Pennsylvania has a population of 13.27 million people, making it the 5th most populous state in the United States. The state has 57 cities and the most populated city with over 1.5 million people in Philadelphia.
Cities in Pennsylvania are broken down into three different classes i.e. first class, second class, and third class. The class of a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is determined by population and ordinances.
Some cities in Pennsylvania have implemented Home Rule Charters which makes them no longer cities under the state law but they are still named cities for classification.
The state also have two cities with populations of more than 100,000 they are: Pittsburgh with 304,391 people and Allentown with 120,207 people.
Table of Contents
List of Cities in Pennsylvania (in Alphabetical Order)
| Name | County | Class | Population (2019 Estimate) |
| Aliquippa | Beaver | Third | 9,004 |
| Allentown | Lehigh | Third | 120,915 |
| Altoona | Blair | Third | 43,987 |
| Arnold | Westmoreland | Third | 4,980 |
| Beaver Falls | Beaver | Third | 8,464 |
| Bethlehem | Lehigh Northampton | Third | 75,461 |
| Bradford | McKean | Third | 8,355 |
| Butler | Butler | Third | 13,092 |
| Carbondale | Lackawanna | Third | 8,471 |
| Chester | Delaware | Third | 33,982 |
| Clairton | Allegheny | Third | 6,619 |
| Coatesville | Chester | Third | 13,136 |
| Connellsville | Fayette | Third | 7,411 |
| Corry | Erie | Third | 6,332 |
| DuBois | Clearfield | Third | 7,462 |
| Duquesne | Allegheny | Third | 5,543 |
| Easton | Northampton | Third | 27,122 |
| Erie | Erie | Third | 97,263 |
| Farrell | Mercer | Third | 4,682 |
| Franklin | Venango | Third | 6,148 |
| Greensburg | Westmoreland | Third | 14,290 |
| Harrisburg | Dauphin | Third | 49,209 |
| Hazleton | Luzerne | Third | 24,857 |
| Hermitage | Mercer | Third | 15,693 |
| Jeannette | Westmoreland | Third | 9,216 |
| Johnstown | Cambria | Third | 19,569 |
| Lancaster | Lancaster | Third | 59,433 |
| Latrobe | Westmoreland | Third | 7,929 |
| Lebanon | Lebanon | Third | 25,793 |
| Lock Haven | Clinton | Third | 9,247 |
| Lower Burrell | Westmoreland | Third | 11,229 |
| McKeesport | Allegheny | Third | 19,225 |
| Meadville | Crawford | Third | 12,864 |
| Monessen | Westmoreland | Third | 7,344 |
| Monongahela | Washington | Third | 4,138 |
| Nanticoke | Luzerne | Third | 10,304 |
| New Castle | Lawrence | Third | 21,991 |
| New Kensington | Westmoreland | Third | 12,468 |
| Oil City | Venango | Third | 9,846 |
| Parker | Armstrong | Third | 648 |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia | First | 1.579 million |
| Pittsburgh | Allegheny | Second | 302,205 |
| Pittston | Luzerne | Third | 7,765 |
| Pottsville | Schuylkill | Third | 13,648 |
| Reading | Berks | Third | 88,232 |
| St. Marys | Elk | Third | 12,429 |
| Scranton | Lackawanna | Second | 77,054 |
| Shamokin | Northumberland | Third | 7,051 |
| Sharon | Mercer | Third | 13,227 |
| Sunbury | Northumberland | Third | 9,480 |
| Titusville | Crawford | Third | 5,264 |
| Uniontown | Fayette | Third | 9,837 |
| Warren | Warren | Third | 9,191 |
| Washington | Washington | Third | 13,532 |
| Wilkes-Barre | Luzerne | Third | 40,867 |
| Williamsport | Lycoming | Third | 28,562 |
| York | York | Third | 44,022 |
10 Largest Cities in Pennsylvania by Population
1. Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the most populous city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous city in the United States with over 1.5 million inhabitants. It is also the second-most populated city in the Northeastern United States.
It was founded in 1682 by William Penn and incorporated on October 25, 1701. It is one of the oldest cities in the United States.
Philadelphia is home to five Fortune 1000 companies making it the center of economic activities in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia is also known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial history thus has attracted over 40 million tourists.
It is also home to many U.S. “firsts”, including the first library (1731), first hospital (1751), first medical school (1765), first national capital (1774), first stock exchange (1790), first zoo (1874), and first business school (1881).
The city also contains 67 National Historic Landmarks, and the World Heritage Site of Independence Hall.
2. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh city is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania with an estimated population of 302,205. It was founded on November 27, 1758, by George Washington and General John Forbes and named for William Pitt.
The city is located southwest of Pennsylvania and known both as the Steel City (it has over 300 steel-related businesses) and as the City of Bridges (it has 446 bridges).
3. Allentown
Allentown is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1762 by William Allen and was incorporated on March 12, 1867.
It has an estimated population of 120,915 making it the third most populous city and the fastest-growing major city in Pennsylvania.
Allentown is the county seat of Lehigh County as well as the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley.
4. Erie
Erie City is located on the south shore of Lake Erie and it is the county seat of Erie County. It is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in northwestern Pennsylvania with an estimated population of 97,263.
It was founded on April 18, 1795, and was named for the Native American Erie people who lived in the area until the mid-17th century.
5. Reading
Reading is a city in and the county seat of Berks County with an estimated population of 88,232, making it the fifth-largest city in Pennsylvania by population.
It is located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania and is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area.
6. Scranton
This is the sixth-largest city in Pennsylvania in terms of population. Scranton is also the county seat and largest municipality of Lackawanna County.
Scranton’s nicknames are: The Electric City, The All America City, Steamtown, and The Coal Capital.
7. Bethlehem
Bethlehem city is located in Northampton and Lehigh Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
It has an estimated population of 75,461, making it the seventh most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
8. Lancaster
The City of Lancaster serves as the seat of Lancaster County. It was founded in 1729 and named for Lancaster, Lancashire, England.
It is the eighth-most populous city in Pennsylvania with an estimated population of 59,433. Lancaster’s main industries include tourism, healthcare, public administration, manufacturing, and professional & semi-professional services.
9. Harrisburg
The City of Harrisburg was founded by John Harris, Sr. and was incorporated in 1791. It is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Dauphin County.
It has an estimated population of 49,209, making it the ninth most populous city in Pennsylvania.
10. Altoona
Altoona is the tenth most populous city in Pennsylvania with an estimated population of 43,987 (as of 2019). It is the principal city of the Altoona Metropolitan Statistical Area.
It was founded in 1849 and became an incorporated city in 1868.
Conclusion
Pennsylvania is one of the U.S.’s largest states with beautiful cities and towns. The list above shows all the cities in Pennsylvania including the largest city Philadelphia with a population of 1.579 million and the smallest city Parker with a population of 648.
