Overview

Introduction to Oil City, Pennsylvania

Oil City, Pennsylvania, in Venango county, is 51 miles SE of Erie, Pennsylvania (center to center) and 70 miles N of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Oil City History

The area was settled by the Seneca Nation of Indians in the early 17th century, and Chief Cornplanter was given a land grant by the State of Pennsylvania in the late 1700s. A blast furnace was built in 1818, but it was closed in the 1850s, resulting in a population decline. On August 28, 1859, the area's first commercial oil well was drilled by Colonel Edwin L. Drake, which is the reason why the community was named "Oil City." It was officially founded in 1860, and incorporated as a borough in 1868. A charter for the city was passed in 1871, and Oil City received formal city status in 1871. The oil wells played a major role in the city's economy, and Oil City developed into a prosperous community by the late 19th century.

Oil City and Nearby Attractions

  • Drake Well Museum
  • Old Economy Historical Site
  • Wilder Museum
  • Erie Zoo
  • Waldameer Park & Water World
  • Oil Creek State Park

Things To Do In Oil City

The Wilder Museum features exhibits on 20 local themes including the one-handed clock, and the Seneca Indians. Drake Well Museum marks the area where the world's first oil well was drilled by Edwin L. Drake in 1859. Old Economy Historical Site, and National McKinley Birthplace Memorial are places of historic interest in the region. The 7,075-acre Oil Creek State Park, which preserves the history of the oil boom in Pennsylvania, offers facilities for fishing, hiking, biking, and picnicking. Opportunities to play golf are available at the Lucky Hills Golf Course & Driving Range, and Whitetail Run Golf Course. Waldameer Park & Water World, and Erie Zoo are other popular attractions in the area.

Oil City Transportation

Erie International Airport is the closest major airport.

Oil City Higher Education

Oil City is home to the Clarion University of Pennsylvania-Venango Campus. Other colleges nearby include the Grove City College, and University of Pittsburgh - Titusville.

Demographics

People

Total Population9,982
Male Share of the Population48.5%
Female Share of the Population51.5%
Senior Citizens16%
Employed Population 16+4,144
Age of the Population39

Families

% of people married39%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher16%
Median Earnings25+$27,605
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$13,958
Median Earnings With High School Degree$25,112

Wealth

Median Family Income$50,341
% Above Poverty Level78.2%
% Below Poverty Level21.8%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time19 minutes
% Working from Home1.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work7.4%
% Using Public Transportation0.6%

Housing

People Living Alone35.9%
Median Gross Rent$597
Median House Value$49,100

Ancestry

Irish20.1%
English10.4%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)9.6%
Polish7.2%
Italian4.9%
Dutch4.6%
Welsh3.2%
French Except Basque2%
Swedish1.7%
Scottish1.3%
Hungarian0.7%
Croatian0.7%
Danishn0.4%
African0.4%
Slovak0.3%
Nigerian0.3%
Greek0.3%
German0.3%
Ukrainian0.3%
Swiss0.2%
Canadian0.2%
Russian0.2%
Turkish0.1%
Latvian0.1%
Czech0.1%
Norwegian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Ethiopian0.1%
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Oil City Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyVenango County
Standard Zip Codes16301
Phone Area Codes814
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude41.42
Approximate Longitude-79.7

Oil City Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationFRANKLIN
Distance6.7 miles
Jan Temp16 to 35 F
Apr Temp34 to 60 F
Jul Temp58 to 84 F
Oct Temp39 to 62 F
Annual Precip43.8 inches
StationTITUSVILLE WATER WORKS
Distance13.8 miles
Jan Temp14 to 32 F
Apr Temp32 to 56 F
Jul Temp56 to 81 F
Oct Temp36 to 61 F
Annual Precip44.5 inches
StationCLARION 3 SW
Distance21.5 miles
Jan Temp14 to 33 F
Apr Temp31 to 60 F
Jul Temp55 to 83 F
Oct Temp36 to 62 F
Annual Precip46.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Cooperstown411$57,813
Franklin6,216$51,232
Pleasantville833$48,750
Polk788$54,375
Rouseville487$53,542
Utica177$55,000

Oil City Public Libraries

Oil City Library
2 CENTRAL AVE
Oil City, Pennsylvania
(814) 678-3072

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Oil City Public Schools

Hasson Heights Sch
833 Grandview Rd
ZIP: 16301
(814) 677-8021
Primary
Total Enrollment 460
Oil City Area Ms
8 Lynch Blvd
ZIP: 16301
(814) 676-5702
Middle
Total Enrollment 609
Oil City Shs
10 Lynch Blvd
ZIP: 16301
(814) 676-2771
High
Total Enrollment 631
Seventh Street Sch
102 W 7th St
ZIP: 16301
(814) 677-3029
Primary
Total Enrollment 214
Smedley Street Sch
310 Smedley St
ZIP: 16301
(814) 676-2294
Primary
Total Enrollment 123
Venango Technology Center
One Vo Tech Drive
ZIP: 16301
(814) 677-3097
High

Oil City Private Schools

St Stephen Elementary School
214 Reed St
ZIP: 16301
Elementary
Total Enrollment 136
Venango Catholic High School
1505 W 1st St
ZIP: 16301
Secondary
Total Enrollment 98
Sources :
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