Olean, New York
Olean is a city of 13,738 people in Cattaraugus County, New York, founded in 1765.
Why visit Olean
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 11 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Classic, St. Bonaventure University, Olean Public Library and Temple B'Nai Israel.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average 13°F, and about 65 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Olean
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Olean
Olean ( OH-lee-ann, Seneca: Johíhso') is a city in Cattaraugus 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 the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of Western New York.
From the Wikipedia article Olean, New York (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
St. Bonaventure University
School · 2.4 mi
Catholic university in Allegany, New York, USA
Museums and landmarks11
Olean Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Public library in New York, United States of America
134 North 2nd Street, Olean
Temple B'Nai Israel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Synagogue in Olean, New York
129 South Barry Street, Olean
Beardsley-Oliver House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Olean, NY, listed on the NRHP in Cattaraugus County, New York
Conklin Mountain House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Olean, New York, NRHP-listed
Oak Hill Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in New York, United States
Olean Armory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Armory in New York, United States of America
Union and State Streets Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
National historic district located at Olean in Cattaraugus County, New York
United States Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Government building in Olean, New York
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Olean School No. 10
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Tri County Arts Council
Museum · 0.5 mi
110 West State Street, Olean
Tu-Fr 12:00-18:00; Sa 12:00-17:00
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes11
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.6 mi
3012 Route 417, Olean
Mo-We 05:00-22:00; Fr-Su 05:00-22:00
Old Library Restaurant
Restaurant · 0.5 mi
116 South Union Street, Olean
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 1.3 mi
2510 West State Street, Olean
Mo-Th 06:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-01:00; Su 06:00-24:00
History
The first European in the area was possibly Joseph de La Roche Daillon, a missionary and explorer from Canada. La Roche reported on the presence of oil near Cuba, New York; the first petroleum sighting in North America. At that time the area was a part of the territory of the Wenrohronon or Wenro Indians, an Iroquoian-speaking people. In 1643, the Wenro tribes became the first victims of a series of brutal conflicts known as the Second Beaver War.
The area was first settled by Europeans around 1765, called by the Indian name "Ischua". Officially, this was illegal, as the British had declared the land in the Allegheny River watershed to be part of the Indian Reserve after conquering the territory in the French and Indian War two years prior. The surface is a hilly upland, separated into two distinct parts by the valley of the Allegheny. The highest points are 500 to 600 feet (150 to 180 m) above the valley. During the American Revolutionary War, the 1779 Sullivan Expedition established the first road to what would become Olean, blazing a trail to what is now Kittanning, Pennsylvania along the path of what is now New York State Route 16.
From the History section of Olean, New York on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Olean/Allegany
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
3234 West State Street, Olean
Churches and places of worship33
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Allegany-Limestone Middle-High School
School · 4.9 mi
3131 Five Mile Rd, Allegany
Healthcare2
Map of Olean
107 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 13°F | 2.7 in | 17.6 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 15°F | 2.0 in | 13.7 in |
| Mar | 43°F | 21°F | 2.6 in | 10.1 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 32°F | 3.4 in | 1.8 in |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 52°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 55°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 49°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 3.6 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 2.9 in | 6.3 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 21°F | 3.2 in | 14.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Olean (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cattaraugus County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-11-20: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-03-20: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-12-22: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Snowstorm)
- 2014-07-08: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2012-10-28: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport (OLE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- St. Bonaventure 2 mi west, about 3 min by car
- Allegany 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Weston Mills 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Portville 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Eldred 9 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Foster Brook 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Limestone 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Jamestown 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Dunkirk 53 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Lackawanna 55 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Olean2011, J0sh177, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Main entrance to the local branch of the Jamestown Community College on N Union Street, Olean, New York (USA), Charles, CC BY 2.0
- Looking down Union Street toward downtown Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Exchange National Bank Building, Olean, New York - 20210620, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Olean JCPenney (15001924148), Random Retail from PA, United States, CC BY 2.0
- The Park Centre Tower and the Silent Policeman, Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gold Star Mothers War Memorial, Lincoln Park, Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- G.A.R. Memorial, Lincoln Park, Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. - fmr Mountain Clinic Hospital, George Fobes House - Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Olean, New York - 20210730, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 02, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 14, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 13, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels - Olean 02, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 07, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 05, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 06, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 12, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 08, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 15, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels - Olean 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 03, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 11, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels interior - Olean 09, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Olean Public Library Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Temple B'Nai Israel Apr 12, Pubdog, Public domain
- US Post Office-Olean NY Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Oak Hill Park Historic District Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Olean Armory Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Conklin Mountain House September 2016 front, Dracolique, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Beardsley-Oliver House Apr 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Olean School No. 10 Nov 10, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels - Olean 01 ShiftN, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Volkswagen Type 1 'Käfer' (1968) (53649306219), Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0
- Volkswagen Type 1 'Käfer' (1968) (53649419930), Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0
- I Knew I Saw a Red Redbox (12252967076), Random Retail, CC BY 2.0
- CVS Pharmacy (9358765131), Random Retail, CC BY 2.0
- Dollar General (9359012124), Random Retail from PA, United States, CC BY 2.0
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