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Erie, Pennsylvania

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Erie (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈɪəri/) is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city (after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown), with a population of 102,000.[1] Erie's Metropolitan Area consists of approximately 280,000 residents and an Urbanized Area population of approximately 195,000. The city is the seat of government for Erie County.

Erie is near Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Once teeming with heavy industry, Erie's manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy, though healthcare, higher education, and tourism are emerging as greater economic drivers. Millions visit Erie for water recreation at Presque Isle State Park, as well as attractions like a casino and horse racetrack named for the state park.

Erie is known as the Flagship City because of the presence of Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship Niagara.[2] The city has also been called the Gem City because of the "sparkling" lake.[2] Erie won the All-America City Award in 1972. Erie, Pennsylvania is also occasionally nicknamed colloquially as The Lake City because of its location on the southern, American shores of Lake Erie, from which the city is named.

History

Main article: History of Erie, Pennsylvania

The six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, which included the Senecas, originally occupied the lands in what is now Erie. Europeans first arrived in the region when the French constructed Fort Presque Isle near present-day Erie in 1753, as part of their effort to defend New France against the encroaching British. The name of the fort refers to that piece of land that juts into Lake Erie, now called Presque Isle State Park, with the French word "presque-isle" meaning peninsula (literally "almost an island"). When the fort was abandoned by the French in 1760, it was their last post west of Niagara. The British occupied the fort at Presque Isle that same year, three years before the end of the French and Indian War in 1763.[3]

Present-day Erie is situated in what was the disputed Erie Triangle, a triangle of land that was claimed by the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut (as part of its Western Reserve), and Massachusetts. It officially became part of Pennsylvania on March 3, 1792, after Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York relinquished their claims to the federal government, which in turn sold the land to Pennsylvania for 75 cents per acre or a total of $151,640.25 in Continental currency. The Iroquois released the land to Pennsylvania in January 1789 for payments of $2,000 from Pennsylvania and $1,200 from the federal government. The Seneca Nation separately settled land claims against Pennsylvania in February 1791 for the sum of $800.[4]

The Battle of Lake Erie played a role in the history of Erie.

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania commissioned the surveying of land near Presque Isle through an act passed on April 18, 1795. Andrew Ellicott, who completed Pierre Charles L'Enfant's survey of Washington, D.C. and helped resolve the boundary between Pennsylvania and New York, arrived to begin the survey in June 1795. Initial settlement of the area began that year.[4][5] Lt. Colonel Seth Reed and his family moved to the Erie area from Geneva, New York, and before that from Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and became the first European settlers of Erie, settling at what became known as "Presque Isle".

To wrest control of Lake Erie from the British during the War of 1812, President James Madison ordered the construction of a naval fleet at Erie. Noted shipbuilders Daniel Dobbins of Erie and Noah Brown of New York led construction of four schooner–rigged gunboats and two brigs. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry arrived from Rhode Island and led the squadron to success in the historic Battle of Lake Erie.[6]

State and 9th Streets in downtown Erie during the early 1920s

Erie was an important railroad hub in the mid-19th century, the city was the site where three sets of track gauges met. While the delays required to unload and load passengers and cargo were a problem for commerce and travel, they provided much needed local jobs in Erie. When a national standardized gauge was proposed, those jobs, and the importance of the rail hub itself, were put in jeopardy. The citizens of Erie, led by the mayor, set fire to bridges, ripped up track and rioted to attempt to stop the standardization in an event known as the Erie Gauge War.[7]

On August 3, 1915, the Mill Creek flooded downtown Erie when a culvert, blocked by debris, gave out.[8] A four block reservoir, caused by torrential downpours, had formed behind it. The resulting deluge destroyed 225 houses and killed 36 people.[8] After the flood, Mayor Miles B. Kitts had the Mill Creek diverted to a 22 by 19 feet (6.7 m × 5.8 m), concrete tube that travels for over 2 miles (3.2 km) under the city, before emptying into to Presque Isle Bay.

Erie's importance gradually faded during the second half of 20th Century as the age of lake trade, commercial fishing, and American manufacturing dominance drew to a close.[9] Downtown Erie continued to grow for most of the 20th century, before taking a major population downturn in the 1970s.[9] With the advent of the automobile age, thousands of residents left Erie for suburbs such as Millcreek Township, which now has over 50,000 people.[9]

Erie has won the All-America City Award only once, in 1972, and was a finalist in 1961, 1994, 1995 and 2009.[10][11]

Panorama of downtown Erie in 1912, looking West along the 15th Street tracks. The tallest steeple to the north of the tracks is St. Peter Cathedral

Geography

The Mill Creek passes through the middle of the Erie Zoo.

Erie is situated at 42°6′52″N 80°4′34″W / 42.11444°N 80.07611°W / 42.11444; -80.07611 (42.114507, -80.076213),Template:GR directly between Cleveland, Ohio, Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the south-central shores of Lake Erie. Erie’s bedrock is Devonian shale and siltstone, overlain by glacial tills and stratified drift. Stream drainage in Erie flows northward into Lake Erie, then through Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and out to the Atlantic Ocean. South of Erie is a drainage divide, where most of the streams south of this divide in western Pennsylvania flow in a southward direction into the Allegheny or Ohio rivers.[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.0 square miles (73 km2) with 22.0 square miles (57 km2) being land and the remaining (21.54%) being water. Erie is home to Presque Isle State Park (known to the locals as "The Peninsula"), a peninsula that juts into Lake Erie and has 7 miles (11 km) of public beaches, wetlands, and fishing sites.

A road map of Erie showing the major routes that travel through it.

Erie is laid out in a grid surrounding Perry Square in the downtown area.[13] The downtown buildings are separated from the waterfront by the Bayfront Parkway.[13] The tallest structure in Erie is St. Peter Cathedral at 265 feet (81 m) and the tallest building is the Renaissance Centre at 198 feet (60 m) tall. Erie has generally small ethnic neighborhoods including Little Italy. South of 38th Street, the grid gives way to curvilinear roads of post-1970 suburban development. Millcreek Township and Peach Street are among Erie's newer areas.

Most of the cityscape includes renovated and refurbished factory buildings, mid–rise housing, single family homes, and office buildings. Erie's waterfront includes the Burger King Amphitheater and surrounding parkland, which hosts numerous festivals. The Bayfront Convention Center is on Sassafras Pier next to Dobbins Landing. The Bicentennial Tower is centrally located in the skyline when viewed from Presque Isle State Park, with the high-rise and mid-rise buildings flanking the higher ground behind and to the east and west sides. On the east end of the waterfront, the Erie Maritime Museum and the city's main library, and third largest in Pennsylvania, host the Niagara. Docks and marinas fill the freshwater shoreline in between.

Climate

The climate of Erie is typical of the Great Lakes. Erie is located in the snow belt that stretches from Cleveland to Syracuse and Watertown; accordingly, its winters are typically cold, with heavy lake effect snow, but also with occasional stretches of mild weather that causes accumulated snow to melt. Erie lies in the humid continental zone (Köppen Dfa).[14] The city experiences a full range of weather events, including snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms and fog.

Erie is 6th on the list of snowiest places in the United States, averaging 78.7 inches (200 cm).[15] For the winter of 2010–2011, Erie received 107.4 inches (273 cm) of snow with the first accumulation of the season falling on November 26.[16] The adverse winter conditions caused USAir Flight 499 to overrun the runway at Erie International Airport in 1986, as well as causing whiteouts that were responsible for a 50 car pile-up on Interstate 90.[17][18]

Climate data for Erie, Pennsylvania (Erie International Airport), 1981-2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9) 		35.6
(2.0) 		43.8
(6.6) 		56.1
(13.4) 		66.6
(19.2) 		75.7
(24.3) 		79.9
(26.6) 		78.7
(25.9) 		72.0
(22.2) 		60.8
(16.0) 		49.9
(9.9) 		38.3
(3.5) 		57.6
(14.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.0
(−6.1) 		21.4
(−5.9) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		38.3
(3.5) 		48.4
(9.1) 		58.6
(14.8) 		63.7
(17.6) 		62.7
(17.1) 		56.0
(13.3) 		45.5
(7.5) 		36.8
(2.7) 		26.8
(−2.9) 		42.2
(5.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.94
(75) 		2.39
(61) 		2.95
(75) 		3.33
(85) 		3.44
(87) 		3.76
(96) 		3.54
(90) 		3.46
(88) 		4.61
(117) 		4.05
(103) 		3.93
(100) 		3.83
(97) 		42.21
(1,072)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 29.8
(76) 		18.1
(46) 		13.8
(35) 		3.1
(7.9) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		.2
(0.51) 		8.5
(22) 		27.2
(69) 		100.8
(256)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 19.6 15.0 14.3 13.9 12.8 11.1 10.2 10.3 11.1 13.4 15.5 19.2 166.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 16.6 11.9 7.7 2.8 0 0 0 0 0 .2 4.4 13.3 56.9
Source: NOAA [19]

Demographics and religion

Main article: Demographics of Erie, Pennsylvania
Demographics of Erie compared on the state and national levels,
as of the 2000 Census[contradictory]
Erie Pennsylvania United States
Total population 101,786 12,702,379 308,745,538
Population %±, 2000–2010 −1.9% +3.4% +9.7%
Population density 4,631.7/sq mi (1,788.3/km2) 283.4/sq mi (109.4/km2) 87.3/sq mi (33.7/km2)
Median household income (1999) $28,387 $34,619 $41,994
Bachelor's degree or higher 17.4% 22.4% 24.4%
Foreign born 5.8% 5.0% 11.0%
White (non-Hispanic) 75.0% 81.9% 72.4%
Black 19.7% 10.8% 12.6%
Hispanic (any race) 6.9% 5.7% 16.3%
Asian 1.5% 2.7% 4.8%

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 101,786 people, 40,913 households, and 22,915 families residing in the city. There were 44,790 housing units at an average vacancy rate of 8 percent. Erie has long been declining in population due to the departure of factories and dependent businesses.[20] The city has lost over 40,000 people since the early 1970s, allowing Allentown to claim the position as Pennsylvania's third-largest city behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1800 81—    
1810 394+386.4%
1820 635+61.2%
1830 1,465+130.7%
1840 3,412+132.9%
1850 5,858+71.7%
1860 9,419+60.8%
1870 19,646+108.6%
1880 27,737+41.2%
1890 40,634+46.5%
1900 52,733+29.8%
1910 66,525+26.2%
1920 93,372+40.4%
1930 115,967+24.2%
1940 116,955+0.9%
1950 130,803+11.8%
1960 138,440+5.8%
1970 129,231−6.7%
1980 119,123−7.8%
1990 108,718−8.7%
2000 103,717−4.6%
2010 101,786−1.9%

Erie's population was spread evenly among all age groups, with the median being 34. About 13% of families and 19% of the population were below the poverty line. Most of the people who reside in Erie are of European descent.[21]

Since the mid 1990s, the International Institute of Erie (IIE), founded in 1919, has helped with the resettlement of refugees from Bosnia, Eritrea, Ghana, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, the former Soviet Union, and Vietnam. The inclusion of refugees in Erie's community augments religious diversity and prompts community events such as cultural festivals.[22]

In the early 20th century, Erie had a significant Russian immigrant community, many of whom worked in the shipbuilding plants along the bayfront. Unusual for a Great Lakes city, a substantial number of these Russian immigrants were Priestless (Bespopovtsy) Old Believers. In 1983, most of this community united with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and became Priested Old Ritualists.[23] Even today, the gold-domed Church of the Nativity,[24] on the bayfront near the former heart of the Russian community, is an Old Ritualist church, home to famed Icon painter Fr. Theodore Jurewicz.[25] Bishop Daniel of Erie, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is based in Erie and is the Vicar President of the Synod of Bishops for the Old Ritualists.[26][unreliable source?]

Catholic influence is felt beyond the parish in Erie; here, at entrance to Mercyhurst University.

Erie has a Jewish community that is over 150 years old. Temple Anshe Hesed, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, is served by its spiritual leader, Rabbi John L. Bush.[27] Erie is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, covering 13 counties (9,936 sq mi- the largest in the state). Its diocesan seat is the Saint Peter Cathedral in Erie, which has a 265 feet (81 m) central tower flanked by two 150 feet (46 m) towers. Donald Trautman is the current Bishop of the diocese.

According to the Association of Religion Date Archives,[28] Erie County had a total population of 280,843 people in 2000, of which 103,333 claimed affiliation with the Catholic Church, 40,301 with mainline Protestant houses of worship, and 12,980 with evangelical Protestant churches.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Erie, Pennsylvania
Old Erie Forge & Steel factory in Erie at 16th and Greengarden Streets.

Erie is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's primary access point to Lake Erie, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The city emerged as a maritime center after the American Revolution, then as a railroad hub during the great American westward expansion. Erie became an important city for iron and steel manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution and thrived well into the 20th century with big industry.

While only diesel-electric locomotive building remains from the ranks of the large manufacturers in the early 21st century, a more diverse mix of mid-sized industries has emerged. This broader economic base includes not only smaller and more agile steel and plastic plants, but also a vigorous service sector: health, insurance and tourism. As of December 2010, Erie's unemployment rate was 8.9 percent, as compared to rates for Pennsylvania and the United States at 8.5 and 9.4 percent, respectively.[29]

Erie is the corporate headquarters of GE Transportation, the Erie Insurance Group, and Marquette Savings Bank. Lord Corporation was founded and has major operations in Erie.[30] Along with GE and Erie Insurance, major employers in the county, and consquenetly, the city include the County, State and Federal governments, as well as the Erie City School District.[31]

Sunset at Presque Isle State Park; the peninsula is a major tourist attraction

Over 10 percent of the USA's plastics are manufactured or finished in Erie-based plastics plants.[2] Erie is an emerging center for biofuels and environmental research, producing over 45 million U.S. gallons of biofuel a year.[32] Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the local economy with over 4 million people visiting Presque Isle State Park and other attractions. Shoppers from Ohio, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario frequent the Millcreek Mall and Peach Street stores and attractions as a result of Pennsylvania's tax exemption on clothing.

Both Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Health System are also major employers in Erie.[31] On February 1, 2011, Hamot merged with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and became UPMC Hamot.[33] The United States Department of Veterans Affairs operates the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center on East 38th Street. The Shriners International operates Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie since 1927.

Utilities

The Erie Water Works, which was incorporated in 1865 as the Erie Water and Gas Company, includes a reservoir, two water treatment plants, and an elaborate water works and pipe network that provides water for most of the city and suburbs. Penelec, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, supplies electricity to the region, as well as the Northwestern Pennsylvania Rural Electric Cooperative. Time Warner Cable became the region's cable television provider, after taking over Adelphia, and also provides digital phone and high-speed internet to the region. Local telephone and high speed internet service is also provided by Verizon.

Sewage service in Erie is provided by the Erie Sewer Authority, and many outlying townships have partnerships with the Sewer Authority for service. The Authority cleans about 30–40 million US gallons (150,000 m3) of wastewater every day.[34]

The time and temperature number in Erie is 452-6311 and was originally discontinued by Verizon in October 2008 before being restarted by a private individual two years later.[35] The city of Erie and northwest Pennsylvania is located in area code 814. On December 16, 2010, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted to split the area code, which was to take effect February 1, 2012.[36] The North American Numbering Plan decided that northwest Pennsylvania would receive the new code of 582. A local grassroots coalition began organizing a opposition to the plan, and generated numerous petitions for reconsideration. The PUC immediately voted to review their decision and ordered additional public input hearings and technical conferences as a response to the strong public outcry.[37] In January 2011 the PUC announced that it was placing the entire area code split plan on hold as NEUSTAR pushed the projected exhaustion date back two years to 2015.[38]

Arts and culture

The iconic Boston Store in downtown Erie

Erie is home to several professional and amateur performing-arts groups. The most significant is the Erie Philharmonic, in continuous existence since 1913 (with the exception of an interregnum during World War II). This group of professional musicians also has a full chorus and a Junior Philharmonic division that tours the area.

The Lake Erie Ballet is a professional company that performs well-known programs throughout the year.[39] The Erie Civic Music Association attracts, sponsors, and books performances by professional musicians, singers, entertainers, and ensembles from around the world.[40] The Erie Art Museum is the city's main art gallery, located in the Old Customshouse on State Street. Its collection has an emphasis on folk art and modern art and it hosts a popular blues and jazz concert series.

Downtown Erie's historic and ornate Warner Theatre hosts a range of performances. Renovated in the 1980s and again in 2007,[41] the Warner is the hub of Erie's Civic Center. The downtown area is the home of the Erie Playhouse, one of the leading community theaters in the country, and the third oldest community theater in the U.S. .[42] The local Great Lakes Film Association (GLFA), which hosts the annual autumn Great Lakes Independent Film Festival, was founded in 2002.[43] Since 2007, the annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally has taken place in Erie.

The Bicentennial Tower and the Niagara.

Along West 6th Street is Millionaires Row, a collection of 19th century Victorian mansions. The Erie Land Light stands at the foot of Lighthouse Street.[44] The lighthouse was built in 1818 and replaced in 1867.

The Bicentennial Tower, on Dobbins Landing at the foot of State Street, was built in 1995–96 to celebrate the city's bicentennial. It is 187 feet (57 m) tall and gives a panoramic view of Lake Erie and downtown. The Blasco Library and Erie Maritime Museum are its neighbors to the east. Presque Isle Downs opened on February 28, 2007, and was the fourth slots parlor in the state and the first in Western Pennsylvania.[45] Table games opening at the casino on July 8, 2010.[46]

Erie has also been the location for many movies, including the hometown for fictional band "The Wonders" in That Thing You Do featuring Tom Hanks. It is also mentioned in the film Wall Street as the location of the fictional company Anacott Steel.

Media

The Erie Times-News main office
Main article: Media in Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie is served by Erie Times-News, the city's only daily newspaper.

The Nielsen Company ranks Erie as 144 out of the 210 largest television market in the United States, as of the 2010–2011 report.[47] The market is served by stations affiliated with major American networks including WICU-TV (NBC), WJET-TV (ABC), WFXP (FOX), WSEE-TV (CBS), and WSEE-DT2 (CW). WQLN is a member of Public Broadcasting Service and also broadcasts in London, Ontario. Cable companies available for Erie include Time Warner Cable, Adelphia Media Services, Directv, Dish Network, Telecommunications Erie, Comcast Erie, and Satellites Today. Erie is also served by several AM and FM radio stations based in the city, and dozens of other stations are received from elsewhere.

Sports

Jerry Uht Park from the first-base side, overlooking downtown Erie.
Main article: Sports in Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie plays host to a number of semi-pro and professional sports teams. The Erie SeaWolves play AA baseball in the Eastern League as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The Erie Otters play hockey in the Ontario Hockey League. The Erie Explosion is a member of the United Indoor Football League. The Erie Illusion is a member of the Women's Football Alliance. The Erie BayHawks are a member of the NBA Development League. Football and hockey games are played at Louis J. Tullio Arena, while minor league baseball games are held at Jerry Uht Park.

Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Edinboro University, and Penn State Behrend have active NCAA collegiate sports programs. The local high schools compete in PIAA District 10 sporting events. Additionally, Cathedral Preparatory School hosts the annual high school basketball tournament featuring top national teams; called the Burger King Classic since 2010. Scholastic and intramural sports are held at school and park facilities around the city. The Mercyhurst Ice Center and Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium are two of the many sports arenas and stadiums available in and around the city.

The Lake Erie Speedway, a 3⁄8 mile (0.6 km) NASCAR sanctioned race track is located in Greenfield Township. Horse racing is found at the Presque Isle Downs and Casino in nearby Summit Township.

Club League Sport Venue Established Championships
Erie SeaWolves EL Baseball Jerry Uht Park 1995 0
Erie Otters OHL Ice hockey Louis J. Tullio Arena 1996 1
Erie Illusion WFA Women's football Tullio Field 2003 0
Erie Explosion UIFL Indoor football Louis J. Tullio Arena 2008 0
Erie BayHawks NBA D-League Basketball Louis J. Tullio Arena 2008 0
Erie Admirals SC NPSL Soccer Family First Sports Park 2009 0

Recreation

See also: List of city parks of Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie's location along the shores of Lake Erie provides a plethora of outdoor activities throughout the year. The region's largest attraction is Presque Isle State Park, drawing over four million visitors a year.[48] The region grows grapes and produces the third largest amount of wine in the United States.[1]

Aerial view of Presque Isle State Park. View is to the east-northeast.

Downtown Erie is surrounded by Presque Isle State Park, a National Natural Landmark.[48] The Seaway Trail runs through downtown Erie along the lakefront. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center, at the foot of Presque Isle, features 7,000 square feet (650 m2) of exhibit space.[49]

Other tourist destinations include the Bayfront Convention Center; the Bicentennial Tower that overlooks Lake Erie; Dobbins Landing, a pier in downtown Erie; the Erie Land Light, and the Erie Maritime Museum, the home port of the Niagara. The 2,600,000-square-foot (240,000 m2) Millcreek Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the United States, is located on Peach Street in nearby Millcreek Township.[50] The indoor waterpark Splash Lagoon, in Summit Township, is the largest indoor waterpark on the East Coast and third largest in the United States.[42] Waldameer Park, located at the base of Presque Isle, is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, and the tenth oldest in the United States.[51]

Government

See also: List of mayors of Erie, Pennsylvania and List of Members of Congress who have represented Erie, Pennsylvania
The Erie Municipal Building on State Street

The city of Erie is incorporated as a 3rd class city under Pennsylvania law.[52] Incorporated under an "optional charter", the city is government by a mayor–council government. The government consists of a mayor, treasurer, controller and a seven-member city council. All of whom are elected to four-year terms, with the terms of the council designed to be overlapping.[52] The mayor is chief executive; the city council prepares legislation and conducts oversight. The city council meets in Mario S. Bagnoni Council Chambers at City Hall. Joseph E. Sinnott (D) is the mayor of the city of Erie and was first elected in 2005. Susan DiVecchio (D) is the city treasurer and Casimir J. Kwitowski (D) is the city controller.[53] As of 2 January 2012, the Erie City Council consists of:[53][54]

  • Curtis Jones, Jr. (D), Council President
  • David Brennan (D)
  • Jessica Horan-Kunco (D)
  • Robert Merski (D)
  • Joseph Schember (D)
  • Jim Winarski (D)
  • Melvin Witherspoon(D)

In exchange for tax revenue, the city provides its residents with police and fire protection. For separate quarterly payments, the city provides garbage, recycling, water and sewer services. The Erie Police Department provides law enforcement in the city and currently has a complement of 173 sworn personnel under the direct supervision of Chief of Police Stephen Franklin. The City of Erie Fire Department is a full-time career fire department and employs around 150 uniformed personnel. These employee's are under the direct supervision of Chief Tony Pol. The City currently operates out of six fire houses and protects approximately 20 square miles (52 km2). The city has six engines, two towers and one water rescue unit. The city provides mutual aid to fire departments of Millcreek Township, Summit Township and East County.

Erie is the largest city in Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district and is currently represented in Congress by Republican Mike Kelly, who was elected in 2010. Republican Jane M. Earll of the 49th District has represented Erie in the Pennsylvania State Senate since 1997. The city of Erie is split by the 1st and 2nd Districts of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is represented by Democrats Patrick Harkins and Florindo Fabrizio, respectively.[55]

Education

See also: Colleges and universities of Erie

Erie Public Schools enroll 12,527 students in primary and secondary grades.[56] The district has 23 public schools including elementary, middle, high, and one charter school. Other than public schools, the city is home to more than 40 private schools and academies.

The City of Erie is served by four city high schools, Central Tech High School, East High School, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Strong Vincent High School, three Catholic high schools Cathedral Preparatory School, Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Villa Maria Academy, and nearby McDowell High School and Iroquois High School in adjacent Millcreek Township and Lawrence Park Township, respectively.

LECOM's main campus

Erie is home to several colleges and universities. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is the largest Penn State branch campus, becoming a 4 year school in 1973. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), a large medical school, with branch campuses in Bradenton, Florida and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has one of the largest enrollments of medical students in the country.[57]

The Erie Maritime Museum, the Brig Niagara, and the Blasco Library.

Other notable colleges in the Erie area include Gannon University, a Catholic university, situated in downtown Erie. Another Catholic institution, Mercyhurst University, is in the southeast part of the city. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, part of the state system of higher education, is in nearby Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Allegheny College is located in Meadville, south of Erie.

Ranking Erie city and county officials, as well as officials of the Erie School District, began looking into the need for a community college in the Erie area in 2006.[58] As of January 2008, county officials and representatives of Penn State-Behrend, Mercyhurst and Gannon were in serious discussions expected to lead to the creation of Northwest Pennsylvania Community College by September 2009. Besides accreditation issues, officials must resolve whether to use local four-year educational institutions or to build a separate site in Summit Township for community college classes.[59]

Erie is also home of the Barber National Institute and its Elizabeth Lee Black School, which provides services and education for children and adults with mental disabilities. Erie is home to its main campus, and it provides services in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.[60] The public libraries in Erie are part of the Erie County library system. The Raymond M. Blasco, M. D. Memorial Library, named for its benefactor, opened in 1996.[61] It is the third largest library in Pennsylvania.[62] It is connected to the Erie Maritime Museum, both of which are part of a bayfront improvement project that includes the Bayfront Convention Center and the Bicentennial Tower on Dobbins Landing.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania
The Bayfront Connector connects Interstate 90 with the bayfront.

Erie is well connected to the Interstate Highway System. There are six "Erie exits" along Interstate 90, a major cross-country thoroughfare running from Boston to Seattle. Erie is the northern terminus of Interstate 79, which travels south to Pittsburgh and, ultimately, West Virginia. The western terminus for Interstate 86, also called the "Southern Tier Expressway," is at Interstate 90 between Erie and North East, Pennsylvania. Interstate 86 continues east through New York to Binghamton. The Bayfront Connector runs from Interstate 90 in Harborcreek to the Bayfront Parkway and downtown Erie, along the east side of the city, then connects to Interstate 79 on the west side of the city. Major thoroughfares in the city include 12th Street, 26th Street, 38th Street and Peach Street. Peach is also a part of U.S. Route 19, whose northern terminus is in Erie and continues south eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Other major routes running through Erie are Pennsylvania Route 5, known as the Seaway Trail and is made up of parts of 6th Street, 8th Street, 12th Street, and East Lake Road in the city, U.S. Route 20, which is 26th Street in the city. The city is divided between east and west by State Street.

The 'e' at the Intermodal Center

The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) operates the city's transit bus system, known as the 'e'. Buses run seven days a week in the city, with trips out to other parts of the county occurring a couple times a week. Intercity buses providing transportation between Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are operated by Greyhound Lines. Service between Buffalo and Cleveland is also provided by Lakefront Lines. Both companies operate out of the Intermodal Transportation Center, which opened in 2002 at the foot of Holland Street.

The former "Water Level Route" of the New York Central Railroad travels directly through Erie. It is now the mainline for CSX freight trains. The mainline of the Norfolk Southern Railway, originally built by the Nickel Plate Railroad, also travels through Erie. At one time Norfolk Southern trains ran down the middle of 19th Street, but were removed in 2002.[63] Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited out of Union Station at 14th and State Streets. The Lake Shore Limited stops twice daily—one eastbound towards New York City, and one westbound towards Chicago.

The last DC-9 to fly for US Air arriving at Erie International Airport

Erie International Airport / Tom Ridge Field (IATA code: ERI; IACO code: KERI) is located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the city and hosts general aviation, charter, and airline service. Destinations with non-stop flights out of Erie include Cleveland Hopkins International Airport via Continental Airlines, Philadelphia International Airport via US Airways and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport via Delta Air Lines. Erie International is in the midst of a $80.5 million runway extension. The extension is slated to increase the runway's length by 1,920 feet (590 m), for a total runway length of 7,500 feet (2,300 m), "to meet safety requirements" as well as allowing the airport to accommodate larger aircraft.[64]

The Port of Erie is located on Presque Isle Bay, a natural harbor formed by Presque Isle. It offers some of the finest port facilities for cargo shipping on the Great Lakes, with direct rail access. The Erie–Western Pennsylvania Port Authority provides water-taxi service in the summer months between Dobbins Landing and Liberty Park in downtown Erie, and the Waterworks ferry landing on Presque Isle.[65]

Sister cities

Erie has four official sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Interesting Facts about Erie County". Erie County Government. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  2. ^ a b c "About Erie". The City of Erie. 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  3. ^ History of Erie County, p. 503.
  4. ^ a b Nelson, pp. 103–104.
  5. ^ History of Erie County, pp 505–506.
  6. ^ "History of Erie County", pp. 299, 306.
  7. ^ Rhodes, James Ford (1900). History of the United States from the compromise of 1850. Vol. 3. New York, New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 21.
  8. ^ a b "Erie's Blackest Day & Other Accounts of Phenomenal Weather" (PDF). Erie County Historical Society. October 2008. p. 2. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c "Erie Detailed History". City-data.com. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  10. ^ Frederick, Robb (June 20, 2009). "Erie falls in award contest". Erie Times-News. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  11. ^ "Past Winners of the All-America City Award". National Civic League. 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  12. ^ "General Geology Report 32". Pennsylvania Geological Survey. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  13. ^ a b City of Erie, Erie County (PDF) (Map). Type 5C. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. September 23, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  14. ^ Kottek, Marcus; Greiser, Jürgen; et al. (June 2006). "World Map of Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification". Meteorologische Zeitschrift. 15 (3): 261. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130.
  15. ^ "America's 20 Snowiest Cities, from Denver to Duluth, Buffalo to Billings". The Daily Beast. December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  16. ^ "November 2010". U.S. Daily Snow Data. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  17. ^ "50-car pileup on snowy Erie highway". USA Today. Associated Press. January 26, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  18. ^ "Accident Report". National Transportation Safety Board. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  19. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  20. ^ "Erie Population Profile". City-data.com. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  21. ^ "Erie Social and Demographic Information". helloerie.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  22. ^ "International Institute of Erie–Home". International Institute of Erie. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  23. ^ Church of the Nativity: Our Parish, retrieved 6-23-2008
  24. ^ "Church of the Nativity". Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  25. ^ "Russian Orthodox Bishops". Russian Orthodox Outside Russia. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  26. ^ "Daniel Alexandrow on Orthodox Wiki". Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  27. ^ "Tah Erie". Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  28. ^ The ARDA Database has no precise figures on the membership of African American churches, so it provides an estimate of 25,000 members. The two Russian orthodox churches list no membership numbers. The Salvation Army lists over 4,000 members. Jews were under 1,000 and Quakers showed no membership.[1] Retrieved on June 1, 2007.
  29. ^ Martin, Jim (February 1, 2011). "Erie County's unemployment rate dips below 9 percent". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  30. ^ McNeel, Rick. "Lord History". Lord Corporation. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  31. ^ a b "Erie County, Top 50 Employers" (PDF). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. September 24, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  32. ^ Carroll, Jim (2006-07-06). "Biodiesel could fuel economy". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  33. ^ Bruce, David (February 2, 2011). "Erie hospital is now now officially UPMC Hamot". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  34. ^ "Erie Sewer Department". The City of Erie. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  35. ^ Leonardi, Ron (December 27, 2010). "Q & A with Patrick Jones, who resurrected time and temperature phone line". Erie Times-News. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  36. ^ "PUC: 582 Named as New Area Code for Portions of 814 Changing in 2012" (Press release). Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  37. ^ "PUC Agrees to Further Review Decision in 814 Area Code Relief Case, Plans Additional Public Hearings, Technical Conferences" (Press release). Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. January 13, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  38. ^ "PUC puts 814 split on hold" (Press release).
  39. ^ "Lake Erie Ballet". Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  40. ^ "Erie Civic Music Association". Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  41. ^ "Warner Renovations Unveiled". WSEE-TV. March 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  42. ^ a b "ERIE 2007-2008 All Seasons Visitors Guide". Erie. 2007. {{cite journal}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  43. ^ "Great Lakes Film Association". Great Lakes File Festival. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  44. ^ "Inventory of Historic Light Stations Pennsylvania Lighthouses–Erie Land Lighthouse". The National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  45. ^ Miller, George; Thompson, Lisa (March 2, 2007). "$8.9 million take". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  46. ^ Guerriero, John (June 22, 2011). "Table games and equipment arrives at Presque Isle Downs". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  47. ^ "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). Nielsen Company. 2010. p. 4. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  48. ^ a b "Presque Isle State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  49. ^ "TREC Features". Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  50. ^ "Largest Shopping Malls in the United States". Eastern Connecticut State University. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  51. ^ National Scenic Byways Program. "Waldameer Park and WaterWorld". Federal Highway Administration.
  52. ^ a b The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 6-5.
  53. ^ a b "Erie County Elected Officials", p. 6.
  54. ^ "Elected Officials | Erie County Democratic Party". Erie County Democratic Party. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  55. ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 3-162.
  56. ^ "Erie City School District Profile". GreatSchools.com. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  57. ^ "Facts You Should Know About LECOM". LECOM. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  58. ^ Flowers, Kevin, DiVecchio to Visit Community College, Erie Times-News, May 10, 2007, pg 6B; Exploratory trips have included visits to Lehigh Carbon Community College near Allentown, Pennsylvania in November 2006, and Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio in May 2007.
  59. ^ We're All Positive About This: County Hopes to Have Community College in September 2009, by Kevin Flowers, Erie Times-News, pp 1B, 2B, January 18, 2008
  60. ^ Barber National Institute http://www.barberinstitute.org
  61. ^ "History of the Library". Erie's Libraries. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  62. ^ "Raymond M. Blasco Library". City of Erie. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  63. ^ Hofius, Sarah; Piet, Elizabeth (June 8, 2005). "Residents track changes along old railroad line". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  64. ^ Myers, Valerie (January 29, 2011). "Bidding to begin on next phase of Erie runway extension". Erie Times-News. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  65. ^ "Erie Bayfront Transportation System". The Port of Erie. Archived from the original on November 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  66. ^ Miller, George (March 24, 2007). "Erie adds Irish Sister City". Erie Times-News. Retrieved May 21, 2007.

Sources

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