Erie is located in
Erie County and it is the county seat. It is situated north of
Meadville between the New York and Ohio state lines, along Interstate 9 near
Presque Isle State Park.
Erie is Pennsylvania's only port on the shore of Lake Erie and is part of the Erie, Pennsylvania metro area. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 102,640, a decrease of 6,078 since 1990.
Erie was founded in 1795 after the purchase of the Erie Triangle, lying between New York and Ohio, by Pennsylvania. Prior to that time, Erie was a military outpost, first of the French, followed by the British and finally the Americans. Erie's first industry was lumber milling. It became a center of lake commerce and a major industrial center, which it is today with nearly 30 percent of employment in manufacturing. Erie also is a tourist destination, featuring the Erie Zoo, art and maritime museums, and the historic Brig Niagara, official flagship of Pennsylvania.
