Erie County, Pennsylvania

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Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County Courthouse

Flag
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Erie County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded March 12, 1800
Named for Lake Erie
Seat Erie
Largest city Erie
Area
 • Total 1,558 sq mi (4,035 km2)
 • Land 798.9 sq mi (2,069 km2)
 • Water 759.1 sq mi (1,966 km2), 48.7%
Population
 • (2010) 280,566
 • Density 351.2/sq mi (136/km²)
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.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 makes up the entire Erie, PA Metropolitan 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 temporarily manage government affairs in the region. Erie elected its own county officials in 1803.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
Est. 2012280,6460.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
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

The County Executive appoints a chief public defender to the Erie County Public Defender's Office [9] and members of a Criminal Justice Advisory Board.[10]

Erie County Department of Public Safety and the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) relocated to a new public safety building located near the Erie County Vocational Technical School in Summit Township in January 2008. 9-1-1 dispatcher and HAZMAT operations will be based at the new facility. Seven new communications towers and backup power generation will be features of the new reinforced concrete building, which will be able to withstand a Category F3 tornado. Erie County Department of Corrections operates the Erie County Prison, which is located on Ash Street between East 18th Street and the railroad tracks in Erie.

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.

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.[11]

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.

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.[12] 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.[13]

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "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. ↑ Meyer, Melinda. “Journey to Freedom.” National Park Service. Erie County Historical Society. November 17, 2010. http://www.nps.gov. (December 6, 2012)
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  7. ↑  "Erie. II. A county of Pennsylvania". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 
  9. ↑ Erie County Public Defenders Office, Access to Justice, 2006
  10. ↑ JNET
  11. ↑ Running for Office. Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
  12. ↑ Approved Private Schools and Chartered Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Pennsylvania Department of Education website, accessed April 2010.
  13. ↑ Tommasini, John, Assistant Secretary of Education, Testimony before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee Hearing on SB982 of 2010. given April 14, 2010

External links

Municipalities and communities of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
community
Harrisburg (capital)
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Largest cities
Largest
municipalities
Regions
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Coordinates: 42°06′N 80°06′W / 42.10°N 80.10°W / 42.10; -80.10

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