Erie County, Pennsylvania

Created from Allegheny Co., as only portion of state bordering Lake Erie, 12 Mar. 1800. County seat, Erie. Combined with four other counties for governmental purposes as Crawford Co., 9 Apr. 1801. First independent Erie Co. officers elected, 1803. Population in 1830 about 17,000. Population in 1840 about 31,000. County often traversed by church members and missionaries traveling to and from Kirtland, Ohio; New York; New England; and Canada. Missionaries preached in county as early as fall 1831. JS traveled through county on missions and met with Saints, Oct. 1833 and Feb. 1834. Branches of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield and Elk Creek, 1832–1833.