Olean, New York | |
|---|---|
 Lincoln Park in Olean | |
  Olean Location of Olean in New York State Show map of New York Olean Olean (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°4′57″N78°25′51″W / 42.08250°N 78.43083°W /42.08250; -78.43083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Cattaraugus |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Amy Sherburne (R) |
| • Common Council | |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.17 sq mi (15.97 km2) |
| • Land | 5.90 sq mi (15.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,937 |
| • Density | 2,362.4/sq mi (912.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code | 14760 |
| Area codes | 716,585 |
| FIPS code | 36-009-54716 |
| Website | www |
Olean (/ˈoʊliˌæn/OH-lee-ann) is acity inCattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County and serves as its financial, business, transportation and entertainment center. It is one of theprincipal cities of theSouthern Tier region ofWestern New York.
As of the2020 census, Olean had a population of 13,937.[2]
The city is surrounded by thetown of Olean and is located in the southeastern part of Cattaraugus County.
The firstEuropean in the area was possiblyJoseph de La Roche Daillon, amissionary and explorer fromCanada. La Roche reported on the presence of oil nearCuba, New York; the first petroleum sighting inNorth America. At that time the area was a part of the territory of theWenrohronon or Wenro Indians, anIroquoian-speaking people. In 1643, the Wenro tribes became the first victims of a series of brutal conflicts known as theSecond Beaver War.
The area was first settled by Europeans around 1765, called by the Indian name "Ischua". Officially, this was illegal, as theBritish had declared the land in theAllegheny River watershed to be part of theIndian Reserve after conquering the territory in theFrench and Indian War two years prior. The surface is a hilly upland, separated into two distinct parts by thevalley of the Allegheny. The highest points are 500 to 600 feet (150 to 180 m) above the valley. During theAmerican Revolutionary War, the 1779Sullivan Expedition established the first road to what would become Olean, blazing a trail to what is nowKittanning, Pennsylvania along the path of what is nowNew York State Route 16.
Originally the entire territory of the county of Cattaraugus was called the Town of Olean, formed March 11, 1808. As population allowed, the county was split in half and the top half was called "Hebe", and was taken off in 1812, a part ofPerrysburgh in 1814, thenGreat Valley in 1818.Hinsdale formed in 1820, andPortville in 1837, leaving the current boundary of Olean that lies upon the south line of the county, near the southeast corner. The area remained sparsely populated until 1804, when MajorAdam Hoops acquired the land and gave it its modern name. Hoops was a surveyor andRevolutionary Warveteran, and was politically connected withRobert Morris, the financier of the Revolution. Along with Morris, Hoops became involved with theHolland Land Company, which was settling western New York.
This was a time of great western expansion into places such asOhio andIndiana. Since neither canals norrailroads had become widespread by this point, the main means of travel was either by cart or small-boat travel. TheAllegheny River was a major transportation route. Hoops believed that a great city could be created at the confluence of the Allegheny and one of its tributaries and went looking for the right spot. In 1804 he found a spot where Olean Creek meets the river; the confluence was important as it was the farthest point downstream in the state before hitting theSeneca Reservation that surrounded most of New York's piece of the river. Hoops received title to 20,000 acres (81 km2) from the Holland Land Company in 1804. Hoops' brother Robert came to the site and built the first permanent structure near today's Forness Park, calling the areaHamilton in honor ofAlexander Hamilton.
In a letter toJoseph Ellicott in 1804, Hoops discusses the nameOlean from the localOil Springs and the Latin wordoleum:
Canandaigua, N.Y., April 15, 1804"To Joseph ELLICOTT, Esq.,Batavia, New York.Dear Sir,―It was proposed to me at New York to drop the Indian name of Ischue or Ischua (it is also spelt other ways). Confusion might arise from the various spellings, of which to obviate all risk I have concluded so to do as proposed. The neighborhood of the oil spring suggests a name different in sound, though perhaps not different in meaning, which I wish to adopt,―it is "Olean." You will do me a favor by assisting me to establish this name. It may easily be done now by your concurrence. The purpose will be most effectually answered by employing the term, when occasion requires, without saying anything of an intended change of name. To begin, you will greatly oblige me by addressing the first letter you may have occasion to write to me, after I receive the survey, to the Mouth of Olean. The bearer being properly instructed, there will be thereafter no difficulty. Your co-operation in the matter (the effect of which, though not important in itself, may be so on account of precision) will oblige. Your servant, A. HOOPS
ThePost Office recognized the new town as "Olean Point". The site was surveyed by 1808, and a map from that year shows a basic street pattern that still survives, along with most of the modern street names. In 1823, the city is called Olean, without the "Point", on county maps.
In 1854 Olean was formally incorporated by theNew York State Legislature, and the trustees elected at the first subsequent town meeting were Lambert Thithney, C.B.B. Barse, Charles Thing, and John K. Comstock. Enos C. Brooks was appointed clerk of Olean.[3]
Adam Hoops's dream of creating a major transportation hub on the Allegheny River, on the scale of aBuffalo or aPittsburgh, was never realized and he himself died in poverty. Nonetheless, Olean prospered and was soon the central town of the region. Olean grew quickly as a transportation hub for migrants taking the Allegheny River intoOhio. For much of this era Olean was larger and better known than its northern competitor Buffalo. This period ended with the creation of the great canals, especially theErie Canal in 1825. The Allegheny River was usually too shallow for the larger steamboats to navigate, except in the spring, and only two steamboats—theAllegheny in 1830 and theNew Castle of 1837—reached the city.[4] AGenesee Valley Canal was extended to Olean and the Allegheny River in 1862, but the Allegheny's shallowness and the rise of the railroads rendered it obsolete before it even opened.
Timber was a major industry in New York and Pennsylvania between 1830 and 1850, and Olean was the chief timber town in the region during those times. After river travel declined Olean became the regional railroad hub. The town was the crossroads of several railroads, a situation which endures into today with theWestern New York and Pennsylvania Railroad.
Olean was the home of several corporations. During the late-19th century, Olean had a few mills, a bicycle company, a manufacturer of mechanical pumps and a glass works, among other factories.St. Bonaventure University was founded just outside town in 1858. Olean was incorporated as a village in 1854, and as a city in 1893. Olean was a rival of the comparably-populated, but much newer, city ofSalamanca, New York at the turn of the 20th century, but the decline of the timber industry in southwestern Cattaraugus County and complications with Salamanca being situated on borrowedSeneca Nation land allowed Olean to continue growing while Salamanca declined.
Oil was first discovered in the region by a French explorer in 1632, but it was rediscovered for commercial use during thePennsylvania oil rush. Oil became the city's claim to fame for fifty years.
Olean was the railroad and pipeline hub for the surrounding oil region. The operations HQ ofStandard Oil's New York affiliate,Socony, was based in the city. Oil produced on both sides of the state line (e.g. inBradford, Pennsylvania) would be transported to Olean for rail travel. For a short time, Olean was the world's largest oil depot, complete with a "tank city" on the edge of town.[5] A pipeline was also built linking the city to Standard Oil refineries inBayonne, New Jersey. The oil industry maintained a presence in the city until 1954, the same year in which Olean's population peaked.
Oil also produced Olean's highest-ranking politician. Oil executiveFrank W. Higgins wasgovernor of New York in 1905–1907. Higgins' family ownedgrocery stores in the area, and Higgins also ran this business before his political career. To this day, Olean is one of the few smaller cities in New York State to be home to a governor.
Olean garnered notoriety as a major stop onbootlegging routes duringProhibition through the 1920s until 1933. Dempsey, theChief of Police, did not condone these thugs or their illegal activities. He did not aggressively pursue arrests, however, unless he had evidence that the violator was responsible for a crime committed in his jurisdiction. As long as you kept your nose clean in the Olean City limits, it was a "safe haven". Local stories relating to this period are numerous. Some are documented and some are legends. Olean, located on a back-road route betweenChicago andNew York City, was often frequented by famous mobsters of the era.Al Capone of Chicago, probably the most famous gang leader of the time, visited Olean in pursuance of his illegal endeavors. Olean was nicknamed "Little Chicago" in the press, due to its connection with mobsters and bootleggers, and Capone was a frequent visitor.[6]
In September 1968, Olean was the first city in the United States to installvideo cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.[7]
Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County. The city's population peaked at an estimated 25,000 during the mid-1950s. The current[as of?] population of the city is around 15,000.
Olean is located in southeastern Cattaraugus County at42°4′57″N78°25′51″W / 42.08250°N 78.43083°W /42.08250; -78.43083 (42.08264, -78.430965).[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km2), of which 5.9 square miles (15.3 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), or 4.19%, is water.[9]
The city is located where Olean Creek flows into theAllegheny River and by theSouthern Tier Expressway (Interstate 86 andNew York State Route 17).New York State Route 417 passes east–west through the city and intersectsNew York State Route 16, a north–south highway.
As a result of its higher elevation, Olean has a coolerhumid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) than the larger western New York cities with hot-summer humid continental climates (Dfa).
| Climate data for Olean, New York, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1927–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 73 (23) | 80 (27) | 87 (31) | 92 (33) | 92 (33) | 99 (37) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 86 (30) | 78 (26) | 70 (21) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.9 (13.8) | 55.7 (13.2) | 66.3 (19.1) | 79.3 (26.3) | 86.5 (30.3) | 88.4 (31.3) | 89.3 (31.8) | 87.6 (30.9) | 86.6 (30.3) | 78.9 (26.1) | 69.0 (20.6) | 57.1 (13.9) | 90.9 (32.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 34.4 (1.3) | 43.1 (6.2) | 56.5 (13.6) | 68.3 (20.2) | 76.0 (24.4) | 80.3 (26.8) | 78.7 (25.9) | 72.6 (22.6) | 59.8 (15.4) | 47.3 (8.5) | 37.1 (2.8) | 57.2 (14.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 32.1 (0.1) | 44.5 (6.9) | 56.0 (13.3) | 64.2 (17.9) | 68.6 (20.3) | 67.0 (19.4) | 60.8 (16.0) | 49.1 (9.5) | 37.9 (3.3) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 46.3 (8.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.1 (−10.5) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 21.1 (−6.1) | 32.4 (0.2) | 43.7 (6.5) | 52.5 (11.4) | 57.0 (13.9) | 55.3 (12.9) | 49.0 (9.4) | 38.4 (3.6) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 35.5 (2.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −7.6 (−22.0) | −4.1 (−20.1) | 3.4 (−15.9) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 39.8 (4.3) | 47.9 (8.8) | 47.0 (8.3) | 38.5 (3.6) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 4.7 (−15.2) | −11.0 (−23.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) | −21 (−29) | −16 (−27) | 15 (−9) | 23 (−5) | 30 (−1) | 42 (6) | 43 (6) | 30 (−1) | 17 (−8) | −2 (−19) | −12 (−24) | −22 (−30) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.73 (69) | 1.97 (50) | 2.63 (67) | 3.35 (85) | 3.66 (93) | 4.48 (114) | 4.28 (109) | 4.03 (102) | 3.85 (98) | 3.60 (91) | 2.87 (73) | 3.22 (82) | 40.67 (1,033) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 17.6 (45) | 13.7 (35) | 10.1 (26) | 1.8 (4.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 6.3 (16) | 14.9 (38) | 64.7 (165.36) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 7.7 (20) | 6.9 (18) | 7.0 (18) | 1.3 (3.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 3.6 (9.1) | 6.2 (16) | 10.5 (27) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 18.9 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 14.3 | 12.9 | 12.8 | 12.4 | 15.4 | 14.4 | 18.1 | 178.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 12.5 | 10.3 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 9.2 | 43.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA[10] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[11] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,327 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,036 | 128.8% | |
| 1890 | 7,358 | 142.4% | |
| 1900 | 9,462 | 28.6% | |
| 1910 | 14,743 | 55.8% | |
| 1920 | 20,506 | 39.1% | |
| 1930 | 21,790 | 6.3% | |
| 1940 | 21,506 | −1.3% | |
| 1950 | 22,884 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 21,868 | −4.4% | |
| 1970 | 19,169 | −12.3% | |
| 1980 | 18,207 | −5.0% | |
| 1990 | 16,946 | −6.9% | |
| 2000 | 15,347 | −9.4% | |
| 2010 | 14,452 | −5.8% | |
| 2020 | 13,437 | −7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] | |||
As of thecensus[13] of 2000, there were 15,347 people, 6,446 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,588.0 inhabitants per square mile (999.2/km2). There were 7,121 housing units at an average density of 1,200.8 per square mile (463.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.31%White, 3.47%Black orAfrican American, 0.43%Native American, 0.89%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.43% fromother races, and 1.45% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 6,446 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% weremarried couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,400, and the median income for a family was $38,355. Males had a median income of $32,341 versus $22,469 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,169. About 13.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
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TheOlean City School District has twoelementary schools, East View Elementary and Washington West Elementary; amiddle school, Olean Intermediate Middle School; andOlean High School is the city's publichigh school. It was the site of the1974 Olean High School shooting.
Archbishop Walsh Academy is Olean'sRoman Catholic school for grades K-12.
A branch ofJamestown Community College is within the city.St. Bonaventure University is a few miles to the west in the town ofAllegany.
The following are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:Beardsley-Oliver House,Conklin Mountain House,Oak Hill Park Historic District,Olean Armory,Olean Public Library,Olean School No. 10,St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex,Temple B'Nai Israel,Union and State Streets Historic District, and theUnited States Post Office.[19][20][21]
TheChurch of St Mary of the Angels on Henley Street was built in 1915 and was designated byPope Francis as abasilica in 2017.[22] Religious authorThomas Merton often went to the Church to pray and attend confession during his transition into prayer and spirituality and renouncement of an unchaste lifestyle.[22][23][24] At the close of 1940, he stopped into St. Mary of the Angels one last time to pray the stations of the cross before boarding the train taking him to theAbbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani.[25][26]
Interstate 86 spans east–west and is to the northern edge of Olean.New York Route 16 heads north from Olean toBuffalo.New York Route 417 heads east from Olean. Until 1968, thePennsylvania Railroad operated theBuffalo Day Express heading north from Washington, D.C., through Olean to Buffalo (theBaltimore Day Express operated on the southbound version of the route).[27] ThePenn Central railroad operated an unnamed successor train through Olean from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Buffalo between 1968 and May 1, 1971, when passenger train service in the region ended with the inception of Amtrak.[28][29]
Since 2001, the former Erie Lackawanna Railway mainline between Hornell, NY and Meadville, PA has been operated by the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, a shortline railroad that has also operated portions of the former Pennsylvania Railroad Buffalo Line, both north and south of its Olean headquarters, since 2007.
Until January 6, 1970, theErie Lackawanna Railroad operated through Olean with theChicago -Hoboken, New Jersey " Lake Cities": the last passenger train to traverse the entire Southern Tier.[30] The Erie and the PRR train stations were about one mile (1.6 km) apart.[31]
The nearest general commercial airports with scheduled flights for the public are inErie, Buffalo and theElmira area.[citation needed]
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Municipalities and communities ofCattaraugus County, New York,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other hamlets | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes |
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| Principal city |  | |
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| Other major cities | ||
| Counties | ||
Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by theRPA | ||
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Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census. | ||
| Great Lakes region cities |  | |
| Surrounding cities |
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| Cities of states south of region | ||
| Other metro-regions | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
