St. Marys, Pennsylvania

Saint Marys, Pennsylvania
City
Saint Marys City Hall
Flag Seal
Location in Elk County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 41°25′40″N 78°33′40″W / 41.42778°N 78.56111°W / 41.42778; -78.56111
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Elk
Settled	1804
Incorporated (borough)	1848
Incorporated (city)	1992
Government
• Mayor	Lyle Garner
Area [1]
• Total	99.51 sq mi (257.72 km2)
• Land	99.32 sq mi (257.23 km2)
• Water	0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2)
Elevation	1,666 ft (508 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,738
• Density	128.01/sq mi (49.43/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
Zip code	15857
Area code	814
FIPS code	42-67344
Website	City of Saint Marys

St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population is 12,738 as of the 2020 census.^[2] Originally a small town inhabited by mostly Bavarian Roman Catholics, it was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the borough of St. Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city.^[3] Despite its place as the second-largest city by area in Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia, it is one of the state's least densely populated cities.

St. Marys lies in the center of Pennsylvania's elk country. It is one of the few places east of the Mississippi River that allows hunting of wild elk. The area is known for its access to outdoor activities, including trout streams and state hunting lands inside the city limits. ^{[citation needed]}