HISTORY

Erie County, Ohio traces its history to 1792, when the area known as the "Western Reserve" (the western part of what was then the State of Connecticut) was set aside for the Connecticut citizens that were burned out by the British in the Revolutionary War. 500,000 acres of land were given to these citizens, and the area became known as "The Firelands".

The Firelands became Huron County in 1809, and in 1838 the Ohio Legislature split the land to create Huron and Erie Counties. Erie County is named in honor of the Indians that inhabited the area in those times, as well as in honor of the Great Lake it borders.

Erie County quickly became a transportation center 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 and ice cutting, and served as a large center for the import of lumber.

The City of Sandusky, the county seat, was platted in 1818. Among the unique aspects of the city is that it was platted in the shape of the Masonic symbol.

The name is believed to be derived from the Indian phrase, "Lac-san-dou-ske", meaning "lake of cold water". Prior to being called Sandusky, the area was called "Ogontz Place", after the Chief of the Ottawa tribes. For a brief period, it was also called "Portland". Sandusky was incorporated in 1824.

Among the more significant historical happenings, not only for Erie County, but for the United States, was Oliver Hazard Perry's victory over the British fleet in the War of 1812. This victory took place in the waters just northwest of Sandusky Bay, and marked the only time in history that a British fleet ever surrendered. Had Perry been defeated, the area might be part of Canada today!

Although not part of Erie County, Johnson's Island, located near the mouth of Sandusky Bay, was the site of a prisoner of war camp for Confederate Officers during the Civil War. It is believed that over 10,000 Confederate soldiers were held there during the war, and today, a cemetery on the island contains the remains of 206 Confederate soldiers.

Erie County boasts its share of famous people, too. Perhaps the most famous is Thomas Alva Edison, who was born and spent his youth in Milan, a picturesque community on Erie County's southern boundary. His boyhood home is preserved as a museum in his honor. Knute Rockne, legendary coach of Notre Dame's Fightin' Irish, worked at Cedar Point while a student at Notre Dame. He and fellow teammate Gus Dorias perfected the forward pass on the beach at Cedar Point, and a plaque commemorating their accomplishment is located there. Rockne also married a local woman, Bonnie in a Sandusky church.

 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

The county's early beginnings as a seaport and transportation center resulted in the development of a diverse and successful economy. Although many people think of the area as a "tourist center", which it is, it is also a significant manufacturing area. Sandusky and Erie County are home to several businesses that produce automotive parts and bearings, machine tools and industrial-grade fasteners, vinyl-coated fabrics, vinyl products, plastic colorants, commercial stoves, food processing equipment, filters, plastic containers, roof coatings and machinery, coatings and resins, boxes, chains and sprockets, baskets, meats and dairy products, and crushed stone. Erie County is also home to the Plum Brook Station of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), which is one of their most vital and active test facilities.  Plum Brook Station operates 4 "world class" test facilities including the Space Power Facility, Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility, Hypersonic Tunnel Facility and the Cryogenic Propellant Tank Facility.

Sandusky's reputation as "Vacationland of the Midwest" comes from being the "Home of Cedar Point".  Cedar Point was voted the best amusement park in the world for 4 years in a row by "Amusement Today". Cedar Point is located on a scenic 364-acre Lake Erie peninsula and is home to more roller coasters (15) than any amusement park in the country, as well as 68 other rides. Cedar Point also offers a water park, beach, live stage shows, the mid-west's only theme park ice-skating show, miniature golf, go-carts, campground, hotels, marina, and several restaurants.

Although Cedar Point is the main attraction for the millions of vacationers that come to the area every summer, it is not the only attraction. The area also offers several unique museums, boating, fishing, water skiing and parasailing, Ohio's first "wave action" pool, two nature preserves and several parks, lake cruises, golf courses and tennis centers, and a speedway for super-modified "Winston Cup" automobile racing.

The community's proximity to the Lake Erie Islands also attracts many visitors.

Retailing is a very important segment of the area's economy. Erie County, according to statistics compiled by Ohio State University, ranks third among Ohio's 88 counties at attracting shoppers. There are a number of plazas and quaint shopping areas, a large enclosed mall, and a factory outlet center.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is also called "big business" in Erie County. More than 50 percent of the county's land is used for farming such diverse crops as sweet corn, tomatoes, celery, apples, grapes, peaches, strawberries, melons, lettuce, onions, wheat and soybeans. There are also a number of livestock farms throughout the county that raise cattle and hogs.

EDUCATION

Education is held in high esteem by Erie County residents. Erie County has six public school districts, a vocational school that serves the tri-county area, several parochial and private schools, a school for the developmentally and physically disabled, and the Firelands College of Bowling Green State University. Education is also supported through some of the finest and most progressive public libraries in Ohio.

 LOCATION

Erie County borders Lake Erie in Northcentral Ohio, extending 28 miles in an East-West direction and 11 miles in a North-South direction. Sandusky is 55 miles East of Toledo, 60 miles West of Cleveland, and 106 miles North of Columbus.

STATISTICS

• Area: 264 sq. miles
• Shoreline: 35 miles
• Wetlands: 8,560 acres
• Longitude:  82.717, Latitude: 41.45
• Elevation:  584 ft.
• Altitude: 603 ft. above sea level
• Mean Temperature: 49 degrees
• Average Rainfall: 45.03"
• Population: (per 1990 census)
• Erie County: 76,779
• Sandusky: 29,764
         

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ERIE COUNTY