Pennsylvania

Erie

270,876
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Erie

Erie, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 1,468. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 270,876.

Its recorded population peaked at 280,843 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 4 percent.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Erie People Wars – Protohistoric Conflict, Action at Fort Le Boeuf (Washington, 1753), Action at Fort Le Boeuf (1759), and 51 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020270,876
2010280,566
2000280,843
1990275,572
1980279,780
1970263,654
1960250,682
1950219,388
1940180,889
1930175,277
1920153,536
1910115,517
190098,473
189086,074
188074,688
187065,973
186049,432
185038,742
184031,344
183017,041
18208,553
18103,758
18001,468
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Erie

Military engagements that took place in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Erie People Wars – Protohistoric Conflict
1400
Action at Fort Le Boeuf (Washington, 1753)
1753
Action at Fort Le Boeuf (1759)
1759
Battle at Fort Presque Isle (1759)
1759
Pontiac's War – Capture of Fort Presque Isle 1763
1763
Capture of Fort LeBoeuf 1763
1763
Capture of Fort Presque Isle (1763)
1763
Battle of Fort Presque Isle 1763
1763
Pontiac's War – Destruction of Fort Le Boeuf 1763
1763
Fort Le Boeuf Abandonment
1763
Capture of Fort Le Boeuf (1763)
1763
Attack on Fort Le Boeuf 1763
1763
Fort Presque Isle Capture
1763
Fort Presque Isle Capture (Pontiac's War 1763)
1763
Pontiac's War — Capture of Fort Presque Isle
1763
Battle of Lake Erie (Presque Isle) 1763
1763
Construction Raid at Presque Isle (1794)
1794

Historic places in Erie

National Register of Historic Places listings in Erie, Pennsylvania.

West Sixth Street Historic District
Erie
Nicholson House and Inn
Erie
Waterford Bourough Historic District
Waterford
Qhandlery Corner
Erie
U.S.S. NIAGARA
Erie
Union City Historic District
Union City
Corry Armory
Corry
Erie Armory
Erie
Dickson Tavern
Erie
Hamot, Pierre S. V., House
Erie
North East Historic District
North East
Federal Row
Erie
Hill, John, House
Erie
Gudgeonville Covered Bridge
Girard
Modern Tool Company
Erie
Sommerheim Park Archeological District
Mill Creek Township
Presque Isle Light
Erie
Thayer-Thompson House
Erie
Warner Theater
Erie
Park Dinor
Lawrence Park Township
Boston Store
Erie
Villa Maria Academy
Erie
Lovell Manufacturing Company
Erie
Hornby School
Greenfield
Browse all Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Erie County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Erie County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Erie

When does Erie first appear in the US census?
Erie, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 1,468.
What is the population of Erie?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Erie had a recorded population of 270,876.
When did Erie's population peak?
Erie's recorded population peaked at 280,843 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Erie?
17 documented military engagements took place in Erie, including Erie People Wars – Protohistoric Conflict, Action at Fort Le Boeuf (Washington, 1753), Action at Fort Le Boeuf (1759).
How many historic places are in Erie?
51 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Erie, Pennsylvania.
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