Warren County was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties and named for General Joseph Warren. It was attached to Crawford County until 1805 and then to Venango County until 1819 when it was formally organized. Warren, the county seat, was laid out in 1795 and incorporated as a borough on April 3, 1832.
The Allehgeny National Forest is a large part of Warren County. Spanning more than half a million acres, the Allegheny is the only National Forest in Pennsylvania. Opportunities offered in the Allegheny National Forest can provide a truly rewarding vacation if you enjoy hiking, camping, a lakeside picnic, swimming, fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, or water-skiing. More than 600 miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, ATV and snowmobile use are available. The popular North County Scenic Trail accounts for nearly 90 miles of hiking trail, connecting to other trails at the northern and southern ends of the Forest.
The Longhouse Scenic Drive Byway, a 29-mile loop, comprised of Longhouse Scenic Drive and portions of SR 321 and SR 59 has recently been designated. For breath-taking views of the Allegheny River basin, visit Jakes's Rocks and Rimrock near Route 59 and the Kinzua Dam. Another scenic overlook can be found just outside Tidioute, south of Warren near Route 62. Fall foliage begins to turn in mid-September building to a spectacular peak in mid-October.
You can find the kind of fishing you are looking for in Warren County. This region produced the current Pennsylvania record walleye and northern pike. Each year some of the largest trout and muskellunge are caught here. If more tranquil fishing suits your taste, try our hundreds of miles of native brook trout water. The 12,000 acre Allegheny Reservoir is one of the best trophy fish lakes in the country. From the Kinzua Dam to Warren, the Allegheny River provides some of the best trout fishing in the East. The Allegheny National Forest Region is also known for the abundant Whitetail deer population, turkey, pheasant, black bear, and small game.
Besides the Forest, you will find that our towns and villages offer a very unique and interesting look into rural Americana. With unusual shops, restaurants, and museums, you will find a piece of America that is rapidly disappearing. These downtown areas are waiting for you to discover them. Whether for a vacation or country drive, the Allegheny National Forest Region and Warren County should be your destination.
