Erie County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erie County
U.S. county
Erie Federal Courthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	November 7, 1803
Named for	Erie people
Seat	Erie
Largest city	Erie
Area
• Total	1,558 sq mi (4,040 km2)
• Land	799 sq mi (2,070 km2)
• Water	759 sq mi (1,970 km2)  49%
Population  (2020)
• Total	270,876
• Density	339.1/sq mi (130.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	16th

Erie County is a county in the state of Pennsylvania. It is the northernmost county in Pennsylvania. In 2020, about 270,876 people lived here. Its main city and government center is Erie. The county was officially created in 1800 and started its government in 1803. It is part of the Northwest Pennsylvania region.

History of Erie County

Erie County was formed on March 12, 1800. It was created from a part of Allegheny County. Before 1792, both New York and Pennsylvania claimed this land. The United States government stepped in, and Pennsylvania bought the area known as the Erie Triangle.

When Erie County was new, it couldn't support itself alone. So, it joined with four nearby counties (Crawford, Mercer, Venango, and Warren). They shared a temporary government in Meadville. Erie County elected its own officials in 1803. Sadly, in 1823, the Erie County Courthouse burned down. All county records from before that time were lost.

The first settlers in Erie County were mostly from New England and New York. They were called "Yankees." These families had moved from New England after the Revolutionary War. This meant Erie County had a culture very similar to early New England.

Erie County was also an important part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. They could travel through Lake Erie to Canada, or east through New York State. Many also found safety in Erie with the help of people who were against slavery and the free Black community.

Geography and Climate

Map of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA).

Erie County covers about 1,558 square miles. About 799 square miles are land, and 759 square miles (49%) are water. It is the largest county in Pennsylvania by total area. The land is generally rolling, with a high ridge near the lake. Erie County is the only county in Pennsylvania that extends north of the 42nd parallel.

There are two cities in Erie County: Erie and Corry. Other important areas include Millcreek, Harborcreek, Summit, and Fairview townships. The boroughs of Edinboro, North East, Girard, Waterford, and Union City are also notable.

Erie County shares borders with several other counties. To the northeast is Chautauqua County, New York. To the east is Warren County. To the south is Crawford County. To the west is Ashtabula County, Ohio. Directly north of the county is Lake Erie. This location means Erie County is the only county in Pennsylvania that borders Canada. Canada is on the far side of Lake Erie.

Most of Erie County has a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. Near the lake, it can be a bit warmer in summer. For example, in downtown Erie, the average temperature is about 26.4°F in January and 70.8°F in July.

Because of its location, Erie County is unique. It is the only county in Pennsylvania that borders both New York and Ohio. It is also the only county in the state that touches the Canadian border (across Lake Erie).

Neighboring Counties

• Haldimand County, Ontario (north)
• Norfolk County, Ontario (northwest)
• Chautauqua County, New York (northeast)
• Warren County (southeast)
• Crawford County (south)
• Ashtabula County, Ohio (southwest)

Main Roads

Population and Demographics

Erie County has grown a lot since it was founded. In 1800, there were only 1,468 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 270,876.

In 2010, there were about 110,413 households in the county. About 27.2% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the county was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were about 96.73 males.

Major Population Centers

The largest cities and towns in Erie County are listed below.

Education in Erie County

Map of Erie County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Erie County has many public school districts that serve its students.

Public School Districts

Community College

In 2017, the Erie County Council decided to support a new community college. This college helps students get a good education close to home. Many local leaders and groups supported this idea.

Fun and Recreation

Erie County offers many places for fun and outdoor activities.

State Parks

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Erie County. Both are located on the shores of Lake Erie.

• Erie Bluffs State Park – This is one of Pennsylvania's newer state parks.
• Presque Isle State Park – This is one of Pennsylvania's oldest and most-visited state parks in Pennsylvania.

Things to Do

• Splash Lagoon Indoor Waterpark
• Millcreek Mall
• Presque Isle Downs and Casino
• Presque Isle State Park
• Erie Zoo
• Tom Ridge Environmental Center
• Erie Maritime Museum
• Warner Theatre
• Erie Art Museum
• Waldameer Park
• Erie County Public Library

Annual Events

• Roar on the Shore

Libraries in Erie County

The main public library in Erie is the Raymond M. Blasco, M. D. Memorial Library. It opened in 1996 and is now called the Main Library or the Erie County Public Library. It is the third-largest library in Pennsylvania. This library is connected to the Erie Maritime Museum. Both are part of a project to improve the bayfront area. This area also includes the Bayfront Convention Center and the Bicentennial Tower.

The Main Library is known for its beautiful views of Presque Isle Bay. You can often see the historic U.S. Brig Niagara from here. The library also has an art collection on its second floor. This collection includes historical pieces and works by local artists. The library helps new immigrants by offering tours and foreign-language books. It also has a special room for genealogy research. Here, you can learn about your ancestors who lived in Erie County.

Erie County has several other public libraries. These include branches in Edinboro, Iroquois Avenue, Lincoln Community Center, and Millcreek. Other libraries are in Albion, Corry, McCord Memorial, Rice Avenue, Union City, and Waterford.

Communities in Erie County

Map of Erie County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Pennsylvania law has four types of official communities: cities, boroughs, townships, and sometimes towns. Erie County has 38 official communities. These include 2 cities, 14 boroughs, and 22 townships.

Cities

• Corry
• Erie (the county seat)

Boroughs

Townships

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are special areas defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for data collection. They are not official towns under Pennsylvania law.

• Avonia
• Fairview
• Lawrence Park
• Northwest Harborcreek
• Penn State Erie (Behrend)

Population Ranking of Communities (2010 Census)

† county seat

Images for kids

• 

  Flag of Erie County

• 

  Seal of Erie County

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Erie (Pensilvania) para niños