
CLARION
01 Sep 1840
CLARION created from ARMSTRONG and VENANGO.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 27, secs. 1-2/pp. 51-52; Pa. Laws 1840, no. 165,
secs. 1-3, 5/pp. 426-428)
CLEARFIELD
26 Mar 1804
CLEARFIELD created from HUNTINGDON and LYCOMING; not fully organized,
attached to CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 3, 11/pp. 770-771, 774)
29 Jan 1822
CLEARFIELD fully organized, detached from CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1821-1822, ch. 7, sec. 1/p. 7)
01 Apr 1823
CLEARFIELD gained from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1822-1823, ch. 174, sec. 1/p. 289)
18 Apr 1843
CLEARFIELD lost to the creation of ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 150, sec. 1/p. 312)
30 Apr 1855
CLEARFIELD lost to INDIANA.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 390, sec. 2/p. 373)
04 Apr 1868
CLEARFIELD lost to ELK and to JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 611, sec. 1/pp. 651-652)
23 Feb 1871
CLEARFIELD lost to ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1871, no. 138, sec. 1/p. 125; Wessman, 15-16)
CLINTON
21 Jun 1839
CLINTON created from CENTRE and LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 145, sec. 1/p. 362)
12 Oct 1860
CLINTON lost to the creation of CAMERON.
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 598, secs. 1-2/pp. 697-698)
02 Aug 1867
CLINTON lost to LYCOMING.
(Lycoming County Road Docket, 1859-1868, vol. 6, p. 530)
31 Mar 1868
CLINTON gained from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 486, secs. 1-2/p. 526)
COLUMBIA
06 Sep 1813
COLUMBIA created from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 109, secs. 1-2/p. 146)
21 Feb 1815
COLUMBIA lost to LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 43-44)
01 May 1815
COLUMBIA lost to NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 38)
01 May 1816
COLUMBIA gained from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1815-1816, ch. 9, sec. 1/pp. 6-7)
03 Mar 1818
COLUMBIA lost to SCHUYLKILL.
(Pa. Laws 1817-1818, ch. 67, sec. 1/pp. 130-131)
01 Nov 1850
COLUMBIA lost to the creation of MONTOUR.
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 387, secs. 2, 5/pp. 658-659)
15 Jan 1853
COLUMBIA gained from MONTOUR.
(Pa. Laws 1853, no. 3, sec. 2/p. 3)
02 Apr 1860
Boundary between COLUMBIA and LUZERNE clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 469, sec. 1/pp. 560-561)
01 May 1861
Boundary between COLUMBIA and LUZERNE clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1861, no. 394, sec. 1/p. 424)
CRAWFORD
12 Mar 1800
CRAWFORD created from ALLEGHENY; ERIE, MERCER, VENANGO, and WARREN attached
to CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 455-458, 460-461)
07 Nov 1803
ERIE and MERCER detached from CRAWFORD
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
01 Apr 1805
WARREN detached from CRAWFORD (but WARREN remained indirectly attached to
CRAWFORD, through VENANGO, until 1 Sept 1805).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2600, sec. 6/17:1033)
01 Sep 1805
VENANGO detached from CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2600, sec. 1/17:1032)
28 Mar 1808
CRAWFORD gained from MERCER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 3008, sec. 1/18:909-910)
28 Feb 1822
CRAWFORD exchanged with VENANGO.
(Pa. Laws 1821-1822, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 40-41)
04 Apr 1854
CRAWFORD lost to MERCER.
(Pa. Laws 1854, no. 255, sec. 1/p. 279)
CUMBERLAND
27 Jan 1750
CUMBERLAND created from LANCASTER and Non-County Area 1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 380, sec. 1/5:87-88)
09 Feb 1751
CUMBERLAND exchanged with YORK.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 387, sec. 1/5:106-107)
11 Mar 1752
CUMBERLAND lost to the creation of BERKS.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134)
09 Mar 1771
CUMBERLAND lost to the creation of BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 629, sec. 1/8:46-47)
21 Mar 1772
CUMBERLAND lost to the creation of NORTHUMBERLAND, lost to BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144; ch. 658, sec. 2/8:230)
30 Sep 1779
CUMBERLAND lost to BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 848, sec. 1/9:396-398)
09 Sep 1784
CUMBERLAND lost to the creation of FRANKLIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1107, sec. 1/11:359-360)
19 Sep 1789
CUMBERLAND lost to the creation of MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1436, sec. 1/13:321-322)
17 Mar 1790
Boundary between CUMBERLAND and FRANKLIN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1498, sec. 1/13:475)
01 Sep 1820
CUMBERLAND lost to creation of PERRY.
(Pa. Laws 1819-1820, ch. 68, sec. 1/p. 92)
31 Mar 1823
Boundary between CUMBERLAND and YORK clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1822-1823, ch. 122, sec. 4/p. 193)
04 May 1832
Boundary between CUMBERLAND and ADAMS redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1831-1832, no. 175, secs. 21, 24/pp. 457-458)
04 Apr 1835
CUMBERLAND lost small area to FRANKLIN [change
too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see
small_changes 1835_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1834-1835, no. 75, sec. 1/pp. 106-107)
DAUPHIN
04 Mar 1785
DAUPHIN created from LANCASTER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1136, sec. 1/11:450)
16 Feb 1813
DAUPHIN lost to the creation of LEBANON.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 52, sec. 1/p. 67)
29 Mar 1821
DAUPHIN lost to LEBANON.
(Pa. Laws 1820-1821, ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 145)
23 Mar 1829
Boundary between DAUPHIN and LEBANON clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1828-1829, no. 79, sec. 1/p. 101)
21 Mar 1868
DAUPHIN lost small area to PERRY to accommodate local property owner
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1868_pt. for location].
(History of . . . the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, 2:943, 1072; Pa.
Laws 1868, no. 375, sec. 1/pp. 413-414)
DEALE (Del.), see
SUSSEX (Del.)
DELAWARE
26 Sep 1789
DELAWARE created from CHESTER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1443, sec. 1/13:337-338)
DURHAM (Md., extinct)
22 Oct 1669
Maryland implicitly asserted its claim to an area of present Delaware and
Pennsylvania (then controlled by New York) by creating DURHAM (Md., extinct) from SOMERSET (Md.) and
non-county area along the Atlantic Coast.
(Archives of Md., 5:56-57)
ELK
18 Apr 1843
ELK created from CLEARFIELD, JEFFERSON, and McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 150, sec. 1/p. 312)
27 Apr 1855
ELK lost to McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 375, sec. 2/pp. 357-358; Wessman, 15-16)
12 Oct 1860
ELK lost to the creation of CAMERON.
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 598, secs. 1-2/pp. 697-698)
04 Apr 1868
ELK gained from CLEARFIELD and JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 611, sec. 1/pp. 651-652)
09 Mar 1870
ELK gained from FOREST.
(Pa. Laws 1870, no. 351, sec. 1/pp. 363-364)
23 Feb 1871
ELK gained from CLEARFIELD.
(Pa. Laws 1871, no. 138, sec. 1/p. 125; Wessman, 15-16)
03 Apr 1872
Boundary between ELK and FOREST clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1872, no. 821, sec. 1/p. 861)
Erie Triangle
29 Oct 1782
The United States Congress accepts the New York cession of territory west of
the meridian of Lake Ontario; the Erie Triangle in present Pennsylvania is part of this
cession.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 130; Van Zandt, 75)
03 Mar 1792
Pennsylvania purchased from the federal government the Erie Triangle, a
small area immediately north of Pennsylvania and west of New York, giving Pennsylvania an outlet to
Lake Erie.
(Van Zandt, 83-84)
ERIE
12 Mar 1800
ERIE created from ALLEGHENY; not fully organized, attached to
CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 457, 460-461)
07 Nov 1803
ERIE fully organized, detached from CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
FAYETTE
26 Sep 1783
FAYETTE created from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1016, sec. 1/11:197)
17 Feb 1784
FAYETTE gained from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1068, sec. 1/11:234)
10 Apr 1807
Middle of Monongahela R. fixed as boundary of adjoining counties: including
FAYETTE [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2863, sec. 1/18:644)
FOREST
11 Apr 1848
FOREST created from JEFFERSON; not fully organized, attached to
JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1851, res. 9/pp. 744-745)
02 Apr 1850
FOREST lost to JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 249, sec. 3/p. 315)
01 Sep 1857
FOREST fully organized, detached from JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1857, no. 653, secs. 1-2/pp. 612-613)
31 Oct 1866
FOREST gained from VENANGO.
(Pa. Laws 1866, no. 1417, sec. 1/pp. 1527-1528, and no. 1418, sec. 3/p.
1530)
09 Mar 1870
FOREST lost to ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1870, no. 351, sec. 1/pp. 363-364)
03 Apr 1872
Boundary between FOREST and ELK clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1872, no. 821, sec. 1/p. 861)
FRANKLIN
09 Sep 1784
FRANKLIN created from CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1107, sec. 1/11:359-360)
17 Mar 1790
Boundary between FRANKLIN and CUMBERLAND clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1498, sec. 1/13:475)
29 Mar 1798
FRANKLIN gained from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1993, sec. 1/16:92)
04 Apr 1835
FRANKLIN gained small area from CUMBERLAND
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users
see small_changes 1835_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1834-1835, no. 75, sec. 1/pp. 106-107)
16 Apr 1838
FRANKLIN lost small area to ADAMS
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile
users see small_changes 1838_pt. for location].
(Pa. Laws 1837-1838, no. 94, sec. 93/p. 607)
28 Apr 1841
Boundary between FRANKLIN and PERRY redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1841, no. 111, sec. 5/p. 294)
FULTON
01 Sep 1850
FULTON created from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Laws 1851, no. 163, secs. 1, 4/p. 217, and no. 495, secs. 1, 3/pp.
805-806)
GREENE
09 Feb 1796
GREENE created from WASHINGTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1870, sec. 1/15:380-381)
22 Jan 1802
GREENE lost to WASHINGTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2223, secs. 1-2/17:40-41)
10 Apr 1807
Middle of Monongahela R. fixed as boundary of adjoining counties, including
GREENE [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2863, sec. 1/18:644)
20 Dec 1887
Boundary between GREENE and WASHINGTON clarified [no discernible
change].
("Report of Commissioners, May 1900." Pa. State Arch., Land Office Recs.,
no. 66, item 3)
HUNTINGDON
20 Sep 1787
HUNTINGDON created from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1311, sec. 1/12:512-513)
01 Apr 1791
Boundary between HUNTINGDON and MIFFLIN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1544, sec. 1/14:46-47)
29 Mar 1792
HUNTINGDON lost to MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1617, sec. 1/14:219-220)
13 Feb 1800
HUNTINGDON lost to the creation of CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2103, sec. 1/16:403)
26 Mar 1804
HUNTINGDON lost to the creation of both CAMBRIA and CLEARFIELD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, pp. 770-772, 774-75)
30 Mar 1812
HUNTINGDON gained from MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 141, sec. 1/pp. 195-196)
15 Apr 1834
HUNTINGDON lost to MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Laws 1833-1834, no. 227, sec. 1/p. 503)
27 Jul 1846
HUNTINGDON lost to the creation of BLAIR.
(Pa. Laws 1846, no. 55, secs. 1, 13/pp. 64, 66-67)
27 Apr 1855
Boundary between HUNTINGDON and MIFFLIN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 357, sec. 1/p. 343)
INDIANA
30 Mar 1803
INDIANA created from LYCOMING and WESTMORELAND; not fully organized,
attached to WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2374, secs. 1, 3/17:434-435)
10 Mar 1806
JEFFERSON attached to INDIANA (and indirectly attached to WESTMORELAND
through INDIANA).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2665, sec. 9/18:123-124)
03 Nov 1806
INDIANA fully organized, detached from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2665, sec. 1/18:120)
01 Oct 1830
JEFFERSON detached from INDIANA.
(Pa. Laws 1829-1830, no. 99, sec. 1/p. 161)
14 Apr 1840
Boundary between INDIANA and CAMBRIA clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1840, no. 144, sec. 67/p. 344)
30 Apr 1855
INDIANA gained from CAMBRIA and CLEARFIELD.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 390, sec. 2/p. 373)
JEFFERSON
26 Mar 1804
JEFFERSON created from LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached to
WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 1, 13/pp. 769-770, 774)
10 Mar 1806
JEFFERSON detached from WESTMORELAND, attached to INDIANA (but JEFFERSON
remained indirectly attached to WESTMORELAND, through INDIANA, until 3 Nov 1806).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2665, sec. 9/18:123-124)
01 Oct 1830
JEFFERSON fully organized, detached from INDIANA.
(Pa. Laws 1829-1830, no. 99, sec. 1/p. 161)
18 Apr 1843
JEFFERSON lost to the creation of ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 150, sec. 1/p. 312)
11 Apr 1848
JEFFERSON lost to the creation of FOREST; FOREST attached to
JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1851, res. 9/pp. 744-745)
02 Apr 1850
JEFFERSON gained from FOREST.
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 249, sec. 3/p. 315)
01 Sep 1857
FOREST detached from JEFFERSON.
(Pa. Laws 1857, no. 653, secs. 1-2/pp. 612-613)
04 Apr 1868
JEFFERSON gained from CLEARFIELD, lost to ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 611, sec. 1/pp. 651-652)
JUNIATA
01 Sep 1831
JUNIATA created from MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Laws 1830-1831, no. 67, secs. 1-2/pp. 99-100)
KENT (Del.)
24 Aug 1682
ST. JONES (now KENT, Del.) transferred to William Penn by the Duke of York.
Maryland also claimed the western Delaware Bay region resulting in an overlap between ST. JONES and
WORCESTER (Md., extinct).
(Pa. Arch., 2d ser., 5:739-744)
07 Dec 1682
William Penn annexed the Delaware River region to Pennsylvania. ST. JONES
(now KENT, Del.) became part of the area known as the Territories or Lower Counties of Pennsylvania.
Maryland did not abandon its claim to the Delaware region but had no control there.
(Swindler, 2:191-192)
by 21 Dec 1682
ST. JONES (Del.) renamed KENT (Del.).
(Penn, 2:324)
25 Dec 1682
KENT (Del.) lost to SUSSEX (Del.).
(Turner, 82)
13 Nov 1685
King James II approved decision of the Committee for Trade and Plantations
(7 November 1685) settling the rival claims of Maryland and Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania's Lower
Counties, now Delaware. WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct) eliminated, ending its overlap with KENT
(Del.)
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145; Van Zandt, 81)
28 May 1687
KENT (Del.) gained from SUSSEX (Del.), lost to NEW CASTLE (Del.).
(Scharf, 2:1030)
by 29 Nov 1704
KENT (Del.) was eliminated from Pennsylvania when
Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania.
(Penn, 4:309; Rodney, 239)
LACKAWANNA
21 Aug 1878
LACKAWANNA created from LUZERNE.
(Pa. Arch., 4th ser., 9:662-663)
LANCASTER
10 May 1729
LANCASTER created from CHESTER and Non-County Area 1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 306, sec. 1/4:131-132)
19 Aug 1749
LANCASTER lost to creation of YORK.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 377, sec. 1/5:71, 73)
27 Jan 1750
LANCASTER lost to the creation of CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 380, sec. 1/5:87-88)
11 Mar 1752
LANCASTER lost to the creation of BERKS.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134)
21 Mar 1772
LANCASTER lost to the creation of NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
04 Mar 1785
LANCASTER lost to the creation of DAUPHIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1136, sec. 1/11:450)
16 Feb 1813
LANCASTER lost to the creation of LEBANON.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 52, sec. 1/p. 67)
LAWRENCE
01 Sep 1849
LAWRENCE created from BEAVER and MERCER.
(Pa. Laws 1849, no. 366, secs. 1-2/pp. 551-552)
LEBANON
16 Feb 1813
LEBANON created from DAUPHIN and LANCASTER.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 52, sec. 1/p. 67)
29 Mar 1821
LEBANON gained from DAUPHIN.
(Pa. Laws 1820-1821, ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 145)
23 Mar 1829
Boundary between LEBANON and DAUPHIN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1828-1829, no. 79, sec. 1/p. 101)
16 Mar 1865
LEBANON gained from BERKS.
(Pa. Laws 1865, no. 385, sec. 1/p. 396)
LEHIGH
06 Mar 1812
LEHIGH created from NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 49, sec. 1/p. 76)
LITCHFIELD (Conn.)
12 Jan 1774
LITCHFIELD (Conn.) gained Westmoreland, a town created by Connecticut in
Pennsylvania, overlapping Pennsylvania counties NORTHAMPTON and NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 13:427,
14:218)
11 May 1775
LITCHFIELD (Conn.) gained territory in Pennsylvania when Connecticut
enlarged town of Westmoreland, continuing overlap of NORTHAMPTON and NORTHUMBERLAND, and extending
to overlap a small part of BEDFORD.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 15:13)
14 Dec 1775
LITCHFIELD (Conn.) lost territory in Pennsylvania when Connecticut reduced
town of Westmoreland, continuing overlap of NORTHAMPTON and NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 15:197-198)
10 Oct 1776
LITCHFIELD (Conn.) lost to the creation of WESTMORELAND (Conn.) in
Pennsylvania; LITCHFIELD (Conn.) eliminated from Pennsylvania.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. St. Recs., 1:7)
LUZERNE
25 Sep 1786
LUZERNE created from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1244, sec. 1/12:300-301)
27 Dec 1786
Boundary between LUZERNE and NORTHUMBERLAND redefined [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1256, sec. 8/12:343)
29 Sep 1787
Boundary between LUZERNE and NORTHUMBERLAND redefined [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1323, sec. 3/12:588)
17 Apr 1795
Boundary between LUZERNE and NORTHAMPTON clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1848, sec. 1/15:312)
02 Apr 1804
LUZERNE lost to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2506, sec. 1/17:846-847)
28 Mar 1808
LUZERNE gained from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2988, sec. 1/18:887)
21 Feb 1810
LUZERNE lost to the creation of both ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) and SUSQUEHANNA,
and lost small area to LYCOMING. Part of ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) and SUSQUEHANNA attached to
LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1809-1810, ch. 30, secs. 1-3/p. 32-33)
28 Mar 1811
LUZERNE gained from ONTARIO (now BRADFORD).
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 86, sec. 1/pp. 114-115)
13 Oct 1812
BRADFORD and SUSQUEHANNA detached from LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 2/p. 164)
21 Feb 1815
LUZERNE gained from COLUMBIA and LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 43-44)
03 Mar 1818
LUZERNE lost to SCHUYLKILL.
(Pa. Laws 1817-1818, ch. 67, sec. 1/pp. 130-131)
01 May 1843
LUZERNE lost to the creation of WYOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1842, no. 79, sec. 1/p. 222, and no. 104, sec. 1/p. 306)
02 Apr 1860
Boundary between LUZERNE and COLUMBIA clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 469, sec. 1/pp. 560-561)
01 May 1861
Boundary between LUZERNE and COLUMBIA clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1861, no. 394, sec. 1/p. 424)
21 Aug 1878
LUZERNE lost to the creation of LACKAWANNA.
(Pa. Arch., 4th ser., 9:662-663)
LYCOMING
13 Apr 1795
LYCOMING created from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1834, sec. 1/15:288)
13 Feb 1800
LYCOMING lost to the creation of CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2103, sec. 1/16:403)
12 Mar 1800
LYCOMING lost to the creation of ARMSTRONG, VENANGO, and WARREN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 458-461)
30 Mar 1803
LYCOMING lost to the creation of INDIANA.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2374, secs. 1, 3/17:434-435)
26 Mar 1804
LYCOMING lost to the creation of CLEARFIELD, JEFFERSON, McKEAN, POTTER, and
TIOGA; POTTER and TIOGA attached to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, pp. 769-771, 774)
02 Apr 1804
LYCOMING gained from LUZERNE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2506, sec. 1/17:846-847)
21 Feb 1810
LYCOMING lost to the creation of ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) and gained small
area from LUZERNE; ONTARIO (now BRADFORD) attached to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1809-1810, ch. 30, secs. 1, 3/pp. 32-33)
13 Oct 1812
BRADFORD and TIOGA detached from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 2/p. 164)
21 Feb 1815
LYCOMING lost to LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 43-44)
01 May 1815
LYCOMING gained from UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 79, sec. 1/p. 119)
01 Sep 1815
McKEAN attached to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1813-1814, ch. 116, sec. 1/p. 201)
01 May 1818
LYCOMING lost to CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1817-1818, ch. 139, sec. 1/p. 263)
01 May 1819
LYCOMING gained from CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 118, sec. 1/p. 185)
01 Apr 1823
LYCOMING lost to CLEARFIELD.
(Pa. Laws 1822-1823, ch. 174, sec. 1/p. 289)
01 Sep 1826
McKEAN and POTTER detached from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1823-1824, ch. 65, secs. 1, 8/pp. 104, 106)
01 May 1831
LYCOMING gained from BRADFORD.
(Meginness, 271; Pa. Laws 1828-1829, no. 115, sec. 1/p. 144; Pa. Laws
1830-1831, no. 83, sec. 1/p. 133)
04 May 1832
Boundary between LYCOMING and UNION redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1831-1832, no. 175, secs. 21, 24/pp. 457-458)
25 May 1836
LYCOMING exchanged with CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1835-1836, no. 160, sec. 10/p. 511)
21 Jun 1839
LYCOMING lost to the creation of CLINTON.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 145, sec. 1/p. 362)
03 Jan 1848
LYCOMING lost to the creation of SULLIVAN.
(Pa. Laws 1847, no. 365, secs. 1-2/p. 462)
17 Apr 1861
LYCOMING lost to UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1861, no. 317, sec. 1/p. 335)
02 Aug 1867
LYCOMING gained from CLINTON.
(Lycoming County Road Docket, 1859-1868, vol. 6, p. 530)
31 Mar 1868
LYCOMING lost to CLINTON and UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 486, secs. 1-2/p. 526)
07 Sep 1900
Boundary between LYCOMING and TIOGA clarified [no discernible
change].
("Commissioners' Report and Map (linen tracing), 1888." Pa. State Arch.,
Land Office Recs., no. 53, item 27)
McKEAN
26 Mar 1804
McKEAN created from LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached to
CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 2, 11/pp. 770, 774)
01 Sep 1815
McKEAN detached from CENTRE, attached to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1813-1814, ch. 116, sec. 1/p. 201)
01 Sep 1826
McKEAN fully organized, detached from LYCOMING. POTTER attached to
McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1823-1824, ch. 65, secs. 1, 8/pp. 104, 106)
01 Sep 1835
POTTER detached from McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1832-1833, no. 142, secs. 1, 7/pp. 313-315)
18 Apr 1843
McKEAN lost to the creation of ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 150, sec. 1/p. 312)
16 Apr 1845
McKEAN lost to WARREN.
(Pa. Laws 1845, no. 350, sec. 1/p. 541)
24 Feb 1847
Boundary between McKEAN and WARREN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1847, no. 104, sec. 5/p. 147)
27 Apr 1855
McKEAN gained from ELK.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 375, sec. 2/pp. 357-358; Wessman, 15-16)
12 Oct 1860
McKEAN lost to the creation of CAMERON.
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 598, secs. 1-2/pp. 697-698)
MERCER
12 Mar 1800
MERCER created from ALLEGHENY; not fully organized, attached to
CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 455-456, 460-461)
07 Nov 1803
MERCER fully organized, detached from CRAWFORD
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2391, sec. 1/17:480)
28 Mar 1808
MERCER lost to CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 3008, sec. 1/18:909-910)
01 Sep 1849
MERCER lost to the creation of LAWRENCE.
(Pa. Laws 1849, no. 366, secs. 1-2/pp. 551-552)
04 Apr 1854
MERCER gained from CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Laws 1854, no. 255, sec. 1/p. 279)
MIFFLIN
19 Sep 1789
MIFFLIN created from CUMBERLAND and NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1436, sec. 1/13:321-322)
01 Apr 1791
Boundary between MIFFLIN and HUNTINGDON clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1544, sec. 1/14:46-47)
29 Mar 1792
MIFFLIN gained from HUNTINGDON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1617, sec. 1/14:219-220)
13 Feb 1800
MIFFLIN lost to the creation of CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2103, sec. 1/16:403)
20 Mar 1812
MIFFLIN gained from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 96, sec. 1/p. 141)
30 Mar 1812
MIFFLIN lost to HUNTINGDON.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 141, sec. 1/pp. 195-196)
16 Mar 1819
MIFFLIN lost to UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 77, sec. 1/pp. 111-112)
01 Sep 1831
MIFFLIN lost to the creation of JUNIATA.
(Pa. Laws 1830-1831, no. 67, secs. 1-2/pp. 99-100)
15 Apr 1834
MIFFLIN gained from HUNTINGDON.
(Pa. Laws 1833-1834, no. 227, sec. 1/p. 503)
27 Apr 1855
Boundary between MIFFLIN and HUNTINGDON clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 357, sec. 1/p. 343)
MONONGALIA (W. Va.)
08 Nov 1776
MONONGALIA (W.Va.) created by Virginia from its West Augusta District,
overlapping Pennsylvania's WESTMORELAND County.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262-274)
31 May 1779
MONONGALIA (W. Va.) gained from AUGUSTA (Va.) continuing overlap of
WESTMORELAND.
(Hening, 10:114)
01 Oct 1780
MONONGALIA (W.Va.) overlap of WESTMORELAND ended when Pennsylvania regained
effective control of area.
(Crumrine, "Boundary Controversy," 521-523; Van Zandt, 83)
MONROE
01 Sep 1836
MONROE created from NORTHAMPTON and PIKE.
(Pa. Laws 1835-1836, no. 144, secs. 1-2/p. 430)
01 Sep 1843
MONROE lost to the creation of CARBON.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 41, secs. 1-2/p. 85)
MONTGOMERY
10 Sep 1784
MONTGOMERY created from PHILADELPHIA.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1108, sec. 1/11:364)
MONTOUR
01 Nov 1850
MONTOUR created from COLUMBIA.
(Pa. Laws 1850, no. 387, secs. 2, 5/pp. 658-659)
15 Jan 1853
MONTOUR lost to COLUMBIA.
(Pa. Laws 1853, no. 3, sec. 2/p. 3)
NEW CASTLE (Del.)
24 Aug 1682
NEW CASTLE (Del.) transferred to William Penn by the Duke of York;
implicitly gained the southern tip of UPLAND (Del., extinct) remaining after that county had been
eliminated in June 1681. Maryland also claimed the western Delaware Bay region resulting in an
overlap between NEW CASTLE and WORCESTER (Md., extinct).
(Pa. Arch., 2d ser., 5:739-744)
07 Dec 1682
William Penn annexed the Delaware River region to Pennsylvania. NEW CASTLE
(Del.) became part of the area known as the Territories or Lower Counties of Pennsylvania. Maryland
did not abandon its claim to the Delaware region but had no control there.
(Swindler, 2:191-192)
13 Nov 1685
King James II approved decision of the Committee for Trade and Plantations
(7 November 1685) settling the rival claims of Maryland and Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania's Lower
Counties, now Delaware. WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct) eliminated, ending its overlap with NEW
CASTLE (Del.)
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145; Van Zandt, 81)
28 May 1687
NEW CASTLE (Del.) gained from KENT (Del.).
(Scharf, 2:1030)
by 29 Nov 1704
NEW CASTLE (Del.) was eliminated from Pennsylvania when
Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania.
(Penn, 4:309; Rodney, 239)
Non-County Area 1
01 Apr 1685
Non-County Area 1 created from that part of the colony of Pennsylvania outside the
three original counties.
(Pennsylvania Provincial Council, 1:73-74)
10 May 1729
Non-County Area 1 lost to the creation of LANCASTER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 306, sec. 1/4:131-132)
27 Jan 1750
Non-County Area 1 lost to the creation of CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 380, sec. 1/5:87-88)
11 Mar 1752
Non-County Area 1 lost to the creation of BERKS and NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134, ch. 393, sec. 1/5:141)
21 Mar 1772
Non-County Area 1 lost to the creation of NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
08 Apr 1785
Non-County Area 1 lost to NORTHUMBERLAND and WESTMORELAND; Non-County Area 1
eliminated.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1164, sec. 15/11:595)
NORTHAMPTON
11 Mar 1752
NORTHAMPTON created from BUCKS and Non-County Area 1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 393, sec. 1/5:141)
21 Mar 1772
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
12 Jan 1774
NORTHAMPTON overlapped by LITCHFIELD (Conn.) when Connecticut asserted its
charter claim to northeastern Pennsylvania.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 13:427,
14:218)
10 Oct 1776
NORTHAMPTON overlapped by WESTMORELAND (Conn.), which replaced LITCHFIELD
(Conn.).
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. St. Recs., 1:7)
30 Dec 1782
NORTHAMPTON's overlap by WESTMORELAND (Conn.) ended when Congress ruled in
favor of Pennsylvania's claim to area.
(Susquehannah Co. Papers, 7:xxxiii, 245)
17 Apr 1795
Boundary between NORTHAMPTON and LUZERNE clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1848, sec. 1/15:312)
21 Mar 1798
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of WAYNE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1986, sec. 1/16:64)
01 Mar 1811
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of SCHUYLKILL.
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 54, sec. 1/p. 61)
06 Mar 1812
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of LEHIGH.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 49, sec. 1/p. 76)
01 Sep 1836
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of MONROE.
(Pa. Laws 1835-1836, no. 144, secs. 1-2/p. 430)
01 Sep 1843
NORTHAMPTON lost to the creation of CARBON.
(Pa. Laws 1843, no. 41, secs. 1-2/p. 85)
NORTHUMBERLAND
21 Mar 1772
NORTHUMBERLAND created from BEDFORD, BERKS, CUMBERLAND, LANCASTER,
NORTHAMPTON, and Non-County Area 1.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 644, sec. 1/8:143-144)
12 Jan 1774
NORTHUMBERLAND overlapped by LITCHFIELD (Conn.), when Connecticut asserted
its charter claim to northeastern Pennsylvania.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 13:427,
14:218)
11 May 1775
NORTHUMBERLAND's overlap by LITCHFIELD (Conn.) extended by
Connecticut.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 15:13)
14 Dec 1775
NORTHUMBERLAND's overlap by LITCHFIELD (Conn.) reduced by
Connecticut.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. Col. Recs., 15:197-198)
10 Oct 1776
NORTHUMBERLAND overlapped by WESTMORELAND (Conn.), which replaced LITCHFIELD
(Conn.)
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. St. Recs., 1:7)
30 Sep 1779
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 848, sec. 1/9:396-398)
30 Dec 1782
NORTHUMBERLAND's overlap by WESTMORELAND (Conn.) ended when Congress ruled
in favor of Pennsylvania's claim to area.
(Susquehannah Co. Papers, 7:xxxiii, 245)
08 Apr 1785
NORTHUMBERLAND gained from Non-County Area 1; Non-County Area 1
eliminated.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1164, sec. 15/11:595)
25 Sep 1786
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of LUZERNE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1244, sec. 1/12:300-301)
27 Dec 1786
Boundary between NORTHUMBERLAND and LUZERNE redefined [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1256, sec. 8/12:343)
29 Sep 1787
Boundary between NORTHUMBERLAND and LUZERNE redefined [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1323, sec. 3/12:588)
24 Sep 1788
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of ALLEGHENY
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1359, sec. 1/13:84-85)
19 Sep 1789
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1436, sec. 1/13:321-322)
13 Apr 1795
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of LYCOMING.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1834, sec. 1/15:288)
17 Apr 1795
Boundary between NORTHUMBERLAND and BERKS clarified [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1848, sec. 1/15:312)
13 Feb 1800
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of CENTRE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2103, sec. 1/16:403)
28 Mar 1808
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to LUZERNE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2988, sec. 1/18:887)
20 Mar 1812
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to MIFFLIN .
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 96, sec. 1/p. 141)
06 Sep 1813
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of COLUMBIA.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 109, secs. 1-2/p. 146)
01 Nov 1813
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to the creation of UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 110, secs. 1-2/p. 150)
01 May 1815
NORTHUMBERLAND gained from COLUMBIA.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 38)
01 May 1816
NORTHUMBERLAND lost to COLUMBIA.
(Pa. Laws 1815-1816, ch. 9, sec. 1/pp. 6-7)
OHIO (W. Va.)
08 Nov 1776
OHIO (W. Va.) created by Virginia from its West Augusta District,
overlapping Pennsylvania's WESTMORELAND County.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262-274)
01 Oct 1780
OHIO (W. Va.) overlap of WESTMORELAND ended when Pennsylvania regained
effective control of area.
(Crumrine, "Boundary Controversy," 521-523; Van Zandt, 83)
ONTARIO (see
BRADFORD)
Pennsylvania (non-county area)
04 Mar 1681
King Charles II created Pennsylvania from parts of earlier grants to
Connecticut and Virginia, granting it as a proprietary colony to William Penn.
(Swindler, 8:243)
PERRY
01 Sep 1820
PERRY created from CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1819-1820, ch. 68, sec. 1/p. 92)
28 Apr 1841
Boundary between PERRY and FRANKLIN redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1841, no. 111, sec. 5/p. 294)
21 Mar 1868
PERRY gained small area from DAUPHIN to accommodate local property owner
[change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1868_pt.
for location].
(History of . . . the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, 2:943, 1072; Pa.
Laws 1868, no. 375, sec. 1/pp. 413-414)
PHILADELPHIA
1682
PHILADELPHIA was created as one of three original counties, no
territorial limits were specified [not mapped].
(Bronner, 31-35; Hottenstein and Welch, 24, 37, 108; Penn, 2:299)
01 Apr 1685
PHILADELPHIA boundaries were defined; PHILADELPHIA was created in 1682, but
no territorial limits were specified.
(Pennsylvania Provincial Council, 1:73-74)
11 Mar 1752
PHILADELPHIA lost to the creation of BERKS.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 392, sec. 1/5:133-134)
10 Sep 1784
PHILADELPHIA lost to the creation of MONTGOMERY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1108, sec. 1/11:364)
PIKE
01 Oct 1814
PIKE created from WAYNE.
(Pa. Laws 1813-1814, ch. 119, secs. 1-2/p. 205)
01 Sep 1836
PIKE lost to the creation of MONROE.
(Pa. Laws 1835-1836, no. 144, secs. 1-2/p. 430)
POTTER
26 Mar 1804
POTTER created from LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached to
LYCOMING.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 4, 12/pp. 771, 774)
01 Sep 1826
POTTER detached from LYCOMING, attached to McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1823-1824, ch. 65, secs. 1, 8/pp. 104, 106)
01 Sep 1835
POTTER fully organized, detached from McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1832-1833, no. 142, secs. 1, 7/pp. 313-315)
12 Oct 1860
POTTER lost to the creation of CAMERON.
(Pa. Laws 1860, no. 598, secs. 1-2/pp. 697-698)
SCHUYLKILL
01 Mar 1811
SCHUYLKILL created from BERKS and NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Laws 1810-1811, ch. 54, sec. 1/p. 61)
03 Mar 1818
SCHUYLKILL gained from COLUMBIA and LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1817-1818, ch. 67, sec. 1/pp. 130-131)
06 Mar 1848
Boundary between SCHUYLKILL and BERKS redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1848, no. 89, sec. 1/pp. 98-99)
29 Mar 1849
Boundary between SCHUYLKILL and BERKS redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1849, no. 215, sec. 6/p. 261)
SNYDER
01 Dec 1855
SNYDER created from UNION.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 555, secs. 1, 7/pp. 537-538)
SOMERSET
17 Apr 1795
SOMERSET created from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1851, sec. 1/15:318)
01 Mar 1800
SOMERSET gained from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2111, sec. 1/16:424-425)
26 Mar 1804
SOMERSET lost to the creation of CAMBRIA; CAMBRIA not fully organized,
attached to SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 6, 14/pp. 772, 774-775)
02 Nov 1807
CAMBRIA detached from SOMERSET.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2748, sec. 1/18:339)
ST. JONES (Del.), see
KENT (Del.)
SULLIVAN
03 Jan 1848
SULLIVAN created from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1847, no. 365, secs. 1-2/p. 462)
SUSQUEHANNA
21 Feb 1810
SUSQUEHANNA created from LUZERNE; not fully organized, attached to
LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1809-1810, ch. 30, secs. 2-3/p. 33)
13 Oct 1812
SUSQUEHANNA fully organized, detached from LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 2/p. 164)
SUSSEX (Del.)
24 Aug 1682
DEALE (now SUSSEX, Del.) transferred to William Penn by the Duke of York.
Maryland also claimed the western Delaware Bay region resulting in an overlap between DEALE and
WORCESTER (Md., extinct).
(Pa. Arch., 2d ser., 5:739-744)
07 Dec 1682
William Penn annexed the Delaware River region to Pennsylvania. DEALE (now
SUSSEX, Del.) became part of the area known as the Territories or Lower Counties of Pennsylvania.
Maryland did not abandon its claim to the Delaware region but had no control there.
(Swindler, 2:191-192)
25 Dec 1682
DEALE renamed SUSSEX (Del.); SUSSEX (Del.) gained from KENT (Del.).
(Turner, 82)
13 Nov 1685
SUSSEX (Del.) by default implicitly gained territory north of Maryland when
King James II approved decision of the Committee for Trade and Plantations (7 November 1685)
settling the rival claims of Maryland and Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania's Lower Counties, now
Delaware. WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct) eliminated, ending its overlap with SUSSEX
(Del.)
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145; Van Zandt, 81)
28 May 1687
SUSSEX (Del.) lost to KENT (Del.).
(Scharf, 2:1030)
by 29 Nov 1704
SUSSEX (Del.) was eliminated from Pennsylvania when
Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania.
(Penn, 4:309; Rodney, 239)
TIOGA
26 Mar 1804
TIOGA created from LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached to
LYCOMING.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 5, 12/pp. 771-772, 774)
13 Oct 1812
TIOGA fully organized, detached from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1811-1812, ch. 109, sec. 2/p. 164)
07 Sep 1900
Boundary between TIOGA and LYCOMING clarified [no discernible
change].
("Commissioners' Report and Map (linen tracing), 1888." Pa. State Arch.,
Land Office Recs., no. 53, item 27)
UNION
01 Nov 1813
UNION created from NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Laws 1812-1813, ch. 110, secs. 1-2/p. 150)
01 May 1815
UNION lost to LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1814-1815, ch. 79, sec. 1/p. 119)
16 Mar 1819
UNION gained from MIFFLIN.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 77, sec. 1/pp. 111-112)
23 May 1820
UNION lost to CENTRE.
(Pa. Laws 1819-1820, ch. 120, sec. 2/pp. 176-177; Linn, 34, 60-61)
04 May 1832
Boundary between UNION and LYCOMING redefined [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1831-1832, no. 175, secs. 21, 24/pp. 457-458)
01 Dec 1855
UNION lost to the creation of SNYDER.
(Pa. Laws 1855, no. 555, secs. 1, 7/pp. 537-538)
17 Apr 1861
UNION gained from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1861, no. 317, sec. 1/p. 335)
31 Mar 1868
UNION gained from LYCOMING.
(Pa. Laws 1868, no. 486, secs. 1-2/p. 526)
UPLAND (Del., extinct)
12 Sep 1673
After completing their re-conquest of old New Netherland in August 1673, the
Dutch created UPLAND (Del., extinct) as one of three countylike courts that became original
counties in Delaware; no inland limits were specified. UPLAND included territory in present Delaware
and Pennsylvania.
(Docs. of N.Y., 12:507-508; George, Nead, and McCamant, 453-454; Reed,
22)
06 Nov 1674
In the fall of 1674, the Dutch returned New York and the Delaware River
settlements, including UPLAND (Del., extinct) to the Duke of York in accordance with the Treaty of
Westminster (9 February 1673/1674). By 6 November 1674 UPLAND was made dependent on New York,
although Maryland also claimed the area.
(Docs. of N.Y., 12:515; George, Nead, and McCamant, 454; Parry,
13:136)
22 Sep 1676
The Duke of York's laws were extended from New York to the Delaware region;
UPLAND (Del., extinct) was formally placed under the Duke of York's laws.
(Docs. of N.Y., 12:561-563; Reed, 13)
12 Nov 1678
UPLAND (Del., extinct) lost to NEW CASTLE (Del.).
(Armstrong, 119, 198)
Jun 1681
UPLAND (Del.) was eliminated when the newly chartered
proprietary colony of Pennsylvania instituted government for all territory on the west side of the
Delaware River from twelve miles north of New Castle, Del. to 42 degrees north latitude.
(Armstrong, 196; Swindler, 8:243)
VENANGO
12 Mar 1800
VENANGO created from ALLEGHENY and LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached
to CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 458, 460-461)
01 Apr 1805
WARREN attached to VENANGO (and indirectly attached to CRAWFORD through
VENANGO).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2600, sec. 6/17:1033)
01 Sep 1805
VENANGO fully organized, detached from CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2600, sec. 1/17:1032)
01 Oct 1819
WARREN detached from VENANGO.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 72, secs. 1-2/p. 102)
28 Feb 1822
VENANGO exchanged with CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Laws 1821-1822, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 40-41)
01 Sep 1840
VENANGO lost to the creation of CLARION.
(Pa. Laws 1838-1839, no. 27, secs. 1-2/pp. 51-52; Pa. Laws 1840, no. 165,
secs. 1-3, 5/pp. 426-428)
31 Oct 1866
VENANGO lost to FOREST.
(Pa. Laws 1866, no. 1417, sec. 1/pp. 1527-1528, and no. 1418, sec. 3/p.
1530)
WARREN
12 Mar 1800
WARREN created from ALLEGHENY and LYCOMING; not fully organized, attached to
CRAWFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 457-458, 460-461)
01 Apr 1805
WARREN detached from CRAWFORD, attached to VENANGO (but WARREN remained
indirectly attached to CRAWFORD, through VENANGO, until 1 Sep 1805).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2600, sec. 6/17:1033)
01 Oct 1819
WARREN fully organized, detached from VENANGO.
(Pa. Laws 1818-1819, ch. 72, secs. 1-2/p. 102)
16 Apr 1845
WARREN gained from McKEAN.
(Pa. Laws 1845, no. 350, sec. 1/p. 541)
24 Feb 1847
Boundary between WARREN and McKEAN clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1847, no. 104, sec. 5/p. 147)
WASHINGTON
28 Mar 1781
WASHINGTON created from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 931, sec. 1/10:272-273)
24 Sep 1788
WASHINGTON lost to the creation of ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1359, sec. 1/13:84-85)
17 Sep 1789
WASHINGTON lost to ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1435, sec. 1/13:319-320)
09 Feb 1796
WASHINGTON lost to the creation of GREENE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1870, sec. 1/15:380-381)
12 Mar 1800
WASHINGTON lost to the creation of BEAVER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 454-455, 460-461)
22 Jan 1802
WASHINGTON gained from GREENE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2223, secs. 1-2/17:40-41)
10 Apr 1807
Middle of Monongahela R. fixed as boundary of adjoining counties, including
WASHINGTON [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2863, sec. 1/18:644)
20 Dec 1887
Boundary between WASHINGTON and GREENE clarified [no discernible
change].
("Report of Commissioners, May 1900." Pa. State Arch., Land Office Recs.,
no. 66, item 3)
WAYNE
21 Mar 1798
WAYNE created from NORTHAMPTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1986, sec. 1/16:64)
01 Oct 1814
WAYNE lost to the creation of PIKE.
(Pa. Laws 1813-1814, ch. 119, secs. 1-2/p. 205)
West Augusta District (Va.)
11 Oct 1773
West Augusta District created by Virginia, overlapping Pennsylvania's
WESTMORELAND County.
(Abernethy, 94)
08 Nov 1776
West Augusta District (Va.) lost to the creation of MONONGALIA (W.Va.), OHIO
(W.Va.), and YOHOGANIA (extinct); West Augusta District eliminated.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262-274)
WESTMORELAND
26 Feb 1773
WESTMORELAND created from BEDFORD.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 678, sec. 1/8:314)
11 Oct 1773
WESTMORELAND overlapped by West Augusta District (Va.) when Virginia
asserted its control over the Pittsburgh region.
(Abernethy, 94)
08 Nov 1776
WESTMORELAND overlapped by MONONGALIA (W.Va.), OHIO (W.Va.), and YOHOGANIA
(extinct), all created by Virginia to replace West Augusta District.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262-274)
01 Oct 1780
WESTMORELAND overlap by MONONGALIA (W.Va.), OHIO (W.Va.), and YOHOGANIA
(extinct) ended when Virginia gave up claim to area.
(Crumrine, "Boundary Controversy," 521-523; Van Zandt, 83)
28 Mar 1781
WESTMORELAND lost to the creation of WASHINGTON.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 931, sec. 1/10:272-273)
26 Sep 1783
WESTMORELAND lost to the creation of FAYETTE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1016, sec. 1/11:197)
17 Feb 1784
WESTMORELAND lost to FAYETTE.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1068, sec. 1/11:234)
08 Apr 1785
WESTMORELAND gained from Non-County Area 1; Non-County Area 1
eliminated.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1164, sec. 15/11:595)
24 Sep 1788
WESTMORELAND lost to the creation of ALLEGHENY.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 1359, sec. 1/13:84-85)
12 Mar 1800
WESTMORELAND lost to the creation of ARMSTRONG; ARMSTRONG attached to
WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2130, pp. 459-460)
30 Mar 1803
WESTMORELAND lost to the creation of INDIANA; INDIANA attached to
WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2374, secs. 1, 3/17:434-435)
26 Mar 1804
JEFFERSON attached to WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2478, secs. 1, 13/pp. 769-770, 774)
04 Nov 1805
ARMSTRONG detached from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2553, sec. 1/17:920)
10 Mar 1806
JEFFERSON detached from WESTMORELAND (but JEFFERSON remained indirectly
attached to WESTMORELAND, through INDIANA, until 3 Nov 1806).
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2665, sec. 9/18:123-124)
03 Nov 1806
INDIANA detached from WESTMORELAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2665, sec. 1/18:120)
10 Apr 1807
Middle of Monongahela R. fixed as boundary of adjoining counties, including
WESTMORELAND [no change].
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2863, sec. 1/18:644)
19 Mar 1840
Boundary between WESTMORELAND and ARMSTRONG clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1840, no. 73, sec. 1/p. 167)
WESTMORELAND (Conn.)
10 Oct 1776
WESTMORELAND (Conn.) created from LITCHFIELD (Conn.) in Pennsylvania,
overlapping Pennsylvania counties NORTHAMPTON and NORTHUMBERLAND.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 92; Conn. St. Recs., 1:7)
30 Dec 1782
WESTMORELAND (Conn.) eliminated when special congressional court decided its
territory belonged to Pennsylvania, not Connecticut.
(Susquehannah Co. Papers, 7:xxxiii, 245)
WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct)
19 Jun 1672
WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct) created from DURHAM (Md., extinct) and
the unnamed coastal county in present Maryland and Delaware. WORCESTER (Md., original) was located
in present Delaware and Pennsylvania and never became operational.
(Archives of Md., 5:107-110)
13 Nov 1685
WORCESTER (Md., original, extinct) eliminated when King James II approved
decision of the Committee for Trade and Plantations (7 November 1685) settling the rival claims of
Maryland and Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania's Lower Counties, now Delaware. The committee concluded
that the west side of Delaware Bay was outside the grant to Lord Baltimore. Where the boundary line
should run was not settled until 1760.
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145; Van Zandt, 81)
WYOMING
01 May 1843
WYOMING created from LUZERNE.
(Pa. Laws 1842, no. 79, sec. 1/p. 222, and no. 104, sec. 1/p. 306)
YOHOGANIA (Va., extinct)
08 Nov 1776
YOHOGANIA (Va., extinct) created by Virginia from West Augusta District,
overlapping Pennsylvania's WESTMORELAND County.
(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262-274)
01 Oct 1780
YOHOGANIA (Va., extinct) overlap of WESTMORELAND ended when Pennsylvania
regained effective control of the area.
(Crumrine, "Boundary Controversy," 521-523; Van Zandt, 83)
YORK
19 Aug 1749
YORK created from LANCASTER.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 377, sec. 1/5:71, 73)
09 Feb 1751
YORK exchanged with CUMBERLAND.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 387, sec. 1/5:106-107)
22 Jan 1800
YORK lost to the creation of ADAMS.
(Pa. Stat., ch. 2097, sec. 1/16:392)
31 Mar 1823
Boundary between YORK and CUMBERLAND clarified [no change].
(Pa. Laws 1822-1823, ch. 122, sec. 4/p. 193)