Jefferson County lies in west-central Pennsylvania, where I-80 crosses the middle of the county and several small boroughs occupy separate stream valleys rather than one continuous urban corridor. Brookville is the county seat and central highway reference, Punxsutawney anchors the south, and Brockway, Falls Creek, Reynoldsville, and Sykesville spread across the eastern half. U.S. 119, U.S. 219, U.S. 322, PA 28, PA 36, PA 830, PA 949, and PA 950 connect those communities through rolling uplands. The four original A3 high-resolution JPG maps are available in the download box below.
Water and elevation help explain the county’s layout. The Clarion River bends along the northern side, while Mill Creek, Sandy Lick Creek, Little Sandy Creek, and Mahoning Creek occupy lower corridors farther south. The supplied elevation map ranges from about 333 to 660 meters, with a mean near 480 meters. Lower valleys cut through broad uplands, especially around Brookville and Punxsutawney, while higher terrain becomes more extensive toward the north and northeast.
Table of Contents
Brookville anchors the I-80 corridor through central Jefferson County
Brookville is the easiest place to start on the general reference map. I-80 crosses the county from west to east near the borough, while PA 28 provides a strong north-south reference. Corsica lies to the west, Reynoldsville and Falls Creek are to the east, and PA 36 extends south toward Summerville and the Punxsutawney side.
Jefferson County’s official profile states that I-80 crosses the county for about 36 miles and lists access around Corsica, Brookville/Sigel, Hazen, and Reynoldsville. The same county page identifies U.S. 119, U.S. 219, U.S. 322, PA 28, PA 36, PA 830, PA 949, and PA 950 as principal regional routes.
The central highway corridor does not sit on a broad flat plain. Short ridges and stream valleys repeatedly cross the route, and roads use lower passages whenever possible. Comparing the general and elevation maps makes the relationship between I-80, Brookville, and the surrounding uplands especially clear.
Punxsutawney ranks first, followed by Brookville and Reynoldsville
The ranked community graphic highlights Punxsutawney, Brookville, Reynoldsville, Brockway, Falls Creek, and Sykesville. The printed values are Punxsutawney 5,665, Brookville 3,946, and Reynoldsville 2,431. Brockway follows at 2,191, Falls Creek at 1,220, and Sykesville at 895. These are the values used on the supplied map and should not be treated as the newest official population estimates.
Punxsutawney is the largest ranked center and occupies a southern valley served by U.S. 119, PA 36, PA 310, and PA 436. Brookville is the administrative center and strongest I-80 reference, while Reynoldsville lies farther east and southeast near U.S. 322 and PA 950.
Brockway and Falls Creek occupy the northeastern and eastern side closer to DuBois and Clearfield County. Sykesville is farther south along the eastern edge. The distribution shows that Jefferson County’s boroughs are separated by uplands and stream corridors rather than merged into one developed belt.
The Clarion River and Mill Creek system shape the northern and central valleys
The Clarion River is the dominant water feature along the northern side of the terrain-and-water map. It bends through forested uplands and forms a long low corridor near the county boundary. Numerous short tributaries descend from the surrounding hills.
Mill Creek, Little Mill Creek, and North Fork Creek organize much of the central drainage. Their valleys cut across the rolling terrain around the Brookville–Reynoldsville side. Sandy Lick Creek occupies another long corridor farther southeast, with Big Run and Trout Run adding smaller branches.
Punxsutawney is associated with the Mahoning Creek valley in the south, where Cloe Lake provides a small but useful water landmark. Little Sandy Creek crosses the southwestern interior. Kyle Lake and Truman Pond mark smaller northern water features within more sparsely settled uplands.
This terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, water depth, navigation conditions, water quality, or parcel drainage, so those questions require current information from the appropriate agencies.
Elevation ranges from about 333 to 660 meters
The supplied elevation map reports an actual range of roughly 333 to 660 meters and a mean near 480 meters. Green lowlands follow the major stream valleys and are especially visible around the west-central county and the Punxsutawney side. Higher yellow and brown uplands cover much of the north, northeast, and eastern boundary.
Brookville occupies a relatively low corridor where several drainage lines approach one another, but the surrounding hills rise quickly. I-80 and PA 28 still cross rolling ground, yet the route network repeatedly uses lower gaps and valleys instead of the highest ridges.
The Brockway and Falls Creek side contains broader areas of high terrain, while southern Punxsutawney sits in a noticeably lower valley. The elevation map therefore explains why settlement is concentrated in narrow corridors even though the county does not contain the long, straight ridges seen farther east in Pennsylvania.
This elevation surface is intended for county-wide comparison rather than survey-grade measurement. Parcel, construction, bridge, drainage, or engineering work requires authoritative source elevation data or professional surveying.
Jefferson County was created in 1804 and Brookville became the county seat
Pennsylvania State Archives records Jefferson County as having been created on March 26, 1804 from part of Lycoming County. The county was named for President Thomas Jefferson. State and county sources identify Brookville as the county seat.
The Pennsylvania Manual notes that Brookville was laid out in 1830 and incorporated as a borough in 1834. The county’s modern transportation profile still reinforces Brookville’s central role: I-80, PA 28, and nearby routes provide access in several directions.
Brookville is said to have been named for the many brooks and streams in the area. That description fits the supplied terrain map, where Mill Creek and numerous tributaries divide the surrounding hills. The town’s administrative importance and its valley location are therefore closely connected.
Clear Creek State Park gives the northern Clarion River country a clear landmark
Pennsylvania DCNR describes Clear Creek State Park as a 1,901-acre park in Jefferson County. The park occupies a scenic section of Clear Creek Valley from PA 949 to the Clarion River, providing a useful real-world reference for the county’s northern forested terrain.
The park also provides direct access to the Clarion River. On the supplied water map, the river forms a large winding corridor along the northern side of the county, while short tributaries cut steeply into the surrounding uplands.
DCNR hiking information notes that park trails follow Clear Creek, climb surrounding hillsides, and reach the Clarion River. That combination of low river corridor and nearby high slopes closely matches the terrain shown on the county elevation map.
Punxsutawney and Big Run organize the southern Mahoning Creek side
Punxsutawney is the largest ranked community in the supplied city map and the strongest settlement reference in southern Jefferson County. U.S. 119, PA 36, PA 310, and PA 436 connect the borough with smaller surrounding places and neighboring counties.
Mahoning Creek is the main natural reference around the southern valley. Big Run lies farther north and east within the same broader hill-and-stream landscape, while Cloe Lake provides a small eastern water landmark. The southern valley is generally lower than the high country around Brockway and the northeastern boundary.
Comparing Punxsutawney with Brookville shows why the county cannot be reduced to a single town corridor. Each center occupies a different drainage setting, and intervening hills keep the local road network divided into several separate routes.
Brockway, Falls Creek, and Reynoldsville occupy the eastern hill country
Brockway sits in the northeastern county along U.S. 219, while Falls Creek is farther south near the eastern boundary. Both are close to the DuBois area beyond the county line and provide important connections toward Clearfield County.
Reynoldsville lies southwest of Falls Creek near U.S. 322 and PA 950. Sandy Lick Creek follows the lower terrain through this part of the county, while the elevation map shows higher ridges rising quickly around the valley.
These eastern communities demonstrate the county’s repeated hill-and-valley pattern. Roads and boroughs occupy the lower passages, while surrounding high ground remains more sparsely settled. The contrast is especially clear when the general, water, and elevation maps are viewed together.
Choose the map according to whether you need roads, water, or relief
The general reference map is the quickest choice for roads and communities. It places Brookville, Punxsutawney, Reynoldsville, Brockway, Falls Creek, Sykesville, I-80, U.S. 119, U.S. 219, U.S. 322, PA 28, PA 36, PA 949, and PA 950 in one view. The ranked community map is cleaner when the goal is to compare the larger boroughs.
The terrain-and-water map is more useful for the Clarion River, Mill Creek, Sandy Lick Creek, Little Sandy Creek, and Mahoning Creek. The elevation map removes many labels and makes the low stream corridors and higher northern and eastern uplands especially easy to compare.
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 general and elevation maps works well for roads and relief, while the water map explains how separate drainage valleys organize the county’s settlement pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I start with Brookville or Punxsutawney when locating places in Jefferson County?
Brookville is the better county-wide starting point because it sits near I-80 and PA 28 in the central part of the county. Punxsutawney is the better reference for the southern U.S. 119 and Mahoning Creek corridor.
Why is the Clarion River important on the Jefferson County map?
The Clarion River forms the strongest northern water corridor and helps define the forested landscape around Clear Creek State Park. Its low valley contrasts with the higher uplands immediately to the south and east.
Are the Punxsutawney 5,665 and Brookville 3,946 values current official population estimates?
Not necessarily. They are the ranking values printed on the supplied community map. Reynoldsville, Brockway, Falls Creek, and Sykesville should be treated the same way; current official figures should come from the latest U.S. Census Bureau releases.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains four A3 high-resolution JPG files: the Jefferson County general reference map, ranked community 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
- Jefferson County official profile: county-seat, I-80, and principal highway information.
- Pennsylvania State Archives – County Courthouses: Jefferson County formation date and Brookville county-seat reference.
- Pennsylvania DCNR – Clear Creek State Park: official information on Clear Creek Valley and the Clarion River in Jefferson County.
- 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.
