    
|
 |
|
City of Oil City
|
|
Historical
Overview
|
|
|
Long
before the town of Oil City sprang up in the Oil
Creek Valley, a primitive society resided here.
These early settlers used oil long before the white
man began drilling for it. They dug pits in the
ground where the oil was seeping and collected the
black, greasy substance. It is estimated that these
ancient oil pits were in use around the time Columbus
discovered America.
 The
Seneca Indian tribe of the six nations of the Iroquois
Confederacy first settled in the region in the early
1600s. During the latter part of the Indian Period
(late 1700s), Chief Cornplanter, a famous leader
of the tribe, was granted three tracts of land by
the State of Pennsylvania. One of these parcels,
known as "the gift," consisted of 303
acres, 87 perches located at the intersection of
Oil Creek and the Allegheny River, what is now downtown
Oil City. The other two parcels were located further
north on the Allegheny.
In the year 1818,
Chief Cornplanter lost "the gift" in a
land deal that went badly. Local prospectors purchased
the land and began to build a blast furnace, mill
and foundry. It later became known as the Oil Creek
Furnace and remained in business for more than 40
years.
The Cornplanter Post
Office was established in the year 1840 during the
decade of the blast furnace. A.G. Siverly was the
first postmaster and mail was received from Franklin
one day a week.
After the closing
of the furnace, the population began to decline.
Then on August 28, 1859, Colonel Edwin L. Drake
drilled the first commercially successful well to
obtain petroleum for uses as an illuminant.
This was a monumental
discovery. While the Indians had used oil for medicinal
purposes for many years by panning the edge of Oil
Creek, the "black gold" could now be pumped
to the surface in large quantities. As a result
of Drake's discovery, wells sprang up along the
creek and "boom towns' began to pop up throughout
the region. Besides Oil City, Titusville, Petroleum
Center, Pithole and Rynd Farm are just a few of
the towns that staked a claim in the history of
"The Valley That Changed The World".
 The
increased traffic led the settlers to find various
methods of travel and transport. The flat gravel
bed of Oil Creek became a form of highway that was
much easier to use than the muddy roadways. As production
began to increase, barges were used to transport
the oil down the creek. When the barrels arrived
in Oil City, they were transferred to steamboats
or bulk barges to continue on their journey to Pittsburgh
and points beyond.
Oil City grew in importance
because of its location and its link between railroad
lines. The hilly terrain forced the railroads to
run their tracks along the flat beds of the creeks
and rivers. Oil City's location turned it into a
natural terminal.
In 1861, the post
office changed its name and became the Oil City
Post Office.
During the spring
of 1862, Oil City was issued a charter and a borough
government was secured. Despite fires, flood, wars,
and financial panic, the Borough of Oil City was
incorporated as a city in 1871. 
At that time, more
than one million barrels of oil were being transported
through Oil City in a year. The population grew
rapidly as the oil boomtowns did. Churches, schools,
hospital and bridges were constructed throughout
the area. Oil City grew into a thriving community
over the years. Yet today, the influence of the
oil industry can readily be found in area industry
and in the community.
Until recently, the
corporate headquarters of both Quaker State and
Pennzoil were located in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
On an annual basis,
many visitors come to our area to learn more about
the rich history of our area and to tour the "Valley
That Changed The World".
The Oil City Area
Chamber of Commerce welcome new businesses, visitors
and potential future residents who have been drawn
here by the economic advantages, cooperative attitudes,
and the special quality of life that exist here
in Oil City. |
|
|
|
Click on any image for
an enlargement.
|
Photographs
courtesy of George Stroupe.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
