How many cities are in Pennsylvania?

Answer 1

In most states a city would be defined by certain borders called city limits and a certain defined population. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has chosen not to follow that rule book and instead has Cities, Boroughs and Townships. There are 2,567 municipalities in the State but only one or maybe two towns depending on defenition.

Bloomsburg was incorporated as a town in 1870 and calls itself the only incorporated town in Pennsylvania. In 1975 McCandless Township adopted a home rule charter using the name the Town of McCandless so there are 13 cities, two towns and 2,552 other municipalities which can be either a township or a borough.

To further confuse the issue, State College, Pennsylvania is not a city except in terms of population and continues to be called a borough because the Penn State College area also includes the borough and the four townships of College, Patton, Harris and Ferguson.