[5] The town was founded in 1799 as "Evansburg", named for local farmer Abner Evans, who had opened a successful mill, of which several more followed.

By the 1880’s the town’s economy boomed with the foundation of several important businesses, most notably, the famous tool company Channellock and The Conneaut Lake Ice Company (which was a major supplier of fresh ice for cities and towns around the northeast).

The same year the famous local park was also opened, and the town became become a major tourist destination in Western Pennsylvania.

[7] Conneaut Lake borough is located southwest of the center of Crawford County at 41°36′8″N 80°18′24″W / 41.60222°N 80.30667°W / 41.60222; -80.30667 (41.602322, -80.306733).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.94 km2), all land.

[5] U.S. routes 6 and 322 pass through the borough, leading east together 9 miles (14 km) to Meadville, the Crawford County seat.