Erie, Pennsylvania

Located in northern Pennsylvania, Erie is named after the native tribe that lived here before. Being Pennsylvania's 4th largest city, Erie is also the seat of government of Erie County. As much as it is known for its manufacturing industries, this city is equally known for its educational institutions. The city is also a popular place for tourism.

Water recreation is a big activity in this city. Visitors throng the Presque Isle State Park in huge numbers all throughout the year for water recreation.Geographically, Erie is located in the Snow Belt, so winters are extremely cold. Due to this tourism activity is less at this time. Erie is the location of the USS Niagara, which served as a relief ship on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. An important part of Eugene's history, the ship is only few of the last left from that war.

Located between Ohio, and New York, Erie is a good stopover place. Lake Erie is the prominent water body in the city. Out of all the Great Lakes in the country, this one is the fourth largest. On the north of the lake is the province of Ontario in Canada.

Erie is a great place to live in. It has something to appeal to everyone's senses. The city is known for its ambient social atmosphere and its lively residents.

Erie History

Before Europeans arrived, Eriez Indians were the native tribe that occupied the area. The lake and city names are named after them. Erie was first visited in 1615 by some French missionaries. No settlement took place here until 1795.

At the place where Erie was located, in the past, six nations occupied the area. They were part of the Iroquois Confederacy. The French landed here first and constructed Fort Presque Isle. The French wanted this to be symbolic of their efforts to defend New France against the British. This fort was left-alone by the French, as they moved away from the place. The British occupied this place in the same year. All this happened during the time of the French and Indian War in the 1760s.

Erie was incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania in 1792. This was the time when Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York were vying for Erie since it fell in the Erie Triangle - a disputed area then. These three states then withdrew their claims over Erie, and it was sold to Pennsylvania.

In 1795, under an order from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, the area around Presque Isle was surveyed. A resolution was made in terms of demarcations separating the state with New York. After this resolution, European settlers started pouring in.

However, Lake Erie was still with the British. President James Madison in 1812, commissioned the manufacturing of a fleet of naval ships at Erie. Soon two gunboats and brigs were made. Using these boats, the British were overthrown from Lake Erie and the lake was won over by the people of Erie.

After the British left, Erie's economy started to pick up. Local jobs were created in the city thanks to a rail road. Shortly, the federal government came forth with the idea of a country-wide standardized gauge. This meant the demise of local jobs for the people of Erie. For most people this was the only means of sustenance. Irked people went on a rampage. Arson, sabotage, and destruction followed.

Erie is now a place that creates a lot of manufacturing jobs. It also has some well known plastic companies. It is here that General Electric Transportation Company is located, which is a major train manufacturer.

Erie's stature began receding in the 20the century. Lake trade and manufacturing began slowing down and gave way to the automobile era. Erie, a manufacturing hub, was professionally irrelevant for people who were looking for more lucrative jobs in the automobile sector.

About Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie is a city with multiple facets. It is a place of touristic wonders. Visitors also get the benefit of excellent healthcare facilities here. Excellent education facilities make the city a place of youth and exuberance, because a large chunk of students comprise the population of the city each year.

When thinking about the city of Erie, it is difficult to miss the Presque Isle State Park. Probably the single most reason to visit Erie, the park is a natural landmark. A place of ecology and naturalistic dispositions of wonder, the Park is spread out on 32,000 acres. A fragment of the Park's land area introduces into Lake Erie, which makes for miles and miles of beautiful sand beaches. Bird watching is a sacrosanct activity here, and so are nature hikes, and picnicking.

Another place that hits high on the visit list is Discovery Square. Featuring children and art museums, this place has a historic connection to it. For it was here that an underground railway stop existed during the pre-civil war period.

To get a hands-on experience of the tastes of Erie, visiting Port Erie Bayfront District is a good idea. Offering a variety of the best-picked mix of all cuisines, restaurants here offer the best of eclectic cuisines. There are plenty of shops to shop for miscellaneous items. Relaxing in the plentitude of open spaces here is a good way to see the urban life on passive mode.

If Presque Isle State Park is an ecological wonder, another place that offers ecological variety is the Erie Zoo. The variety being talked about here is the 300 animals that one can see in this zoo. Most of these animals can be viewed in their natural surroundings.

Formerly known as Erie Zoological Park and Botanical Garden of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Zoo is located in Glenwood Park. Known not just for the animals, the Zoo also has more than 600 species of plants in its botanical gardens and greenhouses. More than forty thousand visitors visit this place annually. A popular arena is the Children's Zoo. Also called Pixieland, there are plenty of shows designed to entertain children and adults alike.

During the monsoons and winters, a popular hangout for people in Erie is the Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park. Being the State's only indoor water park, visitors get 365 days of warm water with an average temperature of 84 degree Fahrenheit. The warm waters serve as a getaway from wet conditions outside. Being a water park, a lot of fun constructions are present - tubular slides, activity pools, slow-moving rivers, body coasters and more.

About Erie County, Pennsylvania

The city of Erie is located in Erie County. Erie County is a Pennsylvanian county established in 1800. It was initially part of Allegheny County. Erie is the county seat of Erie County. Bounded by four counties, Chautauqua County is at the north, Warren County is at the east, Crawford County is at the south, and Ashtabula County is at the west of Erie County.

Erie County is a mix of cities, townships and boroughs. The main cities in the County are Corry and Erie. Some notable boroughs are Craneville, McKean, and Union City. Some notable townships are Concord Township, Harborcreek Township, and Venango Township.

Erie's judicial system is headed by the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Presided by judges and also served by magisterial judges, the general administration of the court is done by a court administrator. The Democratic Party has a stronghold here, but the Republican Party is not far behind. The County has a mix of loyalties between these two parties. For now, Erie County can be safely classified as Democratic Party-leaning.

As much as Erie, the County is also known for its educational institutions. The County is primarily known for its school districts. There are thirteen well known school districts and many approved private schools. Along with private schools, there are special charter schools providing assistive education for the physically challenged.

Private schools subsidize the cost of education. A major portion is paid by the state and rest by the local school district. This applies only for students who are residents of the County.

Erie County has two state parks. The Erie Bluffs State Park and Presque Isle State Park are the prominent state parks in the County, and there are other tiny ones as well. Erie Bluffs State Park is a recent addition to Erie County. Before being developed into a state park, the area was a vast stretch of under-developed land. Now, it is a highly developed place of ecological variety overlooking Lake Erie.