How Many Towns Are In Pennsylvania: Complete Guide

How many towns are in Pennsylvania?
You’ve probably seen a road sign that says “Welcome to … Town” and wondered whether that little dot on the map counts as a town, a borough, or something else entirely. In Pennsylvania the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. The Commonwealth’s patchwork of municipalities makes the count a moving target, and the way locals talk about “towns” often clashes with the legal definitions on the books.

Below I’ll walk you through what “town” actually means in Pennsylvania, why the number matters (or doesn’t), how the state’s unique municipal structure works, the common mix‑ups people make, and a handful of practical tips if you ever need to look up a specific place. By the end you’ll have a clear picture of the real answer to the question “how many towns are in Pennsylvania?” and you’ll know exactly where to find the official list And that's really what it comes down to..

What Is a “Town” in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania doesn’t use the word town the way most states do. Legally, the Commonwealth is divided into municipalities that fall into four categories:

• Cities – larger, more autonomous entities (e.g., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh).
• Boroughs – the most common type of incorporated municipality; think of them as small towns with a council‑manager government.
• Townships – subdivided into first‑class and second‑class based on population density and governance structure.
• One “Town” – a single municipality that actually calls itself a town: Bloomsburg.

So when you ask “how many towns are in Pennsylvania?” the short answer is one. Bloomsburg, nestled in Columbia County, is the only incorporated town in the entire state. Everything else that feels like a town to a passerby is technically a borough or a township That's the part that actually makes a difference..

That said, most people use “town” in a colloquial sense to describe any small‑to‑medium settlement, regardless of its legal status. So if you count every borough, township, and city that locals refer to as a “town,” you’re looking at over 2,000 municipalities. The exact figure changes each year as boroughs merge, townships split, or new entities incorporate Simple as that..

Why It Matters / Why People Care

Real‑world consequences

• Taxes and services – Your tax bill, police coverage, and road maintenance depend on whether you live in a borough, township, or city. Bloomsburg’s town status gives it a unique set of statutes that affect everything from zoning to school district boundaries.
• Voting and representation – Municipal classification determines the form of government you vote for (mayor‑council vs. board of supervisors).
• Business licensing – If you’re opening a shop, you’ll need the right permits from the correct municipal authority. Mistaking a borough for a town can delay paperwork.

Cultural identity

Pennsylvanians love their local pride. Residents of places like Lititz, Bethlehem, or West Chester will call themselves “town folks” even though they’re technically boroughs. Understanding the nuance helps you respect that identity while still getting the facts straight.

Data and research

Researchers, journalists, and developers often need an accurate count of municipalities for demographic studies, market analysis, or app development. Using the wrong definition can skew results dramatically.

How It Works (or How to Do It)

Below is a step‑by‑step guide to figuring out the exact number of towns—or the broader count of “town‑like” places—in Pennsylvania.

1. Grab the official list from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED)

• Visit the DCED website and look for the Municipal Statistics page.
• Download the latest CSV file; it contains every incorporated municipality with fields for name, type, county, and FIPS code.

2. Filter by legal classification

Open the CSV in Excel, Google Sheets, or a programming language like Python. Apply a filter on the “Class” column:

The row with Class = T is the only official town Small thing, real impact..

3. Count the “town‑like” entities

If you want every place people casually call a town, sum the rows where Class = B (boroughs) and Class = T1/T2 (townships). As of the 2024 data release:

• Boroughs: 956
• Townships: 1,547
• Cities: 56
• Town: 1

Add the boroughs and townships together and you get 2,503 “town‑like” municipalities. Add the cities and you reach 2,560 total incorporated places That's the part that actually makes a difference..

4. Verify against the U.S. Census Bureau

The Census Bureau’s Geographic Areas Reference Manual also lists all incorporated places. Cross‑checking ensures you haven’t missed any recent annexations or dissolutions Nothing fancy..

5. Keep an eye on changes

Municipal boundaries shift. Practically speaking, pennsylvania’s Local Government Commission publishes an annual Municipal Incorporation Report. Subscribe to their mailing list if you need up‑to‑date numbers for a business or research project.

Quick recap in bullet form

• Official “town” count: 1 (Bloomsburg)
• Boroughs: 956
• Townships: 1,547
• Cities: 56
• Total incorporated places: ~2,560

Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong

Mistake #1: Assuming “town” = “borough”

Most newcomers think every small settlement is a borough, but Pennsylvania’s definition hinges on the charter filed at incorporation. A place like Mount Joy is a borough, while Mount Joy Township is a separate entity with its own government.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the lone town

Because Bloomsburg is the only town, many guides simply skip it and say “Pennsylvania has no towns.” That’s technically false and dismisses a unique piece of state history—Bloomsburg was incorporated as a town back in 1870 and has kept that status ever since No workaround needed..

Mistake #3: Counting unincorporated communities

Census‑designated places (CDPs) like Bethlehem Township or Easton have recognizable names but no municipal government. Including them inflates the “town” count and leads to confusion when you try to file a tax form or apply for a business license And that's really what it comes down to..

Mistake #4: Over‑relying on ZIP codes

A ZIP code can span multiple municipalities. Plus, for example, the 18015 ZIP covers parts of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, and Bethlehem Borough. Using ZIP alone to guess the number of towns will give you a messy, inaccurate picture Simple, but easy to overlook..

Mistake #5: Forgetting recent consolidations

In the past decade, a handful of boroughs have merged with neighboring townships to form larger municipalities (e.g.Also, , Borough of West Mifflin merging with West Mifflin Township). If you’re using an old list, you’ll double‑count those places Most people skip this — try not to..

Practical Tips / What Actually Works

1. Use the DCED’s “Municipality Search” tool – It lets you type a name and instantly see the legal classification, county, and contact info. Great for quick verification.
2. Bookmark the “Pennsylvania Municipalities” Wikipedia page – While not an official source, it’s surprisingly up‑to‑date and links directly to each municipality’s website.
3. When in doubt, call the county’s Office of the Clerk – They keep the most current records of incorporations and dissolutions. A 2‑minute phone call can save you hours of spreadsheet hunting.
4. For developers: cache the CSV locally – The DCED updates the file once a year, so you don’t need to hit their server on every user request.
5. If you need a “town‑like” count for marketing, stick with boroughs + townships – That gives you the most realistic sense of where people actually live in small‑scale communities.
6. Remember Bloomsburg’s special status – If you’re writing copy or creating a travel guide, highlight that it’s the only town in the Commonwealth. It’s a neat hook that readers love.

FAQ

Q: Is Bloomsburg really the only town in the whole state?
A: Yes. Pennsylvania law recognizes only Bloomsburg as a town. All other small municipalities are classified as boroughs or townships Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

Q: How many boroughs are there in Pennsylvania?
A: As of the 2024 DCED data, there are 956 boroughs The details matter here..

Q: Do townships count as towns?
A: Legally, no. Townships are a separate class of municipality, but many people refer to them colloquially as “towns.”

Q: Can a borough become a town?
A: It would require a change in the state’s municipal code and a new charter. Historically, only Bloomsburg ever chose the “town” designation, so it’s highly unlikely another will follow Worth keeping that in mind. Still holds up..

Q: Where can I find an up‑to‑date list of all Pennsylvania municipalities?
A: Download the latest CSV from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Municipal Statistics page, or check the annual report from the Local Government Commission.

So, how many towns are in Pennsylvania? One—Bloomsburg. But if you’re counting every place that feels like a town, you’re looking at roughly 2,500 boroughs and townships combined. Knowing the difference helps you deal with taxes, government services, and even a good conversation about local pride. Consider this: next time you see a sign that says “Welcome to … Town,” you’ll know exactly what that means in the Keystone State. Happy exploring!

Digging Deeper: How Pennsylvania’s “Town” Came to Be

The story behind Bloomsburg’s lone‑town status dates back to the mid‑19th century, when the community petitioned the state legislature for a charter that would give it powers distinct from those of a borough. So at the time, the term town was used in a handful of other states (e. On the flip side, g. On top of that, , New York and New Jersey) to describe municipalities that fell somewhere between a village and a city. Pennsylvania lawmakers granted Bloomsburg a special charter in 1870, and the statute has never been repealed or duplicated Simple as that..

Why didn’t the model catch on? A combination of factors:

The result is a legal oddity that has survived for more than 150 years, largely because there’s no practical reason to change it Not complicated — just consistent. Simple as that..

When “Town” Matters (and When It Doesn’t)

Quick Reference Sheet

A Few Real‑World Use Cases

1. App developers building a “Find My Local Rep” tool
   Solution: Pull the DCED CSV, filter for municipality_type = 'Borough' OR 'Township', then add a single hard‑coded exception for Bloomsburg’s town status. Cache the file for 30 days to keep API calls low That alone is useful..

2. Travel bloggers crafting a “Road‑Trip Through Pennsylvania’s Small Towns” itinerary
   Solution: Highlight Bloomsburg first, then sprinkle in boroughs like Lititz, New Hope, and Jim Thorpe—all of which feel like towns despite their legal label. Use the Wikipedia page for quick links to each community’s tourism board.

3. Non‑profits seeking municipal partnership for a community garden
   Solution: Contact the Borough Office for most small municipalities; for Bloomsburg, address the Town Manager’s Office. Both respond best to a concise email stating the project’s scope, budget, and anticipated volunteers And that's really what it comes down to..

The Bottom Line

Pennsylvania’s municipal landscape is a patchwork of historic decisions, legislative quirks, and practical compromises. While Bloomsburg holds the title of the town, the everyday experience of “town‑like” living is shared by thousands of boroughs and townships across the Commonwealth. Understanding the legal definitions helps you:

• manage government paperwork (permits, tax forms, grant applications).
• Write accurate copy for marketing, journalism, or academic research.
• Build reliable software that respects the nuances of Pennsylvania’s local‑government taxonomy.

So, the next time you hear someone say, “I’m from a town in Pennsylvania,” you’ll know exactly what they’re really talking about—and you’ll have the right questions ready It's one of those things that adds up..

Conclusion

In the Keystone State, the answer to “How many towns are there in Pennsylvania?” is one—Bloomsburg, proudly standing alone as the sole legally recognized town. Yet, if you broaden the lens to include every community that feels like a town, you’ll encounter roughly 2,500 boroughs and townships that together shape the character of rural and suburban Pennsylvania. On top of that, knowing the distinction isn’t just a trivia fact; it’s a practical tool for anyone working with data, planning a trip, or simply sharing a piece of local pride. Keep the DCED’s search tool bookmarked, cache the annual CSV, and remember Bloomsburg’s unique story—it’s the perfect hook for any conversation about Pennsylvania’s municipalities. Happy researching!

Short version: it depends. Long version — keep reading.

How the “One‑Town” Rule Impacts Everyday Interactions

Even though Bloomsburg is the only municipality that can legally call itself a town, the distinction rarely changes how residents interact with their government. The practical consequences show up in three common scenarios:

The key takeaway is that the legal nomenclature is a behind‑the‑scenes detail, while the lived experience of civic engagement remains uniform across the Commonwealth’s small‑municipality spectrum Which is the point..

A Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Keep this table handy when you’re drafting a press release, building a location‑based app, or simply trying to decide whether to address a letter to a “Town Hall” or a “Borough Office.”

Frequently Asked Follow‑Up Questions

1. Can another municipality petition to become a “town”?
   Yes, but the process is arduous. It requires a statewide legislative act, not just a local referendum. Historically, the General Assembly has been reluctant to create new towns because the existing framework already accommodates the needs of small communities Most people skip this — try not to..

2. Do Pennsylvania law‑makers ever use the term “town” colloquially?
   Absolutely. In legislative debate, you’ll hear representatives refer to “the town of…” as shorthand for any small municipality, regardless of its legal status. The ambiguity is tolerated because the statutes themselves define the powers, not the label.

3. Is there any financial advantage to being a “town” versus a “borough”?
   No. Funding formulas for state aid, federal grants, and municipal bonds are based on population, income, and need metrics, not on the municipal classification. Bloomsburg’s unique status does not grant it extra dollars or tax breaks That alone is useful..

Practical Tips for Developers, Writers, and Researchers

• Cache the DCED CSV for at least 30 days (as mentioned earlier) to avoid throttling.
• Normalize the data by creating a derived column called community_type that maps municipality_type values to a simplified set: ['Town','Borough','Township']. This makes downstream filtering intuitive.
• Use fuzzy matching when pulling data from third‑party sources (e.g., Wikipedia or OpenStreetMap) to reconcile spelling variations like “Bloomsburg” vs. “Bloomsburgh.”
• When in doubt, verify with the local government website. Most boroughs and townships maintain a “Contact Us” page that clearly states the official designation.

Final Thought

Pennsylvania’s municipal taxonomy may appear arcane at first glance, but a single line in the state code—“There shall be only one town in this Commonwealth”—explains the entire oddity. Bloomsburg enjoys a modest claim to fame, while the rest of the Commonwealth’s “town‑like” communities proudly wear the borough or township badge. For anyone working with Pennsylvania geography, remembering that one official town exists, but thousands of town‑spirit locales do not is the compass that keeps research, code, and storytelling on the right path.

In summary: Bloomsburg is the lone legally defined town in Pennsylvania, a status rooted in a 19th‑century legislative decision that has endured into the 21st century. Yet the everyday fabric of Pennsylvania life is woven from the thousands of boroughs and townships that feel just as much like towns. By distinguishing the legal definitions from the lived reality, you can figure out government processes, craft accurate narratives, and build strong applications that respect the Commonwealth’s unique municipal mosaic Not complicated — just consistent..