Venango County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Venango County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. As of the 2010 census
, the population was 54,984. Its county seat
is Franklin
.
and Lycoming
Counties. The origination of the name "Venango" comes from as it was known to Native Americans
of the region as Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted into English as the Venango River. The settlement at its mouth was likewise called Venango, and is the site of present-day Franklin, Pennsylvania.
Venango County was home to an oil
boom in the years following discovery of natural oil (petroleum
) in the mid 1850s.
George Bissell
, a Yale University
Chemistry professor, and Edwin L. Drake, a former railroad conductor, made the first successful use of a drilling rig on August 28, 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania
. (Although Titusville is in Crawford County, the first oil well was drilled outside of town, less than a mile inside of the Venango County boundary.) This single well soon exceeded the entire cumulative oil output of Europe
since the 1650s. Within weeks oil derricks were erected all over the area. Other oil boom towns located in Venango County included Franklin, Oil City, and the now defunct Pithole City The principal product of the oil was kerosene
.
McClintocksville
was a small community in Cornplanter Township
in Venango County. In 1861, it was the location of Wamsutta Oil Refinery
, the first business venture of Henry Huttleston Rogers
, who became a leading United States
capitalist
, businessman, industrialist, financier
, and philanthropist
. Rogers and his young wife Abbie Palmer Gifford Rogers lived in a one room shack there along Oil Creek for several years beginning in 1862.
Shortly later, Rogers met oil pioneer Charles Pratt
who purchased the entire output of the tiny Wamsutta Oil Refinery
. In 1867, Rogers joined Pratt in forming Charles Pratt and Company
, which was purchased by Standard Oil
in 1874. Rogers became one of the key men in John D. Rockefeller
’s Standard Oil
Trust.
After joining Standard Oil, Rogers invested heavily in various industries, including copper, steel, mining, and railways. The Virginian Railway
is widely considered his final life's achievement. Rogers amassed a great fortune, estimated at over $100 million, and became one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He was also a generous philanthropist
, providing many public works for his hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts
, and financially assisting helping such notables as Mark Twain
, Helen Keller
, and Dr. Booker T. Washington
.
Perhaps in one of history's ironies, another resident of Venango County about the same time as Henry and Abbie Rogers was a little girl named Ida M. Tarbell
, whose father was an independent producer whose small business was ruined by the South Improvement Company scheme of 1871 and the conglomerate which became Standard Oil. Introduced to each other in 1902 by their mutual friend Mark Twain, Tarbell who had become an investigative journalist and Rogers, who knew of her work, shared meetings and information over a two year period which led to her epoch work, The History of the Standard Oil Company
, published in 1904, which many historians feel helped fuel public sentiment against the giant company and helped lead to the court-ordered break-up of it in 1911.
The oil heritage of Venanago County is remembered by a Pennsylvania State Park and many heritage sites which help tell the story and memorialize the people of the oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,769 km²), of which 675 square miles (1,748 km²) is land and 8 square miles (21 km²) (1.17%) is water.
is formed near French Creek, New York
and extends for a length of 117 miles (188 km) with a drainage area of 1,270 square miles (3,289 km²). It joins the Allegheny River near Franklin, Pennsylvania. The watershed area includes parts of Erie
, Crawford
, Venango, and Mercer
Counties in Pennsylvania as well as Chautauqua County, New York
.
of 2000, there were 57,565 people, 22,747 households, and 15,922 families residing in the county. The population density
was 85 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 26,904 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White
, 1.09% Black
or African American
, 0.18% Native American
, 0.23% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 33.0% were of German, 12.7% Irish
, 12.2% American
, 8.6% English
, 5.7% Polish and 5.3% Italian
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 22,747 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
In the 2004 United States presidential election
, voters registered in Venango County cast 9,024 (38.1%) ballots for Kerry, 14,472 (61.2%) for Bush, and 163 (0.7%) for "other".
s are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau
for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated
communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Pennzoil and Quaker State left the Venango area for Texas. After leaving the area they merged and stopped refining oil. They now concentrate on retail oil and automotive additives produced for them by other companies. As of 2007, the two companies only exist as brand names after the company disappeared because of successive mergers.
With global crude oil prices touching US $100 in early 2008, long-dormant interest reawakened in Venango County's remaining oil reserves, 70% undrilled by one estimate. High prices make less accessible oil deposits worth extracting. For instance, a Canadian firm proposed drilling several large mines and allowing oil to flood the tunnels.
Other major employers are Government (at all levels) and Walmart.
Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. As of the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, the population was 54,984. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Franklin
Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Franklin is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was estimated 7,212 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Venango County.-Geography:Franklin is located at ....
.
History
Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of AlleghenyAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and Lycoming
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
Counties. The origination of the name "Venango" comes from as it was known to Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the region as Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted into English as the Venango River. The settlement at its mouth was likewise called Venango, and is the site of present-day Franklin, Pennsylvania.
Venango County was home to an oil
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
boom in the years following discovery of natural oil (petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
) in the mid 1850s.
George Bissell
George Bissell (industrialist)
George Henry Bissell is often considered the father of the American oil industry. He was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, the son of Isaac Bissell and Nancy Wemple....
, a Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
Chemistry professor, and Edwin L. Drake, a former railroad conductor, made the first successful use of a drilling rig on August 28, 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,146 at the 2000 census. In 1859, oil was successfully drilled in Titusville, resulting in the birth of the modern oil industry.-History:...
. (Although Titusville is in Crawford County, the first oil well was drilled outside of town, less than a mile inside of the Venango County boundary.) This single well soon exceeded the entire cumulative oil output of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
since the 1650s. Within weeks oil derricks were erected all over the area. Other oil boom towns located in Venango County included Franklin, Oil City, and the now defunct Pithole City The principal product of the oil was kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
.
McClintocksville, Pennsylvania
McClintocksville, Pennsylvania was a small community in Cornplanter Township in Venango County located in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States.- History :...
was a small community in Cornplanter Township
Cornplanter Township, Pennsylvania
Cornplanter Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,687 at the 2000 census.- History :McClintocksville was a small community in Cornplanter Township in Venango County, Pennsylvania...
in Venango County. In 1861, it was the location of Wamsutta Oil Refinery
Wamsutta Oil Refinery
Wamsutta Oil Refinery was established around 1861 in McClintocksville in Venango County near Oil City, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was the first business enterprise of Henry Huttleston Rogers , who became a famous capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist.-...
, the first business venture of Henry Huttleston Rogers
Henry H. Rogers
Henry Huttleston Rogers was a United States capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the oil refinery business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil....
, who became a leading United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, businessman, industrialist, financier
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
, and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. Rogers and his young wife Abbie Palmer Gifford Rogers lived in a one room shack there along Oil Creek for several years beginning in 1862.
Shortly later, Rogers met oil pioneer Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt was a United States capitalist, businessman and philanthropist.Pratt was a pioneer of the U.S. petroleum industry, and established his kerosene refinery Astral Oil Works in Brooklyn, New York. An advertising slogan was "The holy lamps of Tibet are primed with Astral Oil." He...
who purchased the entire output of the tiny Wamsutta Oil Refinery
Wamsutta Oil Refinery
Wamsutta Oil Refinery was established around 1861 in McClintocksville in Venango County near Oil City, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was the first business enterprise of Henry Huttleston Rogers , who became a famous capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist.-...
. In 1867, Rogers joined Pratt in forming Charles Pratt and Company
Charles Pratt and Company
Charles Pratt and Company was an oil company that was formed in Brooklyn, New York, in the United States by Charles Pratt and Henry H. Rogers in 1867. It became part of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil organization in 1874....
, which was purchased by Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
in 1874. Rogers became one of the key men in John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
’s Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
Trust.
After joining Standard Oil, Rogers invested heavily in various industries, including copper, steel, mining, and railways. The Virginian Railway
Virginian Railway
The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads....
is widely considered his final life's achievement. Rogers amassed a great fortune, estimated at over $100 million, and became one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He was also a generous philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, providing many public works for his hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located on the south coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzzards Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean...
, and financially assisting helping such notables as Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
, and Dr. Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
.
Perhaps in one of history's ironies, another resident of Venango County about the same time as Henry and Abbie Rogers was a little girl named Ida M. Tarbell
Ida M. Tarbell
Ida Minerva Tarbell was an American teacher, author and journalist. She was known as one of the leading "muckrakers" of the progressive era, work known in modern times as "investigative journalism". She wrote many notable magazine series and biographies...
, whose father was an independent producer whose small business was ruined by the South Improvement Company scheme of 1871 and the conglomerate which became Standard Oil. Introduced to each other in 1902 by their mutual friend Mark Twain, Tarbell who had become an investigative journalist and Rogers, who knew of her work, shared meetings and information over a two year period which led to her epoch work, The History of the Standard Oil Company
The History of the Standard Oil Company
The History of the Standard Oil Company is a book written by journalist Ida Tarbell in 1904. It was an exposé of the Standard Oil Company, run at that time by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, the richest figure in America's history...
, published in 1904, which many historians feel helped fuel public sentiment against the giant company and helped lead to the court-ordered break-up of it in 1911.
The oil heritage of Venanago County is remembered by a Pennsylvania State Park and many heritage sites which help tell the story and memorialize the people of the oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,769 km²), of which 675 square miles (1,748 km²) is land and 8 square miles (21 km²) (1.17%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Crawford CountyCrawford County, PennsylvaniaCrawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 88,765.Crawford County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford...
(northwest) - Warren CountyWarren County, PennsylvaniaWarren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 41,815. It was formed in 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming counties; attached to Crawford County until 1805 and then to Venango County until Warren was formally organized in 1819. Its county...
(north) - Forest CountyForest County, PennsylvaniaForest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population is 7,716. Forest County is famous as a rural retreat. Nearly 75% of all dwellings in the county are second or vacation homes . Forest County does not have a single traffic light, the only county in the...
(northeast) - Clarion CountyClarion County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 41,765 people, 16,052 households, and 10,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
(east) - Butler CountyButler County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
(south) - Mercer CountyMercer County, PennsylvaniaMercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
(west)
Significant Topographic features
French CreekFrench Creek (Allegheny River)
French Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York in the United States.- Etymology :...
is formed near French Creek, New York
French Creek, New York
French Creek is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 935 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the stream flowing through it.The Town of French Creek lies in the southwest corner of Chautauqua County....
and extends for a length of 117 miles (188 km) with a drainage area of 1,270 square miles (3,289 km²). It joins the Allegheny River near Franklin, Pennsylvania. The watershed area includes parts of Erie
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
, Crawford
Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 88,765.Crawford County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford...
, Venango, and Mercer
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
Counties in Pennsylvania as well as Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 57,565 people, 22,747 households, and 15,922 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 85 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 26,904 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.09% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 33.0% were of German, 12.7% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 12.2% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.6% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 5.7% Polish and 5.3% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 22,747 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
In the 2004 United States presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004, in Pennsylvania
The 2004 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 2, 2004 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2004 United States presidential election...
, voters registered in Venango County cast 9,024 (38.1%) ballots for Kerry, 14,472 (61.2%) for Bush, and 163 (0.7%) for "other".
Pennsylvania State Senate
- Mary Jo WhiteMary Jo WhiteMary Jo White was the first woman to be U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, serving from 1993 to 2002.White was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in McLean, Virginia. She received her B.S...
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania Senate, District 21Pennsylvania Senate, District 21Pennsylvania's 21st Senatorial district includes parts of Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango And Warren Counties.Butler County* Allegheny Township* Brady Township* Butler Township* Butler* Center Township* Cherry Township* Clay Township...
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Scott HutchinsonScott HutchinsonScott E. Hutchinson is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 64th District and was elected in 1992.-Career:...
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 64Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 64The 64th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made of parts of Butler County and all of Venango County. The district includes the following areas:* Butler County** Allegheny Township** Bruin** Cherry Valley** Eau Claire** Parker Township...
United States House of Representatives
- G.T. Thompson, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania's 5th congressional districtPennsylvania's 5th congressional districtPennsylvania's fifth district is currently the largest in area of all of Pennsylvania's congressional districts. It is Republican leaning and is currently represented by G.T...
Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Venango County:Cities
- FranklinFranklin, Venango County, PennsylvaniaFranklin is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was estimated 7,212 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Venango County.-Geography:Franklin is located at ....
- Oil CityOil City, PennsylvaniaOil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker...
Boroughs
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Pleasantville, Venango County, Pennsylvania Pleasantville is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The population was 850 at the 2000 census, and 892 at the 2010 census. It was an early oil 'boom town', and the population jumped from 291 to 1,598 between 1860 and 1870... Polk, Pennsylvania Polk is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,031 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Polk is located at .... Rouseville, Pennsylvania Rouseville is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 472 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rouseville is located at .... |
Sugarcreek, Pennsylvania Sugarcreek is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,331 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sugarcreek is located at .... Utica, Pennsylvania Utica is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Utica is located at .... |
Townships
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Jackson Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania Jackson Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,168 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:... Oakland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania Oakland Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.2 square miles , of which, 29.0 square miles of it is land and... |
Richland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania Richland Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 744 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.4 square miles , of which, 22.2 square miles of it is land and... Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania Rockland Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,346 at the 2000 census. The township is quite remote, containing one general store and a volunteer fire department... |
Census-designated places
Census-designated placeCensus-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
s are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
- Hasson HeightsHasson Heights, PennsylvaniaHasson Heights is a census-designated place in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,495 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hasson Heights is located at...
- Petroleum CenterPetroleum Center, PennsylvaniaPetroleum Center is a populated place in Cornplanter Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. In the 19th century the name was also spelled "Petroleum Centre". The town today is almost deserted.-Geography:...
- SenecaSeneca, PennsylvaniaSeneca is a census-designated place in Venango County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 966.-Geography:Seneca is located at ....
- Woodland HeightsWoodland Heights, PennsylvaniaWoodland Heights is a census-designated place in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,402 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodland Heights is located at ....
Major employers
- Joy Mining MachineryJoy Mining MachineryJoy Mining Machinery is a manufacturer of surface and underground mining machinery based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, United States. They are an operating subsidiary of Joy Global Inc.-Parent Company Overview:...
- PennzoilPennzoilPennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
- Quaker StatePennzoilPennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
Pennzoil and Quaker State left the Venango area for Texas. After leaving the area they merged and stopped refining oil. They now concentrate on retail oil and automotive additives produced for them by other companies. As of 2007, the two companies only exist as brand names after the company disappeared because of successive mergers.
With global crude oil prices touching US $100 in early 2008, long-dormant interest reawakened in Venango County's remaining oil reserves, 70% undrilled by one estimate. High prices make less accessible oil deposits worth extracting. For instance, a Canadian firm proposed drilling several large mines and allowing oil to flood the tunnels.
Other major employers are Government (at all levels) and Walmart.
Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
Education
Public school districts
- Cranberry Area School DistrictCranberry Area School DistrictThe Cranberry Area School District is a small, rural, public school district which serves the residents of Cranberry Township, Pinegrove Township and Rockland Township in Venango County, Pennsylvania. Cranberry Area School District encompasses approximately 155 square miles. According to 2000...
- Franklin Area School DistrictFranklin Area School DistrictFranklin Area School District is a rural, public school system headquartered in Franklin, Venango County, located in western Pennsylvania. Franklin Area School District encompasses approximately 186 square miles...
- Oil City Area School DistrictOil City Area School DistrictThe Oil City Area School District is a midsized, rural public school district in Venango County, Pennsylvania, centered on the city of Oil City. Other communities that it serves include: the borough of Rouseville, and townships of Oakland, President, and Cornplanter. The district covers...
- Titusville Area School DistrictTitusville Area School DistrictThe Titusville Area School District is a small, rural public school district located in Titusville, Pennsylvania.The School District comprises Allegheny Township, Cherrytree Township, Oilcreek Township and Pleasantville Borough located in Venango County; and Centerville Borough, Hydetown Borough,...
- Valley Grove School DistrictValley Grove School DistrictThe Valley Grove School District is a diminutive, rural public school district in Venango County, Pennsylvania, serving the boroughs of Sugarcreek and Cooperstown, as well as Jackson Township. Valley Grove School District encompasses approximately 63 square miles. According to 2001 local census...
Partial districts
These public school districts are only partially in Venango County:- Allegheny-Clarion Valley School DistrictAllegheny-Clarion Valley School DistrictThe Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District is a small, public school district in western Pennsylvania. It spans portions of four counties. In Armstrong County it covers the City of Parker and Hovey Township. In Butler County it covers Allegheny Township. In Clarion County it covers the Boroughs...
- Forest Area School DistrictForest Area School DistrictForest Area School District is a diminutive, rural, public school district in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is the public school entity for all of Forest County. It serves the communities of Marienville and Tionesta, President in Venango County and Millstone Township in Elk County...
- Penncrest School DistrictPenncrest School DistrictPenncrest School District is a midsized public school district located primarily in Crawford County, in Northwest Pennsylvania, with a small portion of the district's service area in adjacent Venango County. The school district encompasses several rural townships and boroughs. Its administrative...
Colleges and universities
- Clarion University, Venango Campus
- Dubois Business CollegeDuBois Business CollegeDuBois Business College is one of the oldest private business colleges in the United States. It opened in 1885 and is located in DuBois, Pennsylvania...
- Penn State University Venango County Co-Op Extension
Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests
- Oil Creek State ParkOil Creek State ParkOil Creek State Park is Pennsylvania state park on in Cherrytree, Cornplanter and Oil Creek Township Townships, Venango County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is adjacent to Drake Well Museum, the site of the first successful oil well in the United States, that was drilled under the...
- Cornplanter State ForestCornplanter State ForestCornplanter State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #14. The main office is located in North Warren in Warren County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is named for Chief Cornplanter of the Seneca Nation, one of the tribes of the Iroquois...
- Clear Creek State Forest
Attractions and Tourism
- DeBence Antique Music WorldDeBence Antique Music WorldDeBence Antique Music World is a museum in Franklin, Pennsylvania whose collection contains more than 100 antique mechanical musical instruments, including music boxes, band organs, player pianos, a nickelodeon piano, as well as a number of other antiques...
- Oil Region Astronomical ObservatoryOil Region Astronomical ObservatoryOil Region Astronomical Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Oil Region Astronomical Society. It is located in Venango County, Pennsylvania .-References:# -External links:*...
- Franklin Silver Cornet BandFranklin Silver Cornet BandThe Franklin Silver Cornet Band, formed in 1856, is one of the oldest volunteer community bands in the United States. The band plays concerts throughout the summer months in Franklin, Pennsylvania as well as an indoor concert in Franklin's Barrow-Civic Theatre the day after Thanksgiving.The...
- Franklin Public Library. The Franklin Public Library was founded in 1894 and has had several homes, although its current location on Twelfth Street in Franklin, Venango County, PA has been its home since 1921. The original structure on Twelfth Street was built in 1849 as a residence and required extensive renovations in 1921 to make it suitable for library use.
Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
Notable people
- Orrin Dubbs BleakleyOrrin Dubbs BleakleyOrrin Dubbs Bleakley was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Bleakley was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Bonn, in Prussia. He was engaged in banking with his father until 1876. He became interested in the production of oil...
- John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
- CornplanterCornplanterGaiänt'wakê was a Seneca war-chief. He was the son of a Seneca mother, Aliquipiso, and a Dutch father, Johannes Abeel. He also carried the name John Abeel after his fur trader father...
- William Holmes Crosby, Jr.William Holmes Crosby, Jr.William Holmes Crosby is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of modern hematology. He published more the 450 peer-reviewed papers in the field, as well as those of oncology, gastroenterology, iron metabolism, nutrition and general medical practice...
- Hildegarde Dolson
- Frank EvansFrank EvansFrank Edgar Evans served as an infantryman in the Spanish-American War, and was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps on 15 February 1900....
- Gabby GabreskiGabby GabreskiFrancis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski was the top American fighter ace in Europe during World War II, a jet fighter ace in Korea, and a career officer in the United States Air Force with more than 26 years service.Although best known for his credited destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat and...
- Leon H. GavinLeon H. GavinLeon Harry Gavin was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania....
- Alexander HaysAlexander HaysAlexander Hays was a Union Army general in the American Civil War, killed in the Battle of the Wilderness.-Early life and career:...
- Johnny AppleseedJohnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
- Kathryn KuhlmanKathryn KuhlmanKathryn Johanna Kuhlman was an American faith healer and evangelist.-Early life:Kathryn Johanna Kuhlman was born in Concordia, Missouri, to German-American parents...
- Ted MarchibrodaTed MarchibrodaTheodore "Ted" Joseph Marchibroda is a former American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League.-Player:...
- Jesse L. RenoJesse L. RenoJesse Lee Reno was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War, the western frontier, and as a Union General during the American Civil War...
- Henry H. RogersHenry H. RogersHenry Huttleston Rogers was a United States capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the oil refinery business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil....
- Joseph Sibley
- Peter Moore SpeerPeter Moore SpeerPeter Moore Speer was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Peter M. Speer was born near Oil City, Pennsylvania. He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and the Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania...
- Ida M. TarbellIda M. TarbellIda Minerva Tarbell was an American teacher, author and journalist. She was known as one of the leading "muckrakers" of the progressive era, work known in modern times as "investigative journalism". She wrote many notable magazine series and biographies...
- John Wesley Van DykeJohn Wesley Van DykeJohn Wesley Van Dyke was president of the Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1911 until 1927. After the break-up of Standard Oil Trust, Van Dyke led the debt-ridden Atlantic Refining Company into expanded markets and sales of more than $131 million.-The early years:Born...
See also
- List of municipal authorities in Venango County, Pennsylvania
- Oil Creek Library DistrictOil Creek Library DistrictThe Oil Creek Library District is an administrative unit designated by the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries and charged with facilitating and enhancing public library service in Clarion, Venango, and Jefferson Counties. The District's offices are currently located at the Oil City...
- Oil Region