Editing Erie County, Pennsylvania

{{Short description|County in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{For|other counties in the United States named [[Erie County (disambiguation)|Erie County]]|Erie County, New York|Erie County, Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Erie County
 | state                = Pennsylvania
 | founded date         = November 7
 | founded year         = 1803
 | seat wl              = Erie
 | largest city wl      = Erie
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1558
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 799
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 759
 | area percentage      = 49
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 270876
 | density_sq_mi        = 339.1
 | flag                 = Flag of Erie County, Pennsylvania.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Erie County, Pennsylvania.png
 | ex image             = ErieCtyCourthouse EriePA.JPG
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = [[Erie Federal Courthouse]] in [[Erie, Pennsylvania]]
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Erie people]]
 | district             = 16th
|website={{official url}}}}

'''Erie County''' is the northernmost [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]]. As of the 2020 census, the population was 270,876.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=2020 Population and Housing State Data|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref> The county was created in 1800 and later organized in 1803.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/PA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies|publisher=The Newberry Library|website=Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|date=2008|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-date=March 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325044238/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/PA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The county is part of the Northwest Pennsylvania region of the state.{{efn|Includes Erie, Mercer, Crawford and Venango Counties}}

==History==
Erie County was established on March 12, 1800, from part of [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|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 and so no county demarcations were made until the federal government intervened. Other states have also tried to bid for the Erie Triangle but ultimately Pennsylvania purchased it and it was ceded to Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogyinc.com/pennsylvania/maps/|title=State and County Maps of Pennsylvania|access-date=May 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218071801/http://www.genealogyinc.com/pennsylvania/maps/|archive-date=February 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since Erie County and its newly established neighboring Counties of Crawford, [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania|Mercer]], [[Venango County, Pennsylvania|Venango]], and Warren were initially unable to sustain themselves, a five-county administrative organization was established at Crawford County's [[Meadville, Pennsylvania|Meadville]] to temporarily manage government affairs in the region. Erie first elected its own county officials in 1803.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitman |first=Benjamin |display-authors=etal |year=1884 |chapter=Part II, Chapter I |title=History of Erie County, Pennsylvania: Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc. |location=Erie, Pennsylvania |publisher=Warner, Beers and Company |volume=1 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nn_SWMpgrKgC&pg=PA137 137] }}</ref> Unfortunately, on March 23, 1823, the Erie County Courthouse burned and all county records to that point were destroyed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitman |first=Benjamin |display-authors=etal |year=1884 |chapter=Chapter XVII County Buildings |title=History of Erie County, Pennsylvania: Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc. |location=Erie, Pennsylvania |publisher=Warner, Beers and Company |volume=1 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nn_SWMpgrKgC&pg=PA283 283]}}</ref>

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 from [[Connecticut]], [[Rhode Island]] and [[Maine]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rosenberry |first=Lois Kimball Mathews |year=1909 |title=The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620–1865 |location=Boston |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |page=151 }}</ref>  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 [[Yankee]]s 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.<ref>Meyer, Melinda.''Journey to Freedom'' National Park Service. Erie County Historical Society. November 17, 2010. http://www.nps.gov. (December 6, 2012)</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1558|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|799|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|759|sqmi}} (49%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the largest county in Pennsylvania by total area. 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.<ref>{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Erie (county)|display=Erie. II. A county of Pennsylvania|short=x}}</ref> It is the only county in the state that occupies a significant amount of land north of the [[42nd parallel north|42nd parallel]].

There are two cities in Erie County: the city of Erie and the city of Corry. Other notable population centers include Millcreek, Harborcreek, Summit and Fairview townships, and the boroughs of Edinboro, North East, Girard, Waterford and Union City. Erie County is bordered on the northeast by [[Chautauqua County, New York]], on the east by [[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren County]], on the south by [[Crawford County, Pennsylvania|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.

Most of the county has a warm-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfb''), except at lower elevations near enough to the lake, where a hot-summer humid continental climate (''Dfa'') exists. Average monthly temperatures in downtown Erie range from 26.4&nbsp;°F in January to 70.8&nbsp;°F in July, while in Corry they range from 23.8&nbsp;°F in January to 68.2&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}</ref> The [[hardiness zone]] in most of Erie County by area is 6a. It has warmed to 7a along the Lake and the area between the shore and a line a little south of Interstate 90 is 6b. [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/]

Because of its location in the northwesternmost part of the state, Erie County is the only county to border both [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Ohio]], and is also the only county in the state on the [[Canada–United States border|Canadian border]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Haldimand County, Ontario]] (north)
*[[Chautauqua County, New York]] (northeast)
*[[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren County]] (southeast)
*[[Crawford County, Pennsylvania|Crawford County]] (south)
*[[Ashtabula County, Ohio]] (southwest)
*[[Norfolk County, Ontario]] (northwest)

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|79}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|86}}
*{{jct|state=PA|I|90}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|6}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|6N}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|19}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|20}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|5}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA-Alt|5}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|8}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|18}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|77}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|89}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|97|dab1=Erie County}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|98}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|99}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|215}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|226}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|290}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|426}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|430}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|474}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|505}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|531}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|832}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1800= 1468
|1810= 3758
|1820= 8553
|1830= 17041
|1840= 31344
|1850= 38742
|1860= 49432
|1870= 65973
|1880= 74688
|1890= 86074
|1900= 98473
|1910= 115517
|1920= 153536
|1930= 175277
|1940= 180889
|1950= 219388
|1960= 250682
|1970= 263654
|1980= 279780
|1990= 275572
|2000= 280845
|2010= 280566
|2020= 270876
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/eriecountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}

According to the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 280,566 people, 110,413&nbsp;households, and 70,196&nbsp;families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|351.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 119,138&nbsp;housing units at an average density of {{convert|149.1|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 88.2&nbsp;percent [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|White]], 7.2&nbsp;percent [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Black or African American]], 0.2&nbsp;percent [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Native American]], 1.1&nbsp;percent [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Asian]], 0.03&nbsp;percent [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Pacific Islander]], 1.2&nbsp;percent from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 2.1&nbsp;percent from two or more races. A further 3.4&nbsp;percent of the population were [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race. 24.4% were of [[german people|German]], 12.5% [[polish people|Polish]], 12.3% [[italian people|Italian]], 10.1% [[irish people|Irish]], 6.5% [[english people|English]] and 6.4% [[Americans|American]] ancestry.

Of the total number of household, 27.2&nbsp;percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4&nbsp;percent were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2&nbsp;percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4&nbsp;percent were non-families. 29.3&nbsp;percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3&nbsp;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&nbsp;percent under the age of 20. The median age was 38.6&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females there were 96.73&nbsp;males.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Erie County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erie County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Erie%20County,%20Pennsylvania&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|219,180
|81%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|19,821
|7.32%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|343
|0.13%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|6,358
|2.35%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|58
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|13,086
|4.83%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|12,030
|4.44%
|}

==Metropolitan Statistical Area==
{{See also|List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|List of Combined Statistical Areas}}
[[Image:Erie-Meadville, PA CSA 2014.jpg|thumb|Map of the '''Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area''' ('''CSA'''), composed of:
{{legend|#FF0000|[[Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area]]}}
{{legend|#FFFF00|Meadville, PA [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]}}]]
The [[United States Office of Management and Budget]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb|title=Office of Management and Budget|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> has designated Erie County as the '''Erie, PA [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA)'''. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 U.S. Census]]<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/ |title=2010 Census |access-date=May 25, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206105214/http://www.census.gov/2010census/ |archive-date=December 6, 2013 }}</ref> the metropolitan area ranked 11th-most populous in Pennsylvania and the [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|164th-most populous]] in the United States with a population of 280,566. 

Erie County is part of the larger '''[[Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area]] (CSA)''', which combines the populations of Erie County as well as [[Crawford County, Pennsylvania|Crawford County]] to the south. The [[Combined Statistical Area]] ranked seventh in Pennsylvania and [[List of Combined Statistical Areas|102nd-most populous]] in the United States with a population of 369,331.

==Largest populations in Erie County==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!2023 rank
!City
!Type
!2023 estimate
!2020 Census
!Change
!Highest Population (Year)
|-
|1
|align=left|[[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]
|align=left|City
| {{change|invert=on|92957|94852}}
|138,440 (1960)
|-
|2
|align=left|[[Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Millcreek]] 
|align=left|Township
| {{change|invert=on|53101|54070}}
|54,256 (2013)
|-
|3
|align=left|[[Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Harborcreek]]
|align=left|Township
| {{change|invert=on|16580|16630}}
|17,629 (2014)
|-
|4
|align=left|[[Fairview Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Fairview]]
|align=left|Township
| {{change|invert=on|11270|11139}}
|11,270 (2023)
|-
|5
|align=left|[[Summit Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Summit]]
|align=left|Township
| {{change|invert=on|7273|7339}}
|7,339 (2020)
|-
|6
|align=left|[[North East Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|North East]]
|align=left|Township
| {{change|invert=on|6439|6529}}
|7,702 (2000)
|-
|7
|align=left|[[Corry, Pennsylvania|Corry]]
|align=left|City
| {{change|invert=on|6075|6208}}
|7,911 (1950)
|-
|8
|align=left|[[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]]
|align=left|Borough
| {{change|invert=on|5821|4963}}
|7,736 (1990)
|}

==Government and politics==
Prior to [[1960 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|1960]], Erie County was primarily Republican in presidential elections, only backing Democratic Party candidates in four elections from [[1888 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|1888]] to [[1956 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|1956]]. Since 1960, it has become primarily Democratic, with only five Republican wins in the county in presidential elections from 1960 to the present. Nevertheless, since the [[2016 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|2016 presidential election]], the county has become increasingly competitive, with [[Donald Trump]] narrowly winning the county that year, followed by [[Joe Biden]] narrowly flipping the county in [[2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|2020]], and most recently Trump reclaimed it 2024.<ref>{{citation |url= https://ballotpedia.org/Pivot_Counties_in_Pennsylvania |title= Pivot Counties in Pennsylvania |work= [[ballotpedia.org]] |access-date= 2024-09-19 }}</ref> Since 1992, the county has voted for the statewide winner in presidential elections.

{{PresHead|place=Erie County, Pennsylvania|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 5,019 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 1,972 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 800 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 26 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|68,866|67,456|1,657|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|66,869|68,286|2,339|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|60,069|58,112|6,948|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|49,025|68,036|2,053|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|50,351|75,775|2,145|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|57,372|67,921|605|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|49,027|59,399|3,909|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|39,884|57,508|11,399|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|39,283|56,381|22,140|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|48,306|53,913|1,081|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|55,860|52,471|935|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|48,918|45,946|8,298|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|49,641|55,385|2,413|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|61,542|42,022|2,149|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|43,134|51,604|5,109|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|31,393|72,944|549|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|51,525|53,723|295|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|54,430|33,802|323|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|48,836|36,619|391|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|33,806|28,159|1,280|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|35,247|32,912|419|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|36,608|31,735|371|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|25,607|33,042|6,706|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|18,371|19,592|2,479|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|30,542|19,278|277|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|19,480|3,502|8,802|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|19,465|6,311|4,793|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|8,933|9,641|2,056|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|4,958|5,633|7,817|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|10,828|6,173|2,418|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|11,951|5,119|1,948|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|11,816|7,281|1,110|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|11,819|9,210|563|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|8,918|7,589|1,416|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|9,372|7,111|798|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|9,230|6,725|896|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|8,752|6,471|654|Pennsylvania}}
|}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Erie County, Pennsylvania|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Democratic|65,603|67,868|3,371|Pennsylvania}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}
The county seat of government is in [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]. The county has a home-rule charter and is run by a [[county executive]]. The current County Executive is Brenton Davis.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=A. J.|title=Davis vows to usher in 'era of change,' unity as new Erie County executive|url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/01/03/brenton-davis-new-erie-county-pa-executive-sworn-and-calls-unity/9006254002/|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=Erie Times-News|language=en-US}}</ref> Davis assumed the office on January 3, 2022, following the retirement of County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper. 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 of Records. [https://eriecountypa.gov/elected-officials/ see latest list]

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Erie County Executives'''
|-
! Name
! Party
! Term start
! Term end
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| Russell Robison
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1978
| 1982
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| Judith M. Lynch
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1982
| 2002
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| Richard Schenker
| Republican
| 2002
| 2006
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| Mark A. DiVecchio
| Democratic
| 2006
| 2010
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| Barry Grossman
| Democratic
| 2010
| 2014
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[Kathy Dahlkemper|Kathleen Dahlkemper]]
| Democratic
| 2014
| 2022
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| Brenton Davis
|Republican
|2022
|Incumbent
|}

===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.

===Politics===
As of February 5, 2024, there are 173,388 registered voters in Erie County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Documents/currentvotestats.xls |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=dos.pa.gov}}</ref>
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Chart of Voter Registration
| label1 = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| value1 = 46.16
| color1 = {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| label2 = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| value2 = 39.14
| color2 ={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}
| label3 = [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
| value3 = 10.40
| color3 = {{party color|Independent (United States)}}
| label4 = Third Party
| value4 = 4.30
| color4 = {{party color|Green Party (United States)}}
}}

* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]: 80,042 (46.16%)
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]: 67,856 (39.14%)
* [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]: 18,041 (10.40%)
* [[Third party (United States)|Third Party]]: 7,449 (4.30%)

Unlike most of northwestern Pennsylvania, Erie County tends to lean Democratic in statewide and national elections.

The county is considered a [[List of election bellwether counties in the United States|bellwether]] politically.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/opinion/biden-trump-bellwether-counties-.html |work= [[The New York Times]] |title= The 10 Bellwether Counties That Show How Trump Is in Serious Trouble |author= David Wasserman |date= October 6, 2020 }}</ref>

===State Senate===
* [[Dan Laughlin]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]), [[Pennsylvania Senate, District 49|Pennsylvania's 49th Senatorial District]]
* [[Scott Hutchinson]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]), [[Pennsylvania Senate, District 21|Pennsylvania's 21st Senatorial District]]

===State House of Representatives===
* [[Patrick J. Harkins]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]), [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 1|Pennsylvania's 1st Representative District]]
* [[Robert Merski]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]), [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 2|Pennsylvania's 2nd Representative District]]
*[[Ryan Bizzarro|Ryan A. Bizzarro]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]), [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 3|Pennsylvania's 3rd Representative District]]
* [[Jake Banta]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]), [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 4|Pennsylvania's 4th Representative District]]
* [[Brad Roae]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]), [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 6|Pennsylvania's 6th Representative District]]

===United States Senate===
* [[John Fetterman]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
* [[Dave McCormick]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])

===United States House of Representatives===
* [[Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania)|Mike Kelly]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]), [[Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district]]

==Education==

===Public school districts===
[[Image:Map of Erie County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|300px|thumb|right|Map of Erie County, Pennsylvania School Districts]]

{{div col}}
* [[Corry Area School District]]
* [[Erie City School District]]
* [[Fairview School District]]
* [[Fort LeBoeuf School District]]
* [[General McLane School District]]
* [[Girard School District]]
* [[Harbor Creek School District]]
* [[Iroquois School District]]
* [[Millcreek Township School District]]
* [[North East School District]]
* [[Northwestern School District]]
* [[Union City Area School District]]
* [[Wattsburg Area School District]]
{{div col end}}

===Approved private schools===

* [[Barber National Institute]], [[Erie, Pennsylvania]]

===Community College===
After years of advocacy on the issue, Erie County Council approved sponsorship of an Erie County Community College on June 28, 2017. Council Chairman Jay Breneman and colleagues Andre Horton, Kathy Fatica and Fiore Leone voted in favor of sponsoring the community college, which was later signed by County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper. The County Executive's administration took the lead in presenting the proposal to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education for approval, supported by a cross-section of business, civic, labor, and community leaders.<ref>[https://www.goerie.com/news/20170628/erie-county-council-approves-community-college-sponsorship Erie County Council approves community college sponsorship]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eriecountypa.gov/community-college.aspx |title=Community College Proposal |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114213817/https://www.eriecountypa.gov/community-college.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Recreation==
There are two [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state parks]] in Erie County and both are on the shores of [[Lake Erie]].

* [[Erie Bluffs State Park]] – one of Pennsylvania's newest state parks
* [[Presque Isle State Park]] – one of Pennsylvania's oldest state parks and the most-visited state park in Pennsylvania.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, [http://www.visitpa.com/articles/presque-isle-state-park-tranquility-found Presque Isle State Park: Tranquility Found]. Retrieved May 8, 2014.</ref>

===Recreation===
* [[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, Pennsylvania)|Warner Theatre]]
* [[Erie Art Museum]]
* [[Waldameer Park]]
* [[Main Library (Erie, Pennsylvania)|Erie County Public Library]]

===Annual events===
* [[Roar on the Shore]]

===Libraries===
The foremost public library in Erie is part of the Erie County library system, which consists of five branches and a [[bookmobile]].<ref name="erielibrary.org">{{Cite web|url=https://erielibrary.org/services/facilities/|title = Facilities – Erie County Public Library}}</ref> The [[Main Library (Erie, Pennsylvania)|Raymond M. Blasco, M. D. Memorial Library]], named for its benefactor, opened in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://erielibrary.org/about/history-of-the-library/|title = History of the Library – Erie County Public Library}}</ref> Now called the Main Library or the Erie County Public Library, is the third-largest library in [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.erie.pa.us/AboutErie/Facts/tabid/80/Default.aspx |title=Facts |website=www.ci.erie.pa.us |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808225109/http://www.ci.erie.pa.us/AboutErie/Facts/tabid/80/Default.aspx |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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|Bicentennial Tower on Dobbins Landing]]. The Main Library is praised for its waterfront views of the [[Presque Isle Bay]], where the historic [[USS Niagara (1813)|U.S. Brig Niagara]] is often located. The library was moved to this location approximately 25 years ago, from its previous home in the center of downtown Erie. The library's renovation directly contributed to the revitalization of the waterfront, which was previously underdeveloped.<ref name="theatlantic.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/09/a-waterfront-library/498665/|title=This Seaport is Now a Library, but It's Still a Portal to the World|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=September 5, 2016}}</ref>

The second floor of the Main Library is home to an art collection, containing historic pieces like Summer Afternoon, Isle of Shoals by [[Childe Hassam|Frederick Childe Hassam]]. The display also features several local artists.<ref name="theatlantic.com"/> The library works with the International Institute of Erie (IIE) to offer tours of the library, a collection of foreign-language books, and other practical information about immigration processes.<ref name="theatlantic.com"/> The library also provides a heritage room where one can conduct [[genealogy]] research concerning their ancestors who resided in Erie County or [[Northwestern Pennsylvania|Northwest Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://erielibrary.org/resources/genealogy/|title = Genealogy – Heritage Room at Blasco – Erie County Public Library}}</ref>

The four remaining libraries within the Erie County library system are the Edinboro Branch Library, Iroquois Avenue Branch Library, Lincoln Community Center Branch Library, and Millcreek Branch Library.<ref name="erielibrary.org"/> The other public libraries of Erie County include the Albion Area Public Library, Corry Public Library, McCord Memorial Library, Rice Avenue Public Library, Union City Public Library, and Waterford Public Library.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.erielibrary.org/polaris/default.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.5|title=Public Libraries of Erie County}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Erie County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png|right|thumb|275px|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: [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|cities]], [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania|boroughs]], [[List of townships in Pennsylvania|townships]], and, in at most two cases, [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Towns|towns]]. There are 38 incorporated municipalities in Erie County, including 2 cities, 14 boroughs, and 22 townships. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Erie County:

===Cities===
* [[Corry, Pennsylvania|Corry]]
* [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]] (county seat)

===Boroughs===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Albion, Pennsylvania|Albion]]
* [[Cranesville, Pennsylvania|Cranesville]]
* [[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]]
* [[Elgin, Pennsylvania|Elgin]]
* [[Girard, Pennsylvania|Girard]]
* [[Lake City, Pennsylvania|Lake City]]
* [[McKean, Pennsylvania|McKean]]
* [[Mill Village, Pennsylvania|Mill Village]]
* [[North East, Pennsylvania|North East]]
* [[Platea, Pennsylvania|Platea]]
* [[Union City, Pennsylvania|Union City]]
* [[Waterford, Pennsylvania|Waterford]]
* [[Wattsburg, Pennsylvania|Wattsburg]]
* [[Wesleyville, Pennsylvania|Wesleyville]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Amity Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Amity Township]]
* [[Concord Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Concord Township]]
* [[Conneaut Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Conneaut Township]]
* [[Elk Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Elk Creek Township]]
* [[Fairview Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Fairview Township]]
* [[Franklin Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Franklin Township]]
* [[Girard Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Girard Township]]
* [[Greene Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Greene Township]]
* [[Greenfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Greenfield Township]]
* [[Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania|Harborcreek Township]]
* [[Lawrence Park Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Lawrence Park Township]]
* [[LeBoeuf Township, Pennsylvania|LeBoeuf Township]]
* [[McKean Township, Pennsylvania|McKean Township]]
* [[Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Millcreek Township]]
* [[North East Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|North East Township]]
* [[Springfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Springfield Township]]
* [[Summit Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Summit Township]]
* [[Union Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Union Township]]
* [[Venango Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Venango Township]]
* [[Washington Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Washington Township]]
* [[Waterford Township, Pennsylvania|Waterford Township]]
* [[Wayne Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Wayne Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
[[Census-designated place]]s are geographical areas designated by the [[United States Census Bureau|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.

* [[Avonia, Pennsylvania|Avonia]]
* [[Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Fairview]]
* [[Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania|Lawrence Park]]
* [[Northwest Harborcreek, Pennsylvania|Northwest Harborcreek]]
* [[Penn State Erie (Behrend), Pennsylvania|Penn State Erie (Behrend)]]

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Erie County.<ref name="Archived copy"/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2010 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
| '''† [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]'''
| City
| 101,786
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 2
| '''[[Northwest Harborcreek, Pennsylvania|Northwest Harborcreek]]'''
| CDP
| 8,949
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
| '''[[Corry, Pennsylvania|Corry]]'''
| City
| 6,605
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 4
| '''[[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]]'''
| Borough
| 6,438
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 5
| '''[[North East, Pennsylvania|North East]]'''
| Borough
| 4,294
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 6
| '''[[Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania|Lawrence Park]]'''
| CDP
| 3,982
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 7
| '''[[Wesleyville, Pennsylvania|Wesleyville]]'''
| Borough
| 3,341
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 8
| '''[[Union City, Pennsylvania|Union City]]'''
| Borough
| 3,320
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 9
| '''[[Girard, Pennsylvania|Girard]]'''
| Borough
| 3,104
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 10
| '''[[Lake City, Pennsylvania|Lake City]]'''
| Borough
| 3,031
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 11
| '''[[Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Fairview]]'''
| CDP
| 2,348
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 12
| '''[[Penn State Erie (Behrend), Pennsylvania|Penn State Erie (Behrend)]]'''
| CDP
| 1,629
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 13
| '''[[Waterford, Pennsylvania|Waterford]]'''
| Borough
| 1,517
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 14
| '''[[Albion, Pennsylvania|Albion]]'''
| Borough
| 1,516
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 15
| '''[[Avonia, Pennsylvania|Avonia]]'''
| CDP
| 1,205
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 16
| '''[[Cranesville, Pennsylvania|Cranesville]]'''
| Borough
| 638
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 17
| '''[[Platea, Pennsylvania|Platea]]'''
| Borough
| 430
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 18
| '''[[Mill Village, Pennsylvania|Mill Village]]'''
| Borough
| 412
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 19
| '''[[Wattsburg, Pennsylvania|Wattsburg]]'''
| Borough
| 403
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 20
| '''[[McKean, Pennsylvania|McKean]]'''
| Borough
| 388
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 21
| '''[[Elgin, Pennsylvania|Elgin]]'''
| Borough
| 218
|}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Erie County, Pennsylvania]]

==References==
{{Notelist}}{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://eriecountypa.gov/ Erie County]
* [http://solomonspalding.com/SRP/saga2/1884Eri3.htm "History of Erie County, Pennsylvania" (1884)]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~paerie/ Erie County, PA Genealogy Page]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Erie County, Pennsylvania
|North     = ''[[Lake Erie]]''<br />[[Norfolk County, Ontario|Norfolk County]] / [[Haldimand County]], [[Ontario]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|Northeast = [[Chautauqua County, New York]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren County]]
|South     = [[Crawford County, Pennsylvania|Crawford County]]
|Southwest = [[Ashtabula County, Ohio]]
|West      =
|Northwest =
}}
{{Erie County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Erie, PA}}
{{Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42.10|-80.10|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Erie County, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1803]]