ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


'Erie County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population was 280,843. Its county seat is Erie6.

Contents
Geography
History
Demographics
Government
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Municipalities
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Education
Public School Districts
Recreation
References
External links

Geography


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,036 km² (1,558 mi²). 2,077 km² (802 mi²) of it is land and 1,959 km² (756 mi²) of it (48.54%) is water. 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, with the nearest landmass beyond it being the province of Ontario, Canada.

History


Erie County was established on 12 March 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. See interactive Pennsylvania County Formation Maps
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. [1]

Demographics


As of the census² of 2000, there were 280,843 people, 106,507 households, and 71,040 families residing in the county. The population density was 135/km² (350/mi²). There were 114,322 housing units at an average density of 55/km² (143/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.90% White, 6.13% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 106,507 households out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

Government


The county seat of government is in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Executive

The county is run by a county executive. The Erie County Executive as of June 2007 is Mark A. DiVecchio. 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 [2] and members of a Criminal Justice Advisory Board [3].
Erie County Department of Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) expect to relocate to a new public safety building located near the Erie County Vocational Technical School in Summit Township by mid-September 2007. 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. See also Fujita scale and Tornado intensity and damage
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.
Legislature

The legislature consists of a county council. The Erie County Council is made up of seven councilmen elected to represent seven geographical districts. see map A chairman and vice chairman are chosen among the councilmen to lead the council. The council as of June 2007 consists of Fione Leone (Chairman, District 3 - south central city), Joseph F. Giles (Vice Chairman, District 2 - city lakefront), Charley T. Augustine (District 1 - west city), Ronald Cleaver (also known as Whitey Cleaver) (District 4 - southeast city), Kyle W. Foust (District 5 - northeast suburbs), David E. Mitchell (District 6 - southeast suburbs), and Carol J. Loll (District 7 - west suburbs).
Judiciary

The judiciary is made up of nine judges serving the Erie County Court of Common Pleas and forty-six 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 on Perry Square in downtown Erie.
Pennsylvania State Senate


Mary Jo White Republican, Pennsylvania's 21th Senatorial District

Jane M. Earll Republican, Pennsylvania's 49th Senatorial District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives


Patrick J. Harkins Democrat, Pennsylvania's 1st Representative District

Florindo J. Fabrizio Democrat, Pennsylvania's 2nd Representative District

John Hornaman Democrat, Pennsylvania's 3rd Representative District

Curtis G. Sonney Republican, Pennsylvania's 4th Representative District

John R. Evans Republican, Pennsylvania's 5th Representative District
United States House of Representatives


Phil English Republican, Pennsylvania%27s 3rd congressional district

Municipalities


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

Erie County Courthouse, Erie

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


Corry

Erie
Boroughs


Albion
Cranesville
Edinboro
Elgin
Girard

Lake City
McKean
Mill Village
North East
Platea

Union City
Waterford
Wattsburg
Wesleyville

Townships


Lawrence Park (the only "first class township" in the county)

Amity Township
Concord Township
Conneaut Township
Elk Creek Township
Fairview Township
Franklin Township
Girard Township
Greene Township

Greenfield Township
Harborcreek Township
Lawrence Park Township
LeBoeuf Township
McKean Township
Millcreek Township
North East Township
Springfield Township

Summit Township
Union Township
Venango Township
Washington Township
Waterford Township
Wayne Township

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.

Avonia

Northwest Harborcreek
Unincorporated communities


State Line

Education


Public School Districts

Map of Erie County, Pennsylvania School Districts


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

Recreation


There are two 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

References


1. History of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1884. Volume I, Part II, Chapter I, pg 137
2. Erie County Public Defenders Office, Access to Justice, 2006 [1]
3. JNET

External links



Erie County

Erie County, PA Genealogy Page

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