McKean County is a rural county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,432. Its county seat is Smethport. The county was created in 1804 and organized in 1826. It was named in honor of former Pennsylvania Governor and Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state. McKean County comprises the Bradford, Pennsylvania micropolitan statistical area.