Erie (pronounced IPA: /ˈɪəri/) is a
major industrial city on the shore of Lake Erie in the northwestern corner of the
U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Named for the lake and the
Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's
fourth-largest city with a population of 104,000.[1] Erie's Metropolitan Area consists of
281,000 residents. The city is the seat of government for Erie County.
Erie is in proximity to Cleveland, Ohio;
Buffalo, New York; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Once teeming with heavy
industry, Erie's heavy manufacturing sector now consists mainly of plastics and locomotive building. Known for its
lake effect snow, Erie is in the heart of the rust
belt and has begun to focus on tourism as a driving force in its economy. More than four million people each year visit
Presque Isle State Park,[2] for water recreation, and a new casino named for the
state park is growing in popularity.
Erie is known as the Flagship City because of the presence of Oliver Hazard
Perry's flagship Niagara.[3] Erie has also been called the Gem City because of the sparkling
lake.[3]
History
-
The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and the Seneca
Nation occupied the lands now known as Erie. The French built Fort Presque Isle
near present day Erie in 1753, as part of their effort to garrison New France against the encroaching English. The French word
"Presque-isle" means peninsula (literally "almost an island") and refers to that piece of
land that juts into Lake Erie that is now called Presque Isle State Park. 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 Seven Years' War in
1763.[4]
The
Brig Niagara played an important role in the history of
Erie.
Present day Erie would have been situated in a disputed 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
released their claims to the federal government, which in turn sold the land to Pennsylvania for $151,640.25 (75 ¢/acre) in Continental
certificates. The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy 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.[5]
The General Assembly of Pennsylvania commissioned the surveying of land near Presque Isle through an act passed on
April 18, 1795. Andrew
Ellicott, who famously 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.[5][6]
Colonel Seth Reed and his family moved to the
Erie area from Geneva, New York and became the first European settlers of Erie.
A street in downtown Erie in the early
1920s
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.[7]
Erie was an important railroad hub in the mid–nineteenth century, the city being 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 stop standardization.[8]
On August 3, 1915, the Mill Creek (the creek that
Millcreek Township was named after) flooded downtown Erie when a culvert blocked by debris, gave out.[9] A four block reservoir, caused by torrential
downpours, had formed behind it. The "wall of water"[10] that resulted killed 12 people.[9] The Mill Creek, after the flood, was diverted to a tube that would run under
the city to the lake.[10]
Erie's importance gradually faded through the 1900s as the age of lake trade and commercial fishing drew to a close.[11] Downtown Erie continued to grow for most of the
20th century, before taking a major population downturn in the 1970s.[11] 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.[11]
Geography and cityscape
Erie is situated at 42°6′52″N, 80°4′34″W (42.114507,
-80.076213)1, directly between
Cleveland, OH, Buffalo, NY, and Pittsburgh, PA on the south-central shores of Lake Erie.
A number of creeks and runs form a watershed that moves water
northward through the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie Basin.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of square miles ( km²) with
square miles ( 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 seven miles 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.[12]The downtown buildings, none being more than 20
stories, are separated from the waterfront by the Bayfront Parkway.[12] 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 abandoned factories, mid–rise housing, single family homes, and office buildings. Erie's
waterfront includes the Pepsi Amphitheater and surrounding
parkland, which hosts numerous festivals. The Bayfront Convention Center and
Hotel is on Sassafras Pier next to Dobbins Landing.[12] The Bicentennial Tower dominates the city's skyline.
On the east end of the waterfront, the Erie Maritime Museum and the city's main
library host the Brig Niagara. Docks and marinas fill the freshwater shoreline in between.
Climate
The climate of Erie is typical of the Great Lakes. Winters are cold with lake effect snow; summer is hot and humid. On the
Köppen climate classification, Erie is in the warm summer humid
continental climate zone (Dfa). The city experiences a full range of weather events, including snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms,
tornadoes, and fog.
As of 2007, Erie is 13th on the list of snowiest places in the United States, averaging inches ( cm).[13] For the winter of 2006–2007, Erie has received inches ( cm) of snow.[14] The adverse winter conditions have been know to cause whiteouts, including one that caused a 50 car pile-up on Interstate
90,[15] and USAir
Flight 499 to overrun the runway at Erie International
Airport.[16]
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures[17] |
| °Fahrenheit |
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Record High |
70 |
75 |
82 |
89 |
90 |
100 |
99 |
94 |
94 |
88 |
80 |
75 |
| Normal High |
33.5 |
35.4 |
44.7 |
55.6 |
67.4 |
76.2 |
80.4 |
79 |
72 |
61 |
49.3 |
38.6 |
| Normal Low |
20.3 |
20.9 |
28.2 |
37.9 |
48.7 |
58.5 |
63.7 |
62.7 |
55.9 |
45.5 |
36.4 |
26.8 |
| Record Low |
-18 |
-17 |
-9 |
12 |
26 |
32 |
44 |
37 |
33 |
24 |
7 |
-6 |
| Rain (in) |
2.53 |
2.28 |
3.13 |
3.38 |
3.34 |
4.28 |
3.28 |
4.21 |
4.73 |
3.92 |
3.96 |
3.73 |
| Snow (in) |
25.2 |
15.6 |
12.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
.3 |
10.4 |
24.2 |
Demographics and religion
-
| Erie Compared |
| 2000 Census |
Erie |
PA |
U.S. |
| Total population |
103,717 |
12,281,054 |
281,421,906 |
| Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000 |
-4.6% |
+3.14% |
+13.1% |
| Population density |
4,722.9/sq mi |
247/sq mi |
80/sq mi |
| Median household income (1999) |
$28,387 |
$34,619 |
$41,994 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher |
17.4% |
22.4.4% |
24.4% |
| Foreign born |
5.8% |
5% |
11% |
| White (non-Hispanic) |
80.56% |
85.4% |
75.1% |
| Black |
14.20% |
10.01% |
12.3% |
| Hispanic (any race) |
3.2% |
4.4% |
12.5% |
| Asian |
.7% |
1.8% |
4.2% |
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 103,717 people, 40,938 households, and 24,480
families residing in the city. There were 44,971 housing units at an average vacancy rate of 8%. Erie has long been declining in
population due to the departure of factories and dependent businesses.[18] 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).
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 Erie's people 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 Old Believers. Even today, the
gold-domed Church of the Nativity,[23] on the bayfront
near the former heart of the Russian community, is an Old Believer church.[24]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
Believers.[25]
Catholic influence is felt beyond the parish in Erie; here, at entrance to Mercyhurst College.
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.[26] 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 feet ( m) central tower
flanked by two feet ( m) towers. Constructed in 1873, it is among the tallest churches in the U.S.
According to the Association of Religion Date Archives,[27] 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
-
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 March 2007, Erie's unemployment rate was 4.1%, more than a one-point improvement over the 5.2% rate a year
earlier.[28] The national unemployment rate was 4.4%.
Beaches impact local economy
Erie is the corporate headquarters of GE Transportation, Plastek Industries, Inc., and Erie Insurance Group. Lord Corporation was founded and has major operations in Erie.[29] Over 10% of the nation's plastics are manufactured or
finished in Erie-based plastics plants.[3] Erie is an emerging center for biofuels and environmental research, producing over 45
million gallons of biofuel a year.[30] Tourism plays an
increasingly important role in the local economy with over 4 million people visiting Presque Isle State Park and other attractions. Canadian shoppers frequent the Millcreek Mall and Peach Street stores and attractions mostly
because of Pennsylvania's tax exemption on clothing.
The city government is encouraging development through Commonwealth programs that encourage residents, universities and
businesses to contribute toward the community’s economic health.[31][32]
In 2002, the Erie Downtown Improvement District (DID) contracted a Philadelphia-based company (Kise, Straw, and Kolodner) to set up a "master plan" for
Erie's downtown.[33] The DID plan includes construction
of mid-rise and high-rise structures that will be used primarily for mid-city housing and retail expansion. Plans include
renovating historical downtown buildings including the Boston Store and Mercantile Building. Fourth River Development and Radnor
Property Group were selected as the developers.
Healthcare and utilities
Erie is a regional leader in health care with two of its hospitals being ranked nationally.[34][35] St. Vincent Health System was founded in 1875 as St. Vincent's Hospital, Erie's first medical
institution, by the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. It was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in
1895 as the St. Vincent's Hospital Association. A school of nursing was established in 1901. Formal instruction of interns began
in 1914. In 1981, St. Vincent's became the largest hospital in Pennsylvania, and one of the first hospitals in the country, to
use computers to make medical records available to authorized personnel for patient treatment. St. Vincent Health Center became a
subsidiary of St. Vincent Health System when the corporation was reorganized in 1988.[34]The Erie Shriners Hospital for Children has been operating in Erie since
1927.[36] It won a 2007 achievement award from the
Hospital and Healthsystem Association of
Pennsylvania.[37]
One of Erie's largest employers, Hamot Medical Center, has consistently been
ranked as one of the best hospitals in the country.[35] Pierre Simon Vincent Hamot (died in 1846) was a successful local businessman whose homestead was
donated by his descendants for the founding of the Hamot Hospital Association in 1881. The medical center, along with the Hamot
Heart Institute (pictured at right), are part of the Hamot Health Foundation.[38]
Hamot and St. Vincent organized two joint projects in the 1980s. The Tri-State Regional Trauma Center opened in 1983. The
Regional Cancer Center (TRCC), founded in 1987, is one of the largest free-standing community cancer treatment centers in the
United States.[39]
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. PennElec, a First Energy Company provide electricity to the
region, as well as the Northwestern Pennsylvania Rural Electric Company. Time Warner
Cable became the region's TV cable provider after taking over Adelphia.
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 gallons of wastewater every day.[40]
Arts and culture
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.[41] The Erie Civic Music Association attracts, sponsors, and books
performances by professional musicians, singers, entertainers, and ensembles from around the world.[42] The Erie Art Museum is the city's main
art gallery, located in a former U.S. Customs House on
lower State Street near the bayfront. 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,[43] 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, as well as the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art, home to more avant-garde works.[44] The local Great Lakes Film Association (GFLA), which hosts the annual autumn
Great Lakes Independent Film Festival, was founded in 2002.[45]
The iconic Boston Store in Downtown Erie
Along West 6th Street is Millionaires Row, a collection of 19th century Victorian mansions. The oldest lighthouse on the Great
Lakes stands at the foot of Lighthouse Street.[46] 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 1995/1996 to honor the city's bicentennial. It is 187 feet 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 for business on February 28, 2007, the
fourth slots parlor in the state and the first in Western Pennsylvania.[47] There are 2,000 slot machines as of opening day, and an adjoining racetrack which opened in
September of 2007.[48]
Sports
Jerry Uht Park from the first-base side, overlooking downtown Erie.
Erie has had a long history of competitive sports. District 10 high school sports are played in the area, often with close
results due to the even distribution of athletic talent. Throughout history, Erie has had various semi-pro and professional
sports teams. The city hosts the nationally recognized McDonald's Classic.[49] The area is home to General McLane High School, which won the AAA state football and basketball championships in
the same year, which was a first.[50]
Erie hosts the Erie Freeze, which is a member of the American Indoor Football Association, and the Erie
Illusion, which is a member of the National Women's Football
Association. The Erie Otters play hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, and the Erie SeaWolves play double
A baseball in the Eastern League -- as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Football and Hockey games are played at Louis J.
Tullio Arena, and The SeaWolves play at Jerry Uht Park. The various high school
and collegiate teams play at venues around the city, including Veterans Stadium.
Outside of North East is the Lake Erie
Speedway, a 3/8 mile (0.6 km) NASCAR sanctioned race track.
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. The region grows grapes and produces the third largest amount of wine in the
United States.[1] Area sports arenas include Jerry Uht Park (the
home of the Erie Seawolves) and Louis J. Tullio
Arena (the home of the Erie Otters and Erie
Freeze).
Erie is home to Presque Isle, a national landmark.[2] The Seaway Trail runs through downtown Erie along the
lakefront. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center, at the foot of Presque
Isle, features 7,000 sq ft (650 m²) of exhibit space.[51]
Historical sites also draw people to Erie. Union Station and the
Warner Theatre are historical buildings still in use. The Erie
Playhouse is the third oldest community theater in the U.S., but is the most active.[52]
Aerial view of Presque Isle State Park. View is to the east-northeast.
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 Lighthouse; the Erie Maritime Museum, the home port of the US Brig
Niagara; Millcreek Mall, the 11th largest shopping mall in the United
States,[53] Perry
Square, a large downtown park; Presque Isle Downs, a racetrack and casino in
Summit Township; Splash Lagoon, the largest indoor waterpark on the East Coast and third
largest in the United States;[52] the
Erie Zoo, with its many animals and exhibits; and Waldameer
Park and Water World, a local amusement park.
Law and government
- See also: List of Mayors of Erie,
Pennsylvania, United States and List of Burgesses of Erie,
Pennsylvania
Erie city government consists of a mayor and city
council. The mayor's office includes an elected city treasurer and city controller.
Each of seven districts elects a representative to the city council, and the membership selects a city council president and vice
president from within their ranks. Each member serves a two-year term. 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.
Erie County Courthouse, Erie, Pennsylvania
As of May 2007, Joseph Sinnott is mayor. (The incumbent, Rick Filippi lost the Democratic primary in 2005, and is practicing
law in Erie.) Susan DiVecchio is city treasurer.[54]
Casimir J. Kwitowski is city controller. As of May 2007, the Erie City
Council consists of: Rubye Jenkins-Husband (President), James N. Thompson, Patrick Cappabianca, Jessica Horan-Kunco, Curtis Jones
Jr., David González, and Joseph V. Schember.[55]
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 city has come under criticism for cutting jobs in the public
service sector, most in Police of Fire Departments.[56]
Laws are enforced by the Erie Police Department. In 2005, six murders were committed in Erie, compared to just one in 2004.
Despite the rise in homicides, nonviolent crime in the city dropped by 14 percent in 2005 compared to 2004.[57] Since 2000, Erie has been experiencing a spike in drug-related crimes,
due in part to a decrease in police officers.[56]
As a known link in the drug trade, Erie has always had strong criminal ties to Detroit and New York City.[58] Erie is the site of many major drug busts, although its crime rate is lower
than the national average.[59] Erie's homicide
rate per 100,000 residents increased from 1 in 2004 to 5.8 in 2005.[59] The number of assaults in the city increased to 191 in 2005. Property crime, theft, arson, and
burglaries were down in 2005 from 2004, but rape was slightly higher.[59]
Education
- See also: Colleges and universities
of Erie
Erie Public Schools enroll 12,527 students in primary and secondary
grades.[60] 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 including Cathedral Preparatory School, Villa Maria Academy and Mercyhurst Preparatory School.
Erie also contains several colleges and universities. Created in the 1970s Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is the largest Penn State branch.[61][62] The university is noted for being one of the best value colleges in the country.[61]
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), a large
medical campus with a branch in Bradenton, FL, has one of the largest enrollments of
medical students in the country.[63]
The Erie Maritime Museum, the Brig
Niagara, and the Blasco Library.
Other notable colleges in the Erie area include Mercyhurst College, with the
number one rated Division II lacrosse team in the US;[64]
Allegheny College, Edinboro
University of Pennsylvania, a large college in nearby Edinboro; and Gannon
University, a Catholic university in downtown Erie. Ranking officials of the City of Erie, Erie County, and the Erie
School District began looking into the need for a community college in the Erie area
in 2006.[65]
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.[66] It is the third
largest library in Pennsylvania.[67] 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.
Transportation
-
Erie's Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) generates an
annual Erie Area Transportation Study for the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation (PennDOT). There are 15 MPOs in the state, each consisting of local elected officials, representatives
of major modes of transport, PennDOT officials, and others. Federal and state transportation regulations require urban areas of
50,000 or more in population to have an MPO to oversee short-term (four years) and long-term (20+ years) transportation
planning.[68]
The Bayfront Connector connects I-90 with the waterfront.
Erie is well connected to the Interstate Highway System. Six highway exits
from Interstate 90 connect travelers to Erie from Boston, Massachusetts and points east, and from Cleveland,
Ohio and points west. Those traveling north to Erie on Interstate 79 can merge with
Interstate 90 or continue north for several local Erie exits before the road merges into the Bayfront Parkway in downtown Erie.
Southbound travelers on Interstate 79 can connect with Interstate 80 for points east to
New Jersey or west to Akron, Ohio or Youngstown,
Ohio, or continue south on Interstate 79 to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
Charleston, West Virginia. Interstate
86, also ca
