56-615: The Erie Golden Blades were a minor league hockey team in Erie, Pennsylvania , which played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League . The team's inaugural season was the Erie County Field House, which closed in 1983. The team relocated to Louis J. Tullio Arena in 1983, and played its home games for the remainder of the team's existence. The Golden Blades were owned by Steve Stroul from 1983–87 During
112-517: A National Natural Landmark . 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 m ) of exhibit space. Presque-isle Presque-isle (from the French presqu'île , meaning almost island ) is a geographical term denoting a piece of land which is closer to being an island than most peninsulas because of its being joined to
168-557: A conference was arranged during which representatives from the Iroquois signed a deed relinquishing their ownership of the land in exchange for $ 2,000 from Pennsylvania and $ 1,200 from the federal government . Seneca Nation separately settled land claims against Pennsylvania in February 1791 for the sum of $ 800. It became a part of Pennsylvania on March 3, 1792, after Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York relinquished their rights to
224-526: A decline in downtown retail businesses, some of which followed to the suburbs. Reflecting this perceived decline, Erie is occasionally referred to by residents as "The Mistake on the Lake" or "Dreary Erie". Downtown Erie has undergone a resurgence in the early 2020s with the opening of Flagship City Food Hall and Flagship City Public Market. Erie won the All-America City Award in 1972 and
280-537: A grid surrounding Perry Square in the downtown area. The downtown area is separated from the waterfront by the Bayfront Parkway. The tallest structure in Erie is St. Peter Cathedral at 265 ft (81 m), and the tallest building is Renaissance Centre at 198 ft (60 m). Historically, Erie had numerous ethnic neighborhoods, including Little Italy, which is located on Erie's west side, featuring
336-417: A junior philharmonic division that tours the area. The Lake Erie Ballet is a professional company that performs well-known programs throughout the year. The Erie Civic Music Association attracts, sponsors, and books performances by professional musicians, singers, entertainers, and ensembles from around the world. Downtown Erie's historic and ornate Warner Theatre hosts a range of performances. Renovated in
392-538: A long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center in February 2023, prompting them to move all operations of Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. to Erie. Erie has been the location for many movies; for example, it is the hometown of the fictional band The Wonders in That Thing You Do! featuring Tom Hanks . Erie is the hometown of Train lead singer Patrick Monahan and of Marc Brown ,
448-535: A modern recreation of the 1813 USS Niagara that served as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 's relief flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie . Erie is home to several professional and amateur performing arts groups. The most significant is the Erie Philharmonic , in existence since 1913 (except an interregnum during World War II ). This group of professional musicians also has a full chorus and
504-479: A record for the largest two-day snowfall anywhere in Pennsylvania. By the close of the 2017–2018 snow season, Erie had recorded 198.5 in (5.04 m) of snow, its snowiest season on record, breaking the previous record of 149.1 in (3.79 m) inches set in 2000–2001 by a large margin. The hardiness zone is now 7a along the lakeshore and 6b in the remainder of the city. [1] As of
560-579: Is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania , United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 at the 2020 census . The two-county Erie metropolitan area had a population of 270,876 in 2020. Erie is about 80 miles (130 km) from Buffalo , 90 miles (140 km) from Cleveland , and 120 miles (190 km) from Pittsburgh . The city
616-494: Is a fast-growing educator and provider of healthcare in the city. LECOM is located in the city and in adjacent Millcreek Township. The Erie Art Museum is the city's main art gallery , located in the Old Customshouse on State Street. Its collection has an emphasis on folk art and modern art and it hosts a popular blues and jazz concert series. The museum also works on public art projects to revitalize and improve
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#1732793891194672-647: Is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism , and Rabbi Leonard Lifshen has been its spiritual leader since 1989. Erie is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie , covering 13 counties; at 9,936 sq mi (25,734 km ), it is the largest in the state in area. Its diocesan seat is Saint Peter Cathedral in Erie, which has a 265 ft (81 m) central tower flanked by two 150 ft (46 m) towers. Since October 1, 2012, Lawrence T. Persico has been
728-756: Is an emerging center for biofuels and environmental research, producing over 45 million US gal (170 million L) of biofuel a year. Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the local economy with over 4 million people visiting Presque Isle State Park and other attractions. Shoppers from Ohio, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario are drawn to the Millcreek Mall and Peach Street stores and attractions by Pennsylvania's tax exemption on clothing. UPMC Hamot and Saint Vincent Health System are also major employers in Erie. Once stand-alone Erie entities, Hamot merged with
784-590: Is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. It is located in the snow belt that stretches from Cleveland to Syracuse and Watertown ; winters are moderately cold, with heavy lake-effect snow , but also with occasional stretches of mild weather that cause accumulated snow to melt. The city experiences a full range of weather events, including snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms, and fog. The city's lakeside location helps to temper summer heat, with an average of 4 days with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C) annually, and
840-503: The 2010 United States Census , 101,786 people, 40,913 households, and 22,915 families were residing in the city. Its 44,790 housing units averaged a vacancy rate of 8%. Erie has long been declining in population due to the departure of factories and dependent businesses. The city has lost about 40,000 people since the early 1960s, allowing Allentown to claim the position as Pennsylvania's third-largest city behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh . Erie's population
896-789: The Bicentennial Tower at its northern end. On the east side of the bayfront, the Erie Maritime Museum and the Erie County main library (third-largest in Pennsylvania), host the USS Niagara . Docks and marinas fill the freshwater shoreline in between. Under the Köppen climate classification , Erie falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm
952-692: 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 firms such as Griswold Manufacturing , once the leader in cast-iron cookware. Since
1008-546: The Ontario Hockey League . Hockey games are played at Erie Insurance Arena , while Minor League Baseball games are held at UPMC Park . Gannon University , Mercyhurst University , Edinboro University , and Penn State Behrend have active NCAA collegiate sports programs. The local high schools compete in PIAA District ;10 sporting events. Additionally, Cathedral Preparatory School hosts
1064-662: The St. Lawrence River , and out to the Atlantic Ocean. South of Erie is a drainage divide, beyond which most of the streams in western Pennsylvania flow south into the Allegheny or Ohio Rivers . Lake Erie is about 571 ft (174 m) above sea level, while the city of Erie is about 728 ft (222 m) above sea level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 19.3 square miles (49.9 km ), with 19.1 square miles (49.4 km ) being land and
1120-682: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2011 and Saint Vincent affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic in 2012 and merged with Highmark 's Allegheny Health Network the following year. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs operates the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center on East 38th Street. The Shriners International has operated Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie since 1927. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
1176-526: The War of 1812 to gain control of the Great Lakes from the British . Daniel Dobbins of Erie and Noah Brown of Boston were notable shipbuilders who led the 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 . Erie was an important shipbuilding, fishing, and railroad hub during
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#17327938911941232-563: The 1980s and again in 2007, 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, and the third-oldest community theater in the U.S. Erie is also home to several other community theatres, including Dramashop, PACA, and All an Act Theatre. In addition to regular performances, Erie has many festivals including motorcycle rallies. Since 2007,
1288-434: The 1981–2010 normal seasonal snowfall is 100.8 inches (256 cm). Average annual snowfall in the decade 2010-2019 was 100.7 inches (256 cm). The adverse winter conditions caused USAir Flight 499 to overrun the runway at Erie International Airport on February 21, 1986, and caused whiteouts that were responsible for a 50-car pile-up on Interstate 90 on January 25, 2007. The coldest maximum temperature on record
1344-618: The 20th century as industrial restructuring took place and jobs moved out of the area. The Erie region is considered to be part of the Rust Belt . The importance of American manufacturing, US steel and coal production, and commercial fishing began to gradually decline, resulting in a major population downturn in the 1970s. With the advent of the automobile age after World War II and government subsidies for highway construction, thousands of residents left Erie for suburbs such as Millcreek Township , which now has 55,000 residents. This caused
1400-769: The 82-83 season, the head trainer for the Blades was Marty Ward. Ward is a member of the Iroquois Nation (Onondaga) and went on to become the head trainer for the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team from 2006-2014. Prior to training for the Blades, Ward trained for the Philadelphia Firebirds during the mid to late 70's and with the Syracuse Firebirds during their one season before they folded. The Golden Blades played five seasons in
1456-651: The ACHL, reaching the playoffs each season. They would reach the final round of the playoffs in each of their first four seasons, winning the Bob Payne Trophy as league champion in 1983–84. The Golden Blades would lose in the opening around of the 1986–87 ACHL playoffs. With several teams moving to the upstart All-American Hockey League , the Golden Blades (along with the league) folded. Erie, Pennsylvania Erie ( / ˈ ɪər i / ; EER -ee )
1512-540: The Edinboro Branch Library, Iroquois Avenue Branch Library, Lincoln Community Center Branch Library, and Millcreek Branch Library. Along West 6th Street is Millionaires Row, a collection of 19th-century Victorian mansions. The John Hill House is one of the notable residences. First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant , a well-known landmark, is also located here. The Watson-Curtze Mansion, one of
1568-552: The Erie Art Museum began a project to create 40 artistic and functional bike racks, designed and created by local artists. The museum intends to add color and interest to downtown Erie and to promote bicycling, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide environmental awareness. The Erie Maritime Museum commemorates and explains Erie's significance during the War of 1812 ; it is home to the USS Brig Niagara ,
1624-571: The French and Indian War. Erie is in what was the disputed Erie Triangle , a tract of land comprising 202,187 acres in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania fronting Lake Erie that was claimed after the American Revolutionary War by the newly formed states of New York , Pennsylvania , Connecticut , as part of its Western Reserve , and Massachusetts . The Iroquois claimed ownership of present-day Erie. On January 9, 1789,
1680-714: The West 18th Street commercial corridor. South of 38th Street, the grid gives way to curvilinear roads of post-1970 suburban development. Millcreek Township and upper Peach Street in Summit Township include the Erie metropolitan area's newer developments. Post-industrial redevelopment of Erie's waterfront aimed at recreational and tourism uses include the Bayfront Parkway , Niagara Pier, Perry's Landing Marina, Liberty Park & Amphitheater, Bayfront Convention Center , hotels, and Dobbins Landing , which features
1736-659: The annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally has taken place in Erie, although in 2019, it moved to the Lake Erie Speedway. Presque Isle Downs & Casino opened on February 28, 2007, and was the fourth slots parlor in the state and the first in Western Pennsylvania. Table games opened at the casino on July 8, 2010. Erie is home to The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps , ten-time Drum Corps International World Champion as of 2023. The Cadets entered
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1792-509: The annual high-school basketball tournament featuring top national teams, called the Burger King Classic since 2010. Scholastic and intramural sports are held at school and park facilities around the city. The Mercyhurst Ice Center , JMC Ice Arena, Erie Sports Park, and Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium are many sports arenas and stadiums available in and around the city. Downtown Erie is surrounded by Presque Isle State Park ,
1848-571: The author and illustrator of Arthur books and TV series. There are five Erie County library system branches in Erie and a bookmobile . The Main Library opened in 1996, and is the third-largest library in Pennsylvania. It is connected to the Erie Maritime Museum , and has waterfront views of the Presque Isle Bay . The Main Library contains an art collection and provides internet access to patrons. The four remaining libraries are
1904-568: The bishop of Erie; Donald Trautman was the bishop emeritus of the diocese until his death in 2022. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, Erie County had a total population of 280,843 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. Erie is Pennsylvania's primary access point to Lake Erie ,
1960-657: The canonical Eastern Orthodox Church . Even today, the gold-domed Church of the Nativity, on the bayfront near the former heart of the Russian community, is an Old Ritualist church and home parish to the famed iconographer Fr. Theodore Jurewicz . The Erie Jewish community is more than 150 years old. As of 2021, Temple Anshe Hesed , a member of the Union for Reform Judaism , was served by its spiritual leader, Rabbi Robert Morais. Congregation Brith Sholom (Jewish Center)
2016-527: The city, before emptying into Presque Isle Bay on the city's lower east side. Erie continued to grow for the first half of the 20th century, due to its strong manufacturing base. The city attracted numerous waves of European immigrants for industrial jobs. Erie was considered a wet city during the Prohibition Era in the United States . The city's economy began to suffer in the latter part of
2072-522: The city, includes artifacts from the Archaic period in the Americas and the early and middle Woodland Period , roughly a span from 8,000 BCE to 500 CE. Europeans first arrived as settlers in the region when the French constructed Fort Presque Isle near present-day Erie in 1753, as part of their effort to defend New France against the encroaching British colonists. The name of the fort refers to
2128-476: The city. In 2000, it created a project entitled GoFish, similar to CowParade ; 95 fiberglass fish were decorated by Erie artists and placed throughout the city. Patrons paid $ 3,000 for a fish and the proceeds went to Gannon University 's scholarship fund and the Erie Public Art endowment fund. The Erie Art Museum created a similar public art project in 2004 that involved frogs rather than fish. In 2012,
2184-408: The decline of large manufacturers in the later 20th century, a more diverse mix of midsized industries has emerged. This broader economic base includes smaller and more agile steel and plastic plants (with about 10% of tooling and molding located in the tri-state area) and vigorous service sectors: health, insurance, and tourism. The ZIP code 16501 covering some of the downtown areas is considered one of
2240-517: The early 20th century, Erie had a significant community of Russian immigrants, many of whom worked in shipbuilding along the bayfront. Unusual for a Great Lakes city, a substantial number of these Russian immigrants were priestless ( Bespopovtsy ) Old Believers . In 1983, most of this community united with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , and Father Pimen Simon became an Old Ritualist priest within
2296-418: The highest temperature ever recorded was 100 °F (38 °C) on June 25, 1988. An average of 3 days have lows of 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder annually, and the lowest temperature ever recorded was −18 °F (−28 °C) on January 19, 1994, and February 16, 2015. Erie is third on The Daily Beast ' s list of snowiest places in the United States, averaging 78.7 inches (200 cm); however,
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2352-435: The land and sold the land to Pennsylvania for 75 cents per acre or a total of $ 151,640.25 in continental certificates. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania commissioned the surveying of land near Presque Isle through an act passed on April 18, 1795. Andrew Ellicott , who completed Pierre Charles L'Enfant 's survey of Washington, D.C. , and helped resolve the boundary between Pennsylvania and New York, arrived to begin
2408-536: The mid-19th century. The city was the site where three sets of track gauges met. While the delays engendered cargo troubles 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. In an event known as the Erie Gauge War , the citizens of Erie, led by the mayor, set fire to bridges, ripped up tracks, and rioted to try to stop
2464-496: The most notable residences on this street, is also home to the Erie County Historical Society. Permanent and rotating exhibits showcase the life of some of Erie's influential founders and the development of Erie. The Erie Land Light stands at the foot of Lighthouse Street. The lighthouse was built in 1818 and replaced in 1867. The Bicentennial Tower , on Dobbins Landing at the foot of State Street,
2520-659: The other Great Lakes port cities, Erie is accessible to the oceans via the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River network in Canada . The local climate is humid, four-seasonal, and snowy, with warm summers and harsh winters, owing to its southern lakeshore location. Indigenous peoples occupied the shoreline and bluffs in this area for thousands of years, taking advantage of the rich resources. Sommerheim Park Archaeological District in Millcreek Township west of
2576-462: The peninsula that juts into Lake Erie , now protected as Presque Isle State Park. The French term presque-isle means peninsula. When the French abandoned the fort in 1760 during the French and Indian War in the Seven Years' War , it was the last post they held west of Niagara River . The British established a garrison at the fort at Presque Isle that same year, three years before the end of
2632-681: The poorest neighborhoods in the country. Erie is the corporate headquarters of the Erie Insurance Group and Marquette Savings Bank . Lord Corporation was founded and has major operations in Erie. Along with GE and Erie Insurance, major employers in the county include the county, state , and federal governments, as well as the Erie City School District . Over 10% of the nation's plastics are manufactured or finished in Erie-based plastics plants. Erie
2688-462: The remaining 0.2 square miles (0.5 km ), or 1.03%, being water. Presque Isle State Park (referred to by locals as "the Peninsula" or simply "the beach"), is a recurving sandspit peninsula that stretches north into Lake Erie, providing a fine, natural harbor for Erie and offers 7 miles (11 km) of public beaches, wetlands, and fishing sites. Erie fronts Presque Isle Bay and is laid out in
2744-448: The southern shore of Lake Erie across from the Canadian province of Ontario. It is 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Cleveland , Ohio , 90 miles (140 km) southwest of Buffalo, New York , and 128 miles (206 km) north of Pittsburgh . Erie's bedrock is Devonian shale and siltstone , overlain by glacial tills and stratified drift . Stream drainage in the city flows northward into Lake Erie, then through Lake Ontario into
2800-571: The standardization. On August 3, 1915, the Mill Creek flooded downtown Erie. A culvert, or a tunnel, was blocked by debris and collapsed. A four-block reservoir, caused by torrential downpours, had formed behind it. The resulting deluge destroyed 225 houses and killed 36 people. After the flood, Mayor Miles Brown Kitts had the Mill Creek directed into another, larger culvert, constructed underneath more than 2 miles (3.2 km) of
2856-463: The survey and lay out the plan for the city in June 1795. The initial settlement of the area began that year. Lt. Colonel Seth Reed and his family moved to the Erie area from Geneva, New York ; they were Yankees from Uxbridge, Massachusetts . They became the first European-American settlers of Erie in present-day Presque Isle. President James Madison began the construction of a naval fleet during
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#17327938911942912-548: Was a finalist in 1961, 1994, 1995, and 2009. In 2012, Erie hosted the Perry 200, a commemoration celebrating 200 years of peace between Britain, America, and Canada following the War of 1812 and Battle of Lake Erie . Erie is situated in Northwestern Pennsylvania at 42°6′52″N 80°4′34″W / 42.11444°N 80.07611°W / 42.11444; -80.07611 (42.114507, -80.076213), on
2968-562: Was built in 1995−96 to celebrate the city's bicentennial. It is 187 ft (57 m) tall and gives a panoramic view of Lake Erie and downtown. The Blasco Library and Erie Maritime Museum are its neighbors to the east. Erie plays host to several semi-professional and professional sports teams. The Erie SeaWolves play AA baseball in the Eastern League as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers . The Erie Otters play hockey in
3024-666: Was named for the Native American Erie people who lived in the area until the mid-17th century. Its nicknames include "Gem City", a reference to its fine natural harbor, the "Gem of the Great Lakes"; and more recently, "Flagship City", from a local marketing effort to play up the homeport of Oliver Hazard Perry 's flagship Niagara . Manufacturing continues to play a large part in Erie's economy, with rising contributions from insurance, healthcare, higher education, technology, service industries, and tourism. Like
3080-703: 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 the people who reside in Erie are of European descent. Since the 1980s, the International Institute of Erie (IIE), founded in 1919, has helped with the resettlement of refugees from Bosnia , Eritrea , Ghana , Iraq , Kosovo , Liberia , Nepal , Bhutan , Myanmar , Somalia , Sudan , Romania , Russia, Syria , and Vietnam . The inclusion of refugees in Erie's community augments religious diversity and prompts community events such as cultural festivals. In
3136-432: Was −4 °F (−20 °C) in 1994 and the average coldest maximum between 1991 and 2020 was 13 °F (−11 °C). The warmest overnight low on record was 82 °F (28 °C) once in 1918 and another time during the 1936 North American heat wave . On average, the warmest low of the year is quite muggy 75 °F (24 °C). On December 24 and 25, 2017, Erie received 53 inches (135 cm) of snowfall, breaking
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