Armstrong County

Armstrong County stretches across 653 square miles along the Allegheny River, with rolling valleys, hills, and multiple waterways across the Allegheny Plateau. Kittanning serves as the county seat and main hub for services, education, and commerce in the region.

The county was founded in 1800 and named after John Armstrong, a military leader during the French and Indian War. It later became an industrial center as coal mining and oil exploration transformed the landscape and economy.

German, Italian, Irish, and Polish communities settled here after the Civil War, and you can still see their influence in local traditions and neighborhoods today.

Summer and early fall offer the best conditions for exploring the outdoors and enjoying the landscape comfortably. Kittanning is easy to reach and has hotels, restaurants, and shops where you can spend time or grab supplies.

Parker, a small town within the county, was once an oil boom town and remains the smallest legally incorporated city in the United States. Its survival as an independent municipality despite its tiny size is a fascinating footnote in American geography.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: March 12, 1800

Capital city: Kittanning

Shares border with: Clarion County, Jefferson County, Indiana County, Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Butler County

Website: http://co.armstrong.pa.us

GPS coordinates: 40.81000,-79.46000

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:10