North East is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States, 14 miles northeast of Erie in the state's northwestern corner. Fruit growing was an early economic endeavor, and is still to this day, as this is a popular area for especially cherries and grapes. There is an annual Cherry Festival in the summer and an annual Wine Country Harvest Festival in the fall. It contains one college, Mercyhurst North East. The population was 4,294 at the 2010 census, down from 4,601 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the northernmost town in Pennsylvania. The name "North East" seems to be a misnomer since the borough is located in extreme northwestern Pennsylvania, but it is so named for its northeastern-most location within Erie County.