History Erie, Pennsylvania

cultures of indigenous peoples occupied shoreline , bluffs in area thousands of years, taking advantage of rich resources. sommerheim park archaeological district in millcreek township, pennsylvania west of city, includes artifacts archaic period in americas, , middle woodland period, span 8,000 bce 500 ce.

the historic iroquoian-speaking erie nation occupied area before being defeated 5 nations of iroquois confederacy in 17th century during beaver wars. iroquois tribes had developed , 5 nations formed political league in 1500s, adding sixth nation in 18th century. erie area became controlled seneca, keeper of western door of iroquois, largely based in present-day new york.

europeans first arrived settlers in region when french constructed fort presque isle near present-day erie in 1753, part of effort defend new france against encroaching british colonists. name of fort refers peninsula juts lake erie, protected presque isle state park. french term presque-isle means peninsula (literally, island ). when fort abandoned french in 1760 during french , indian war (seven years war), last post held west of niagara. british established garrison @ fort @ presque isle same year, 3 years before end of french , indian war.

present-day erie situated in disputed erie triangle, triangle of land claimed after american revolutionary war states of new york, pennsylvania, connecticut (as part of western reserve), , massachusetts. officially became part of pennsylvania on march 3, 1792, after connecticut, massachusetts , new york relinquished claims federal government, in turn sold land pennsylvania 75 cents per acre or total of $151,640.25 in continental currency. iroquois released land pennsylvania in january 1789 payments of $2,000 pennsylvania , $1,200 federal government. seneca nation separately settled land claims against pennsylvania in february 1791 sum of $800.

the battle of lake erie played role in history of erie.

the general assembly of pennsylvania commissioned surveying of land near presque isle through act passed on april 18, 1795. andrew ellicott, completed pierre charles l enfant s survey of washington, d.c. , helped resolve boundary between pennsylvania , new york, arrived begin survey , lay out plan city in june 1795. initial settlement of area began year. lt. colonel seth reed , family moved erie area geneva, new york; yankees uxbridge, massachusetts. became first european-american settlers of erie, settling @ became known presque isle .

president james madison began construction of naval fleet during war of 1812 gain control of great lakes british. daniel dobbins of erie , noah brown of boston notable shipbuilders led construction of 4 schooner−rigged gunboats , 2 brigs. commodore oliver hazard perry arrived rhode island , led squadron success in historic battle of lake erie.

state , 9th streets in downtown erie during 1920s

erie important shipbuilding, fishing, , railroad hub during mid-19th century. city site 3 sets of track gauges met. while delays engendered cargo troubles commerce , travel, provided much-needed local jobs in erie. when national standardized gauge proposed, jobs, , importance of rail hub itself, put in jeopardy. in event known erie gauge war, citizens of erie, led mayor, set fire bridges, ripped track , rioted try stop standardization.

on august 3, 1915, mill creek (lake erie) flooded downtown erie. culvert, or tunnel, blocked debris, , collapsed. four-block reservoir, caused torrential downpours, had formed behind it. resulting deluge destroyed 225 houses , killed 36 people. after flood, mayor miles brown kitts had mill creek directed larger culvert, constructed under more 2 miles of city, before emptying presque isle bay on city s lower east side.

downtown erie continued grow of 20th century, based on manufacturing base. attracted numerous waves of european immigrants industrial jobs. erie s economy began suffer in latter part of 20th century industrial restructuring took place , jobs moved out of area; considered part of rust belt. importance of american manufacturing, steel , coal production, , commercial fishing began gradually decline. before resulting in major population downturn in 1970s.

with advent of automobile age after world war ii , government subsidies highway construction, thousands of residents left erie suburbs such millcreek township, 55,000 in population. caused decline in retail businesses, of followed suburbs. reflecting perceived decline, erie referred residents mistake on lake or dreary erie .

erie won all-america city award in 1972, , finalist in 1961, 1994, 1995 , 2009.

panorama of downtown erie in 1912, looking west along 15th street tracks. tallest steeple north of tracks st. peter cathedral