Elk County sits in north-central Pennsylvania, where St. Marys, Ridgway, and Johnsonburg occupy a small network of valleys surrounded by extensive forested highlands. U.S. 219 and PA 120 provide the main links between those communities, while PA 255, PA 555, PA 948, PA 153, PA 949, PA 66, and PA 321 reach smaller settlements and neighboring counties. The four map files on this page are available as original A3 high-resolution JPG downloads in the map file box below.
The county is defined as much by streams and relief as by roads. The Clarion River bends through the western side, East Branch and West Branch Clarion River valleys cut through the north and northeast, and Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek drains the southeast. Elevation on the supplied map ranges from about 270 to 723 meters, so low river corridors and higher forested ridges sit very close together.
Table of Contents
St. Marys, Ridgway, and Johnsonburg form the main settlement triangle
St. Marys is the strongest eastern-center reference on the general map. PA 120 crosses the city, PA 255 runs south toward Kersey and Weedville, and local roads connect west toward Ridgway and north toward Johnsonburg. The mapped St. Marys municipal area is large compared with the compact settlement points elsewhere in the county, but much of the surrounding landscape remains forested and sparsely settled.
Ridgway is the county seat and the key road junction on the west-central side. U.S. 219, PA 120, and PA 948 meet nearby, while Johnsonburg lies north along the U.S. 219 corridor. These communities are close in regional terms, yet the intervening hills and creek valleys mean travel follows winding road corridors rather than a continuous urban strip.
Smaller places occupy separate valleys around the county. Kersey lies south of St. Marys, Wilcox sits in the north near PA 321, and Byrnedale, Weedville, and Force follow the southeastern PA 255/555 side. PA 153 reaches the southern boundary toward Clearfield County, while PA 66 and PA 949 provide additional western connections.
The city-connection map uses St. Marys as the hub
The supplied city-connection graphic highlights only three communities: St. Marys, Ridgway, and Johnsonburg. The values printed on the map are St. Marys 12,529, Ridgway 3,969, and Johnsonburg 2,424. These figures explain the ranking used in the graphic and should not be treated as substitutes for the newest official population estimates.
The same map includes straight-line distances from St. Marys. Ridgway is labeled at about 11 miles and Johnsonburg at about 8 miles. Those are direct distances, not driving distances; the actual road trip follows U.S. 219, PA 120, and local valley routes around ridges and stream crossings.
This simple three-place map is useful because Elk County has relatively few large settlement centers. Once St. Marys, Ridgway, and Johnsonburg are located, places such as Kersey, Wilcox, and Weedville can be understood as smaller communities extending into separate road and drainage corridors.
Clarion River branches carve deep valleys through the northern and western county
The Clarion River is the dominant water feature on the western side. Near Ridgway it bends through a narrow valley and receives Bear Creek along with many smaller tributaries. The surrounding relief rises quickly, leaving little broad flat land beside the channel.
Farther north and northeast, West Branch Clarion River and East Branch Clarion River occupy separate valleys. Johnson Run and Middle Fork East Branch Clarion River add more branches to the drainage network, and Sedimentation Reservoir provides a useful landmark near the central-northern part of the map. These valleys help explain the irregular road network around Johnsonburg and the St. Marys uplands.
Ridgway Reservoir is mapped close to the county-seat area, while Laurel Run Reservoir and Wolf Lick Reservoir lie farther east. Hyde Lake appears in the southwest. In the southeastern county, Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek follows a long winding corridor that is distinct from the Clarion River drainage.
The terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, water depth, navigation conditions, water quality, or current reservoir operations, so those questions require up-to-date information from the responsible agencies.
Elevation ranges from about 270 to 723 meters
The elevation map shows an actual range of roughly 270 to 723 meters and a mean near 542 meters. The lowest green terrain follows the Clarion River and major tributary valleys, while yellow and brown uplands rise immediately around them. The county’s high average elevation reflects the large amount of upland forest between the narrow drainage corridors.
The northeast contains some of the broadest high terrain. East Branch Clarion River and Middle Fork valleys cut deeply into those uplands, producing a dense network of ridges and short tributaries. Another high zone appears across the central-southern interior, where narrow green valleys are surrounded by brown crests.
Western Clarion River lowlands are lower, but the terrain rises quickly away from the channel. The same pattern affects the roads between Ridgway, Johnsonburg, and St. Marys: U.S. 219 and PA 120 repeatedly use valleys and lower passages instead of crossing the highest ridges directly.
This elevation surface is designed for county-wide comparison, not survey-grade measurement. A property, bridge, construction site, or engineering project requires authoritative source elevation data or professional surveying.
Ridgway combines county government with the Clarion River road corridor
Elk County’s official history records that the county was established on April 18, 1843 from parts of Clearfield, Jefferson, and McKean counties. Ridgway later became the county seat, with early court sessions and courthouse construction establishing the town as the administrative center.
Its geography supports that role. Ridgway occupies a lower Clarion River valley where U.S. 219, PA 120, and PA 948 converge. The water map places Ridgway Reservoir and Bear Creek close to the same corridor, while the elevation map shows higher hills rising quickly around the town.
The county history also describes lumber, coal, tanning, and railroads as important parts of early economic development. Those industries depended heavily on access through valleys and forests. Modern maps no longer emphasize the old industrial network, but the river and road corridors still show why Ridgway became a practical hub.
St. Marys lies beside a vast forested landscape connected with Elk State Forest
Large forested uplands dominate the country east and north of St. Marys. Pennsylvania DCNR describes Elk State Forest as nearly 217,000 acres of northern hardwood and mixed oak forest spread across Elk, Cameron, Potter, and McKean counties. It is part of the broader Pennsylvania Wilds region.
DCNR also notes that elk can be seen in meadows and openings throughout the state forest. The county itself was named for the elk that historically roamed the area. The general and elevation maps provide geographic context for that wildlife landscape, showing extensive high ground and relatively few large settlements beyond the St. Marys area.
The northeastern interior is especially sparse in towns but dense in streams. East Branch Clarion River, Johnson Run, and many unnamed tributaries cut the forested hills into narrow drainage corridors. In this part of the county, water and elevation are often more useful orientation tools than settlement names.
Weedville, Force, and Byrnedale follow the Bennett Branch side of the county
Southeastern Elk County has a different orientation from the St. Marys–Ridgway corridor. PA 255 leads south from the Kersey side through Byrnedale and Weedville, while PA 555 turns east through the mountain valleys near Force. These communities are small, but they provide the main settlement references for this corner of the county.
Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek is the strongest natural landmark. It winds through low terrain between high ridges, with many short tributaries descending from the surrounding slopes. On the elevation map, the creek appears as a green corridor enclosed by much higher brown uplands.
This terrain means direct distance can be misleading. Weedville and Force may not look far from St. Marys on a flat map, but the usable road network must follow valleys and lower gaps. Comparing PA 255 and PA 555 with the elevation map makes that relationship easy to see.
Elk County was created in 1843 and still reflects its forest-and-wildlife identity
The county’s official history explains that Elk County was formed in 1843 and named for the elk once abundant in the region. It took years for the county boundary to reach its present shape, while Ridgway developed as the seat of government and timber, mining, tanning, and rail activity supported settlement.
Today the natural landscape remains one of the county’s strongest defining features. Elk State Forest and the surrounding Pennsylvania Wilds contain broad forested uplands, creek valleys, and open areas used by wildlife. The county maps are not wildlife-viewing guides, but they explain the rugged setting that supports the region’s well-known elk country.
A useful mental map of Elk County combines four elements: the St. Marys–Ridgway–Johnsonburg settlement triangle, the Clarion River branches, the Bennett Branch valley, and the high forested uplands. Once those are in place, smaller roads and communities become much easier to locate.
Use the road map for communities and the terrain maps for the mountain valleys
The general reference map is the quickest choice for roads and settlements. It combines St. Marys, Ridgway, Johnsonburg, Kersey, Wilcox, Weedville, U.S. 219, PA 120, PA 255, PA 555, PA 948, and PA 153 in one view. The city-connection map is useful when the goal is simply to compare the three main centers and the direct distances from St. Marys.
The terrain-and-water map is more useful for Clarion River, East Branch and West Branch Clarion River, Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek, Ridgway Reservoir, Laurel Run Reservoir, and related drainage. The elevation map removes most labels and makes the contrast between narrow river valleys and broad highlands especially clear.
For printed handouts, classroom use, regional reference notes, or presentation slides, the A3 high-resolution JPG files in the download archive will remain sharper than enlarged web previews. Pairing the road and elevation maps works well for transportation and relief, while the city and water maps show how settlements relate to individual river valleys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use St. Marys or Ridgway as the main reference point in Elk County?
St. Marys is the easiest hub for comparing the county’s three main communities, while Ridgway is better for county government and the road junction around U.S. 219, PA 120, and PA 948. Using both gives a clearer picture of the central settlement network.
Are the 11-mile and 8-mile labels from St. Marys driving distances?
No. The city-connection map labels Ridgway at about 11 miles and Johnsonburg at about 8 miles as direct distances from St. Marys. Driving routes are longer because roads follow the mountain valleys and crossings.
Why does Elk County have such a large elevation range?
The Clarion River and its branches cut narrow valleys through broad uplands, and the southeastern Bennett Branch does the same in another drainage. The supplied elevation map spans about 270 to 723 meters, with low river corridors immediately beside much higher forested terrain.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Elk County general reference map, city-connection map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map. The original files are larger than the web previews and are better suited to printing, classroom handouts, regional reference work, and presentation slides.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and References
- Elk County official history: county creation, Ridgway county-seat history, early industry, and the origin of the county name.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – Elk State Forest: official information on the forest, Pennsylvania Wilds setting, and elk habitat.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles: county boundaries and transportation geography.
- USGS National Hydrography: rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoir data.
- USGS 3D Elevation Program: elevation data and 3DEP documentation.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
