Loyalsock State Forest
| Loyalsock State Forest | |
| Pennsylvania State Forest | |
Loyalsock Creek in Loyalsock State Forest in Sullivan County
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| Named for: Loyalsock Creek | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Counties | Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan |
| Elevation | 1,765 ft (538.0 m) |
| Coordinates | 41°30′39″N 76°43′13″W / 41.51083°N 76.72028°WCoordinates: 41°30′39″N 76°43′13″W / 41.51083°N 76.72028°W |
| Founded | 1929 |
| - Reorganized | July 1, 2005 |
| Management | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| IUCN category | Managed Resource Protected Area (IUCN VI) |
 Location of Loyalsock State Forest in Pennsylvania
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| Website: Loyalsock State Forest | |
Loyalsock State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #20. The forest spans across the northern tier's "Endless Mountains" and is a total of 114,552 acres (46,358 ha). The Loyalsock is a “working forest” and is managed for pure water, recreation, scenic beauty, plant and animal habitat, sustainable timber, and natural gas.
In 2008, the District 20 office was moved into a brand new facility on the districts far eastern boundary in Dushore, Pennsylvania in Sullivan County in the United States. The Hillsgrove Ranger Station, which also houses the districts maintenance section, is located in Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania in Sullivan County.
The state forests of Pennsylvania were formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr. Joseph Rothrock became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and Iron companies had harvested the old-growth forests for various reasons. They clear cut the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing steam locomotives ignited wildfires that prevented the formation of second growth forests.
Conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for the state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies, and the companies were more than willing to sell their land since they had depleted the natural resources of the forests. The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today's Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations." This was the beginning of the State Forest system.
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