Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city of 93,850 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania, founded in April 18, 1795.
Why visit Erie
Townapedia lists 58 museums and landmarks, 115 parks and trails, 150 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 19 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Erie Land Light, Presque Isle Light, Old Customs House and USS Niagara.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 21°F, and about 104 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Erie
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Erie
Erie 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 as of the 2020 census. The 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.
From the Wikipedia article Erie, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do19
Erie Land Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Lighthouse in Pennsylvania, United States
Presque Isle Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Lighthouse in Pennsylvania, United States
Erie Playhouse
Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi
Theater in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
13 West 10th Street, Erie
Gannon University
School · 1.1 mi
Private Catholic university in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
109 University Square, Erie
Mercyhurst University
School · 1.3 mi
Catholic liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, U.S.
501 East 38th Street, Erie
Erie County Community College
School · 3.3 mi
College in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S
Erie Harbor North Pier Light
Lighthouse · 2.8 mi
Lighthouse in Pennsylvania, United States
Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center
Cinema and theater · 1.2 mi
Theater and movie theater in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Wintergreen Gorge Bridge
Bridge · 4.0 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Erie Playhouse Rehersal Hall & Scenic Shop
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
1158 East 12th Street, Erie
7 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks58
Old Customs House
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Building in Erie, United States of America
409 State Street, Erie
USS Niagara
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
2000 restoration/replica wooden-hulled 1813 snow-brig
Warner Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Movie theater in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
811 State Street, Erie
Watson-Curtze Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
356 West 6th Street, Erie
Boston Store
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Former department store, founded in Erie, Pennsylvania
Cashier's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Chandlery Corner
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Charles Manning Reed Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Also known as the Erie Club, is a historic home/clubhouse located in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie Armory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Armory in Erie, United States of America
Erie Federal Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Building in Pennsylvania, United States
Federal Row
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic houses in Pennsylvania, United States
46 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds115
Erie Zoo
Park · 1.4 mi
Zoo in Erie, Pennsylvania
423 West 38th Street, Erie
Erie Insurance Arena
Sports field and stadium · 0.9 mi
809 French Street, Erie
Mercyhurst Ice Center
Sports field and stadium · 1.3 mi
501 East 38th Street, Erie
103 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes150
Andora's Bubble x Erie Zoo
Cafe · Bubble Tea · 1.3 mi
423 West 38th Street, Erie
Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00; Sa 10:30-15:30; Su 10:30-17:00
Great Wall
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
1326 East Grandview Boulevard, Erie
Su 15:00-22:00; Mo-Th 11:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi
209 East 12th Street, Erie
Mo-We 06:00-21:00; Fr-Su 06:00-21:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
815 East 38th Street, Erie
Mo-We 05:00-22:00; Fr 05:00-22:00; Sa-Su 07:00-22:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi
4231 Peach Street, Erie
Mo-We 06:00-19:00; Fr-Su 06:00-19:00
Ember + Forge
Cafe · 1.2 mi
401 State Street, Erie
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-19:00; Su 08:00-15:00
138 more on the map.
History
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 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 the peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, now protected as Presque Isle State Park. The French term presque-isle means "almost an island". 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 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.
From the History section of Erie, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Erie
Motel and hotel · 1.8 mi
701 West Bayfront Parkway, Erie
Red Roof PLUS+ & Suites Erie - Downtown
Motel and hotel
10 West 18th Street, Erie
Churches and places of worship107
First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
Church · 1.1 mi
250 West 7th Street, Erie
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.2 mi
134 East 4th Street, Erie
Shopping62
Gas and EV charging21
Schools, colleges and libraries71
Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy
School · 0.4 mi
2825 State Street, Erie
Healthcare39
Anesthesia Consultants of Erie
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
444 West 8th Street, Erie
Map of Erie
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 21°F | 3.4 in | 31.8 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.5 in | 19.4 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 28°F | 3.1 in | 14.5 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 38°F | 3.5 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 49°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 59°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 64°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 63°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 46°F | 4.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 37°F | 3.8 in | 9.6 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 28°F | 4.2 in | 26.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Erie Intl Ap Hcn 72526 (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Erie County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2005-09-10: Hurricane Katrina (Hurricane)
- 2004-09-19: Tropical Depression Ivan (Hurricane)
- 2004-09-19: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Erie International Airport (ERI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Wesleyville 3 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Lawrence Park 3 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Northwest Harborcreek 5 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Penn State Erie (Behrend) 5 mi east, about 7 min by car
- McKean 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Fairview 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Conneaut 29 mi southwest, about 46 min by car
- Ashtabula 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Jamestown 43 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Dunkirk 45 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Eriesky2, Pnoble805 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Erie - Customs House, Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Watson-Curtze Mansion, Erie, PA, Hagen History Center, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Erie Land Lighthouse, T. Maggio, Public domain
- Warner Theatre Erie Front 2007, Pnoble805 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brig Niagara full sail, Lance Woodworth, CC BY 2.0
- PresqueIsleLighthouse, Emily Beck, Erie Area Convention & Visitors Bureau; cropped, rotated and color-corrected by Howcheng ., Public domain
- ErieCtyCourthouse EriePA, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Sommerheim Park Archaeological District Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- Tibbals House Federal Row Erie PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- Cashier's House front, Dtbohrer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HamotHouse4, Emilyann1012, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Erie Club, Publichall, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chandlery Corner Erie PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- John Hill House Erie, PA, Emilyann1012, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Erie, PA - Trust Building (Renaissance Centre), Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Main Library, Erie, Pennsylvania, Niagara, CC BY 3.0
- Park Dinor Lawrence Twp PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- ThayerThompsonHouse, Emilyann1012, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Boston Store Erie, PA Sept 2013, Niagara, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Erie, PA National Guard Armory Building, Emilyann1012, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Site of the Jackson Koehler Eagle Brewery Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- Modern Tool Company Erie PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- West 21st Street Historic District Erie PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- VillaMaria1, Emilyann1012, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lovell Manufacturing Company Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- Erie Art Museum, Erie Art Museum, Public domain
- West Park Place Erie PA Apr 13, Pubdog, Public domain
- Dickson Tavern, Sept 2013, Niagara, CC BY-SA 3.0
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