Heritage
Erie County, PA has a rich and varied heritage stemming from the area's unique geographical location and natural harbor. Initially inhabited by Native Americans, the regions progressed through the quest for Colonial Empire and eventually became a primary, contributing region in the Northeast during the Industrial Age.
The area's early inhabitance by Native Americans, more specifically the Eries tribe, gave the region the Erie name. The Eries tribe utilized the region for its natural wonders and subsisted on local game and fish found in or around the numerous creeks that flow into Lake Erie and grew the first farm crop in the region in the form of corn.
During the 1700's, the region's waterways and portages played a central role in the conflicts among the French, British and Americans for access, claim and control of the Eastern portion of North America. The struggle for ultimate control of the region spurred the building of numerous forts along the route to protect the land interests won through battle.
Early settlement began in the latter part of the 1700's and brought with it many land claim disputes. In 1788 the Federal government purchased the 'Triangle' from Chief Cornplanter of the Six Nations and sent Andrew Ellicot to survey the region. The state purchased the region from the Federal government in 1792, giving Pennsylvania access to the Great Lakes. The Pennsylvania Population Company was formed in 1792 with the purpose of setting up articles to enable settlers to obtain valid deeds for their land.
Early industries including ship building and shipping, boiler building, saw mills, grist mills, timber procurement and lumber production, agriculture and commercial fishing took advantage of the water resources, natural ports, forests and moderate climate. The construction of roadways, the Erie Extension Canal and railroads enabled the further development of ports, manufacturing and forges. The industrial growth allowed for diverse ethnic groups to migrate to the region in search of jobs and consisted of Irish, Italian, Polish, German, Russian and various smaller concentrations of other ethnicities.
To learn more about our history and heritage please visit http://www.erieyesterday.org
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