Tourist Guide Olean
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. The city is within the Town of Olean and is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 15,347 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau was 14,584.
Olean is located at 42°4′57′N 78°25′51′W / 42.0825°N 78.43083°W / 42.0825; -78.43083 (42.08264, -78.430965). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (3.73%25) is water. The city is located where Olean Creek flows into the Allegheny River and by the Southern Tier Expressway. The City of Olean was incorporated in 1854. Oil was discovered in 1874 and played a big role for a short period in the development of the city. Olean's peak population was estimated at 24,000 during the 1950s. It was also part of the Underground Railroad to Canada.
