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List of cities in Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Pennsylvania in United States
Map of the United States with Pennsylvania highlighted

Pennsylvania has 56 places called cities. These cities are grouped into different 'classes' based on how many people live there. For example, Philadelphia is a "first class" city because it's the biggest. Pittsburgh is a "second class" city, and Allentown is a "second class A" city. All the other 53 cities are "third class" cities.

Most third class cities follow a set of rules called the "Third Class City Code." However, only 18 cities still use these exact rules. The city of Parker is unique because it uses a special old law to govern itself. It has a "weak mayor-council" government, meaning the mayor has less power compared to the city council.

Many cities, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and 22 third class cities, have chosen to use something called a home rule charter. This is like a special rulebook that gives these cities more freedom to manage their own local issues. When a city adopts a home rule charter, it doesn't change its city status or its class.

Some cities also use "optional plans" or "optional charters" which are other ways they can choose to govern themselves. You can find more about these different government styles in the List of Pennsylvania municipalities and counties with home rule charters, optional charters, or optional plans. This article only lists places officially classified as cities.

Pennsylvania's Biggest Cities

  • Philadelphia skyline -- 28 February 2008

    Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-largest city in the United States with 1.6 million people.

  • Pittsburgh skyline view

    Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania.

  • Allentown

    Allentown, the third-largest city in Pennsylvania.

  • Reading, Pennsylvani skyline

    Reading, the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania.

  • Eriesky2

    Erie, the fifth-largest city in Pennsylvania.

List of Cities in Pennsylvania

† County Seat (This means the city is the main government center for its county.)

Name Type County Class Population
(2020 Census)		 Incorporation
date (as city)		 Area
(sq miles)
Aliquippa City Beaver Third 9,238 1987 4.19
Allentown† City Lehigh Second 125,845 1867 17.55
Altoona City Blair Third 43,963 1868 9.91
Arnold City Westmoreland Third 4,772 1939 0.73
Beaver Falls City Beaver Third 9,005 1928 2.13
Bethlehem City Lehigh
Northampton		 Third 75,781 1917 19.10
Bradford City McKean Third 7,849 1879 3.35
Butler† City Butler Third 13,502 1816 2.72
Carbondale City Lackawanna Third 8,828 1851 3.24
Chester City Delaware Third 32,605 1866 4.84
Clairton City Allegheny Third 6,181 1922 2.79
Coatesville City Chester Third 13,350 1915 1.81
Connellsville City Fayette Third 7,031 1911 2.18
Corry City Erie Third 6,210 1866 5.99
DuBois City Clearfield Third 7,510 1914 3.18
Duquesne City Allegheny Third 5,254 1918 1.82
Easton† City Northampton Third 28,127 1887 4.07
Erie† City Erie Third 94,831 1851 19.08
Farrell City Mercer Third 4,258 1932 1.27
Franklin† City Venango Third 6,077 1868 4.68
Greensburg† City Westmoreland Third 14,976 1928 4.06
Harrisburg† City Dauphin Third 50,135 1860 8.13
Hazleton City Luzerne Third 29,963 1891 6.01
Hermitage City Mercer Third 16,230 1976 29.23
Jeannette City Westmoreland Third 8,780 1938 2.39
Johnstown City Cambria Third 18,411 1889 5.89
Lancaster† City Lancaster Third 58,039 1818 7.23
Lebanon† City Lebanon Third 26,814 1885 4.17
Lock Haven† City Clinton Third 8,108 1870 2.50
Lower Burrell City Westmoreland Third 11,758 1959 11.26
McKeesport City Allegheny Third 17,727 1891 5.5
Meadville† City Crawford Third 13,050 1866 4.38
Monessen City Westmoreland Third 6,876 1921 2.89
Monongahela City Washington Third 4,159 1873 1.98
Nanticoke City Luzerne Third 10,628 1926 3.49
New Castle† City Lawrence Third 21,926 1869 8.31
New Kensington City Westmoreland Third 12,170 1934 3.95
Oil City City Venango Third 9,613 1871 4.49
Parker City Armstrong Third 695 1873 0.87
Philadelphia† City Philadelphia First 1,603,797 1701 134.1
Pittsburgh† City Allegheny Second 302,971 1816 55.37
Pittston City Luzerne Third 7,591 1894 1.55
Pottsville† City Schuylkill Third 13,346 1911 4.89
Reading† City Berks Third 95,112 1847 9.88
St. Marys City Elk Third 12,738 1992 99.32
Scranton† City Lackawanna Third 76,328 1866 25.31
Shamokin City Northumberland Third 6,942 1949 0.83
Sharon City Mercer Third 13,147 1917 3.77
Sunbury† City Northumberland Third 9,719 1920 2.06
Titusville City Crawford Third 5,262 1866 2.90
Uniontown† City Fayette Third 9,984 1864 2.04
Warren† City Warren Third 9,404 1832 2.91
Washington† City Washington Third 13,176 1924 2.95
Wilkes-Barre† City Luzerne Third 44,328 1871 6.98
Williamsport† City Lycoming Third 27,754 1866 8.73
York† City York Third 44,800 1887 5.29

More About Pennsylvania's Local Governments

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