Population265,832 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
A Great Lake Shoreline With Inland Connections
Erie County, PennsylvaniaErie County gives Pennsylvania its Great Lakes shoreline, with Presque Isle and Erie Bluffs state parks providing contrasting lakeside landscapes. Erie serves as the county seat, while rolling inland terrain extends away from the water. The county’s early history is tied to the acquisition of the Erie Triangle. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 265,832 residents in Erie County, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2025.
Erie County at a Glance
Population265,832 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatErie
Largest Municipality (2025 estimate)Erie city
Established1803
ZIP Code LookupUSPS address lookup
Total Area, Including Water1,558.083 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesI-79; I-86; I-90; US 6; US 6N; US 19
Telephone Area CodesPUC area-code map
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Erie County
Erie County
Erie County’s beginnings are tied to Pennsylvania’s acquisition of the Erie Triangle in 1792 after competing territorial claims were resolved. The county was created in 1800 and organized in 1803, two separate milestones. Erie became its county seat. The Lake Erie shoreline gave the county a geographic role unlike other Pennsylvania counties, while rolling inland terrain supported communities away from the water. Both the lakeside and inland settings belong to its regional identity.
Presque Isle and Erie Bluffs state parks give Erie County two different shoreline landscapes. The city of Erie adds cultural destinations such as its maritime and art museums, while inland communities extend the county beyond the waterfront. Planning around a particular part of the shore or a city destination helps make a visit manageable. The lake is a defining feature, but it is only one part of the county’s community geography.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Erie County gives Pennsylvania its Great Lakes shoreline, with Presque Isle and Erie Bluffs state parks providing contrasting lakeside landscapes.
Community History
Erie County’s beginnings are tied to Pennsylvania’s acquisition of the Erie Triangle in 1792 after competing territorial claims were resolved.
Around the County
The city of Erie adds cultural destinations such as its maritime and art museums, while inland communities extend the county beyond the waterfront.
The lakeshore opens onto a wider inland county.
A Closer Look
Erie County
Places and perspectives from Erie County
Erie County Wire
Erie County & Pennsylvania News
Includes Pennsylvania statewide reporting; stories may cover other counties.Photo CreditsSpotlight PA — Pennsylvania Statewide
Top EPA official’s visits to Pa., other swing states ahead of midterms raise ethics concerns
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting battleground districts and states in the runup to the midterm elections. Are…
Read the Story Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Erie County
Stories from every corner of Erie County.
Top EPA official’s visits to Pa., other swing states ahead of midterms raise ethics concerns
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting battleground districts and states in the runup to the midterm elections. Are…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Erie gunman who killed family controlled their movements, finances: police
A Pennsylvania man who fatally shot eight others, including seven family members, before killing himself had exercised strict…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Rep. Perry’s Trump ties targeted by Dems in closely watched Pa. swing district race
The president’s declining popularity could be a liability for Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a Trump loyalist who…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Reading could pull up to $24M from reserves to balance its next 2 budgets
Reading may use $24 million in reserves to cover budget gaps over two years, raising fears the city…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
The legislature didn’t act on skill games by the Pa. Supreme Court’s deadline. What happens now?
Top lawmakers said they wanted to act before the court-imposed deadline but didn’t, leading some members to mount…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Corry Area Primary Sch – Elementary; grades PK-02. 423 East Wayne St, Corry, PA 16407. 814-665-6341.
Diehl Sch – Elementary; grades PK-05. 2327 Fairmont Pkwy, Erie, PA 16510. 814-874-6585.
Fairview El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-04. 5145 Avonia Rd, Fairview, PA 16415. 814-474-2600.
Robison El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-05. 1651 Robison Road West, Erie, PA 16509. 814-796-3742.
Edinboro El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-04. 5390 Route 6N, Edinboro, PA 16412. 814-273-1033.
Girard HS – High; grades 09-12. 1135 Lake St, Girard, PA 16417. 814-774-5607.
Clark El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-06. 3650 Depot Rd, Erie, PA 16510. 814-897-2100.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Lecom Health Corry Memorial Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 965 Shamrock Lane, Corry, PA 16407. 814-664-4641.
Lecom Medical Center And Behavioral Health Pav – Acute Care Hospitals. 5515 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509. 814-864-4031.
Saint Vincent Hospital – Acute Care Hospitals. 232 West 25Th Street, Erie, PA 16544. 814-452-5111.
Upmc Hamot – Acute Care Hospitals. 201 State Street, Erie, PA 16550. 814-877-6000.
Erie Va Medical Center – Acute Care – Veterans Administration. 135 East 38Th Street, Erie, PA 16504. 814-860-2576.
Public Safety
Emergency Services
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
State Parks
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Trails
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Utilities
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Albion Area Public Library – 111 East Pearl Street, Albion, PA 16401. 814-756-5400.
Corry Public Library – 117 W Washington St., Corry, PA 16407. 814-664-7611.
Erie County Public Library – 160 E Front St, Erie, PA 16507. 814-451-6900.
Rice Avenue Community Public Library – 705 Rice Avenue, Girard, PA 16417. 814-774-4982.
Mccord Memorial Library – 32 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428. 814-725-4057.
Union City Public Library – 2 Stranahan St., Union City, PA 16438. 814-438-3209.
Courts
DMV
Pennsylvania — Find a Location
Pennsylvania — Title and Registration
Pennsylvania — Licenses & Photo IDs
Transportation
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Plan Your Erie County Visit
Find places to go, compare activities and make the most of your time here.
Local Questions
Erie County: Places, Plans & Practical Answers
Start with these 11 answers, then find 5 more planning questions below the discovery lists.
No. Presque Isle is a public state park, while Splash Lagoon is a separate, paid indoor water park. Use Presque Isle for beaches and outdoor trails when conditions suit; choose Splash Lagoon for an indoor water-play outing.
Splash Lagoon: Plan an indoor water-park outing near Interstate 90; admission is required. Presque Isle State Park: Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal.
Presque Isle State Park: Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal.
Presque Isle State Park: Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal. Tom Ridge Environmental Center: Learn about Presque Isle through free environmental exhibits; some special attractions or programs may charge separately. Free access does not include purchases, rentals or separately ticketed activities.
John Russell Brewing Company: Consider a meal in Erie's Upper Peach Street area. Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro: Consider a Southern-inspired meal on West Tenth Street in Erie.
Werner Books: Browse books during an Upper Peach Street shopping visit. Buona Cucina Oils & More: Look for specialty cooking oils and edible gifts at Greengarden Plaza.
Millcreek Mall: Compare clothing and footwear stores using the mall's current directory.
Erie County gives Pennsylvania its Great Lakes shoreline, with Presque Isle and Erie Bluffs state parks providing contrasting lakeside landscapes. Use the local museums and historic sites above to explore that story in more detail.
Albion Area Public Library – 111 East Pearl Street, Albion, PA 16401. 814-756-5400. Corry Public Library – 117 W Washington St., Corry, PA 16407. 814-664-7611. These contacts come from the supplied local-library directory; call for current opening hours, children’s programs and visitor services.
Corry Area Primary Sch – Elementary; grades PK-02. 423 East Wayne St, Corry, PA 16407. 814-665-6341. Diehl Sch – Elementary; grades PK-05. 2327 Fairmont Pkwy, Erie, PA 16510. 814-874-6585. These are selected contacts from the supplied school directory. Contact the school or district to confirm attendance boundaries and enrollment; a nearby school is not necessarily the assigned school.
Erie is the county seat recorded in the supplied Erie County information. Use the Government tab in local resources to locate the department you need; offices may have different addresses and appointment arrangements.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time for a Local DiscoveryExplore places to eat, shop and spend time in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Follow each link for current visiting details.
Kids’ Fun
- Splash Lagoon — Plan an indoor water-park outing near Interstate 90; admission is required.
- Presque Isle State Park — Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal.
- Tom Ridge Environmental Center — Learn about Presque Isle through free environmental exhibits; some special attractions or programs may charge separately.
Restaurants
- John Russell Brewing Company — Consider a meal in Erie's Upper Peach Street area.
- Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro — Consider a Southern-inspired meal on West Tenth Street in Erie.
Shopping & Retail
- Werner Books — Browse books during an Upper Peach Street shopping visit.
- Buona Cucina Oils & More — Look for specialty cooking oils and edible gifts at Greengarden Plaza.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Millcreek Mall — Compare clothing and footwear stores using the mall's current directory.
Outdoor Fun
- Presque Isle State Park — Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal.
Free Things to Do
- Presque Isle State Park — Explore Lake Erie beaches and trails; swimming areas and lifeguard availability are seasonal.
- Tom Ridge Environmental Center — Learn about Presque Isle through free environmental exhibits; some special attractions or programs may charge separately.
Businesses in This County Guide
More Erie County Questions
How could I build a short Erie County outing from these places?
One possible plan is Splash Lagoon, a meal at John Russell Brewing Company, and a browse at Werner Books. These are separate stops; map their addresses and check opening times before deciding whether all three fit your day.
How can I keep a Erie County day trip inexpensive?
Start with Presque Isle State Park and Tom Ridge Environmental Center and bring a picnic where permitted. Budget separately for museum or amusement tickets, restaurant meals, parking where charged, rentals and purchases. Check the linked destination’s current fees instead of assuming every activity on its grounds is free.
Where should I check the forecast before visiting Presque Isle State Park?
Use the county weather section above for the forecast. For Presque Isle State Park, also open the destination’s notices for trail, road or facility closures. A county forecast does not confirm that an individual trail or activity is operating.
What should I confirm before making a special trip to Millcreek Mall?
Use Millcreek Mall to confirm the physical-store address, current opening days and whether the item or fitting you need is available. Some shops list online stock, multiple locations or appointment services, so contact the store about a specific visit.
Where can I find the businesses featured in this Erie County guide?
The “Businesses in This County Guide” section links to D&L Enos. Open a business page for its contact details. A business featured in this guide may serve the county from another location; confirm its address and service area directly.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.