Its name from its position in the northeastern corner of Erie County, despite being near the extreme northwest of Pennsylvania.

[6] Fruit growing was an early economic endeavor, and is still to this day, as this is a popular area especially for cherries and grapes.

William Dundas was the first to settle in the borough area, who's property was later sold in 1806 to Henry Burgett, who turned the dwelling into a tavern.

This property, prior to the sale, is claimed to be the site of the first sacrament to the Lord's Supper in Erie County on Sunday the 27th of September 1801.

A more "pretentious" tavern was built in 1808 by Lemuel Brown, located where the Haynes House is today.

[11] Originally called Burgettstown, the name was changed in 1819 to Gibsonville until it was incorporated in 1834 as the borough of North East.

[7][11] Its first high school, Lake Shore Seminary, was established in 1870 as a collaborative effort of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches.

As of September 2024[update], the North East Borough Council consists of:[15]

North East is in Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district and is currently represented in Congress by Republican Mike Kelly, who was elected in 2010.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), all land.

North East has the Lake Shore Railway Museum, housed in its former railroad station.