Erie County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States &gt; Pennsylvania &gt; Erie County

County Courthouse
Erie County Courthouse, Room 122 140 West 6th Street Erie, PA 16501 Phone: (814) 451-6260

History


Named for Lake Erie, in turn which comes from the Erie tribe of Indians who lived south and east of of the lake before 1654.

Parent County
Erie County was created from Allegheny County on March 12, 1800. The county was unable to sustain itself and was united with Crawford County by an act passed April 9, 1801. The county seat was at Meadville. This relationship continued until 1803, when the first county officers were elected in Erie County, and Erie became the county seat.

Boundary Changes
In 1850 a boundary line dispute between Erie and Crawford counties was settled. The line was straightened and a long, narrow strip of land was added to Erie County and some land was added to Crawford County. A number of Crawford County citizens became residents of Erie County and a less number of Erie County residents were shifted to Crawford County.

Record Loss
The Courthouse suffered a fire on March 23, 1823. The building and all books, papers, and records were destroyed.

Neighboring Counties
Crawford | Warren | Chautauqua County, New York | Ashtabula County, Ohio

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Erie

Obituaries
Erie County Library - http://www.erielibrary.org/

Societies and Libraries
Erie County Library - http://www.erielibrary.org/

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog