Location Map:
Select for interactive map viewer of Ohio's Lake Erie Public Access sites
Established:
March 16, 1838
2010 Population:
77,079
Land Area and Ohio County Rank:
254.5 square miles
87 of 88
Acres of Designated Coastal Management Area (more info)
Total: 256,396 acres
Land: 16,841 acres
Island: 2,814 acres
Water: 236,741 acres
Miles of Coast:
68 miles
Miles of Publicly Accessible Coast:
9.91 miles
Number of
Access Sites:
41
County Seat:
City of Sandusky
Named for:
Native American tribe
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A brief history:
Erie County’s first inhabitants included the Erie, Iroquois, Wyandot and Ottawa Indians.
In 1792, the Connecticut Legislature established the “Fire Lands” (later condensed to one word, “Firelands”) in the westernmost portion of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The Firelands consisted of present-day Erie and Huron counties, as well as Danbury and a part of Catawba Island townships in Ottawa County and Ruggles Township in Ashland County. The Firelands had been reserved for Connecticut residents whose homes had been burned down during British raids in the late 1700s (Revolutionary War). In the early 1800s, settlers began populating the area. In 1809, Huron County was established and comprised the entire Firelands.
With population growth, the Ohio Legislature split Huron County in 1838, creating Erie County out of the northern land. Erie County quickly became a transportation hub through the creation of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad in 1835 and the Milan Canal in 1839. The area was also a center for ship building, fishing, ice cutting and lumber imports.
Sandusky, the county seat, was platted in 1818 in the shape of the Masonic symbol. Blackboard chalk was invented in the city in 1835. Corrugated cardboard was also invented in Sandusky; and the city is believed to have the largest collection of limestone buildings in Ohio.
More than 50 percent of the county’s land is used for farming. Tourism attracts millions of visitors annually to locals attractions including Cedar Point Amusement Park, the area’s unique museums, outdoor recreation sites and ferry transport to the Lake Erie islands. |
Learn more:
Erie County
www.erie-county-ohio.net
City of Huron
www.cityofhuron.org
City of Sandusky
www.ci.sandusky.oh.us
City of Vermilion
www.vermilion.net
Erie County
Chamber of Commerce
www.eriecountyohiocofc.com
Huron Chamber
of Commerce
www.huron.net
Huron Township
www.hurontwp.org
Kelleys Island
Chamber of Commerce
www.kelleysislandchamber.com
Lake Erie Shores & Islands (East)
www.shoresandislands.com
Margaretta Township
www.margarettatwp.org
Sandusky Main Street Association
www.sanduskymainstreet.com
Vermilion Chamber of Commerce
vermilionohio.com
Vermilion Township
www.vermiliontownship.com
Village of Kelleys Island
www.kelleysisland.us |