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Erie County, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 42°06′N 80°06′W / 42.10°N 80.10°W / 42.10; -80.10
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Erie County
County
Erie County Courthouse
Erie County Courthouse
Flag of Erie County
Flag
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Erie County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°06′N 80°06′W / 42.1°N 80.1°W / 42.1; -80.1
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMarch 12, 1800
Named forLake Erie
SeatErie
Largest cityErie
Area
 • Total
1,558 sq mi (4,040 km2)
 • Land798.9 sq mi (2,069 km2)
 • Water759.1 sq mi (1,966 km2)  48.7%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
280,566
 • Density351.2/sq mi (135.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 5th
Websitewww.eriecountygov.org

Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 280,566.[1] Its county seat is Erie.[2]

Erie County comprises the Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is also part of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

Erie County was established on March 12, 1800 from part of Allegheny County, which absorbed the lands of the disputed Erie Triangle in 1792. Prior to 1792, the region was claimed by both New York and Pennsylvania, so no county demarcations were made until the federal government intervened.[3]

Since Erie County and its newly established neighboring counties of Crawford, Mercer, Venango, and Warren were initially unable to sustain themselves, a five-county administrative organization was established at Crawford County's Meadville to tkhsdfefaqefaefhiewhf8aweyFWEGHIYQemporarily manage government affairs in the region. Erie elected its own county officials in 1803.[4]

The county was originally settled by immigrants of "Yankee" stock, (immigrants from New England and the western part of New York descended from the English Puritans whose ancestors settled New England in the colonial era. Erie County resembled upstate New York more than it did Pennsylvania with its population primarily consisting of settlers form Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine.[5] Roads were laid out, post routes established, public buildings erected and people were invited to move there. The original settlers were entirely of New England origins or were Yankees from upstate New York whose families had moved to that place from New England only one generation earlier, in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. This resulted in Erie County being culturally very contiguous with early New England culture.

Erie County was part of the Underground Railroad giving slaves the ability to gain freedom through Lake Erie into Canada, East through New York State, or to stay in Erie with the help of abolitionists and the free black community. Today, the Journey to Freedom educational program provides an interactive program on the Underground Railroad experience.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,558 square miles (4,035.2 km2) of which 798.9 square miles (2,069 km2) is land and 759.1 square miles (1,966 km2) (48.7%) is water.[7] It is the largest county in Pennsylvania. With the exception of a high ridge several miles from the lake, running nearly parallel with its shore, the terrain is generally rolling and well watered.[8]

There are only two cities in Erie County: the City of Erie and the City of Corry. Erie County is bordered on the northeast by Chautauqua County, New York, on the east by Warren County, on the south by Crawford County, and on the west by Ashtabula County, Ohio. Directly north of the county is Lake Erie. This position on the water makes Erie County the only county in Pennsylvania to share a border with Canada, which is located on the far shore of the lake.

It is the only county in the state that occupies a significant amount of land north of the 42nd parallel.

Metropolitan and Combined Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget[9] has designated Erie County as the Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census[10] the metropolitan area ranked 11th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 164th most populous in the United States with a population of 280,566. Erie County is also a part of the larger Erie-MeadFHJKLFHLFIille, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Erie County as well as Crawford County to the south. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 7th in the State of Pennsylvania and 102nd most populous in the United States with a population of 369,331.


See also: List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas and List of Combined Statistical Areas
Map of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:
  Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18001,468—
18103,758156.0%
18208,553127.6%
183017,04199.2%
184031,34483.9%
185038,74223.6%
186049,43227.6%
187065,97333.5%
188074,68813.2%
189086,07415.2%
190098,47314.4%
1910115,51717.3%
1920153,53632.9%
1930175,27714.2%
1940180,8893.2%
1950219,38821.3%
1960250,68214.3%
1970263,6545.2%
1980279,7806.1%
1990275,572−1.5%
2000280,8451.9%
2010280,566−0.1%
2013 (est.)280,294−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2012 Estimate[1]

According to the 2010 United States Census, there were 280,566 people, 110,413 households, and 70,196 families residing in the county. The population density was 351.2 inhabitants per square mile (135.6/km2). There were 119,138 housing units at an average density of 149.1 per square mile (57.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.2 percent White, 7.2 percent Black or African American, 0.2 percent Native American, 1.1 percent Asian, 0.03 percent Pacific Islander, 1.2 percent from other races, and 2.1 percent from two or more races. A further 3.4 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.4% were of German, 12.5% Polish, 12.3% Italian, 10.1% Irish, 6.5% English and 6.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

Of the total number of household, 27.2 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4 percent were married couples living together, 13.2 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4 percent were non-families. 29.3 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.5 percent under the age of 20. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females there were 96.73 males.

Government and politics

The county seat of government is in Erie, Pennsylvania. The county has a home-rule charter and is run by a county executive. The current County Executive is Kathy Dahlkemper. Dahlkemper assumed the office in January 2014 after ousting incumbent Barry Grossman in the 2013 Democratic primary and defeating Republican Don Tucci in the general election. The remaining elected officials of the executive branch are the Erie County Controller, Erie County Coroner, Erie County District Attorney, Erie County Sheriff, and Erie County Clerk. see latest list


Erie County Executives
Name Party Term start Term end
Russell Robison Republican 1978 1982
Judith M. Lynch Democratic 1982 2002
Richard Schenker Republican 2002 2006
Mark A. DiVecchio Democratic 2006 2010
Barry Grossman Democratic 2010 2014
Kathleen Dahlkemper Democratic 2014 Incumbent

County Legislature

The legislature consists of a county council. The Erie County Council is made up of seven councilpersons elected to represent seven geographical districts. see map A chair and vice chair are chosen among the councilpersons to lead the council.

  • Phil Fatica, Democrat (District 1 - west city)
  • Andre Horton, Democrat (District 2 - city lakefront)
  • Fiore Leone, Democrat (Vice Chair, District 3 - south central city)
  • Jay Breneman, Democrat (District 4 - southeast city, suburbs)
  • Kyle W. Foust, Democrat (Chair, District 5 - northeast suburbs)
  • Edward T. DiMattio Jr, Republican (District 6 - southeast suburbs)
  • Carol J. Loll, Republican (District 7 - west suburbs).

Judiciary

The judiciary is made up of nine judges serving the Erie County Court of Common Pleas and fifteen magisterial district judges serve the district courts. Court administration is managed by a district court administrator, deputy court administrator, and assistant court administrator. The Erie County Courthouse is located near Perry Square in downtown Erie. Erie County also operates a County Prison, and a combined 911/Emergency Management Agency under the Erie County Department of Public Safety, which is located in Summit Township.

Row officers

  • Clerk of Records, Pat Fetzner, Democrat
  • Controller, Mary E. Schaaf, Republican
  • Coroner, Lyell Cook, Republican
  • District Attorney, Jack Daneri, Republican (Was appointed following the death of Brad Foulk in 2009)
  • Sheriff, John Loomis, Democrat

Politics

As of November 2008, there are 185,081 registered voters in Erie County.[12]

Erie County tends to be Democratic-leaning in statewide elections, with all four statewide winners carrying it in 2008. The margins of victory for the Democratic Presidential candidate in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 elections in Erie County were 9, 8, and 20 percentage points, respectively.

Pennsylvania State Senate

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

Municipalities

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

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Erie County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Cities, townships, and boroughs by population

Erie population of 101,786

Millcreek Township population of 53,515

Harborcreek Township population was 17,234

Fairview Township population of 10,102

North East Township population of 7,702

Edinboro population of 6,950

Corry population of 6,605

Summit Township population of 5,529

Girard Township population of 5,102

Greene Township population of 4,706

McKean Township population of 4,619

North East population of 4,601

Washington Township population of 4,526

Lawrence Park Township population of 3,982,

Conneaut Township population of 3,908

Waterford Township population of 3,878

Wesleyville population of 3,617

Springfield Township population of 3,425

Union City population of 3,163

Girard population of 3,098

Lake City population of 3,031

Venango Township population of 2,277

Greenfield Township population of 1,909

Elk Creek Township population of 1,800

Wayne Township population of 1,766

LeBoeuf Township population of 1,680

Union Township population of 1,663

Franklin Township population of 1,609

Albion population of 1,516

Waterford population of 1,449

Concord Township population of 1,361

Amity Township population of 1,140

Cranesville population of 680

Platea population of 430

Mill Village population of 412

McKean The population of 389

Wattsburg population of 378

Elgin population of 236

Education

Public school districts

Map of Erie County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Approved private schools

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has 36 Approved Private Schools including the Charter Schools for the Blind and Deaf. Students attending these schools come from across the commonwealth. The private schools are licensed by the State Board of Private Academic Schools. They provide a free appropriate special education for students with severe disabilities. The cost of tuition for these schools is paid 60% by the state and 40% by the local school district where the student is a resident. Pennsylvania currently has four PA chartered and 30 non-charter APSs for which the Department approves funding. These schools provide a program of special education for over 4,000 day and residential students. Parents are not charged for the services at the school.[13] In 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Education budgeted $98 million for tuition of children in approved private schools and $36.8 million for students attending the charter schools for the deaf and blind.[14]

Recreation

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Erie County and both are on the shores of Lake Erie.

Other parks, preserves and natural areas

Other parks, preserves and natural areas

Golf courses

Wineries

Breweries

Annual Events

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ See interactive Pennsylvania County Formation Maps
  4. ^ History of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1884. Volume I, Part II, Chapter I, pg 137
  5. ^ The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865 page 151
  6. ^ Meyer, Melinda. “Journey to Freedom.” National Park Service. Erie County Historical Society. November 17, 2010. http://www.nps.gov. (December 6, 2012)
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "Erie. II. A county of Pennsylvania" . Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.
  9. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb
  10. ^ http://www.census.gov/2010census/
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  12. ^ Running for Office. Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
  13. ^ Approved Private Schools and Chartered Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Pennsylvania Department of Education website, accessed April 2010.
  14. ^ Tommasini, John, Assistant Secretary of Education, Testimony before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee Hearing on SB982 of 2010. given April 14, 2010
  15. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Presque Isle State Park: Tranquility Found. Retrieved May 8, 2014.

42°06′N 80°06′W / 42.10°N 80.10°W / 42.10; -80.10

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