Titusville, Pennsylvania

File:Titusville, Pennsylvania, 1896.png]]

The area was first settled in 1796 by Jonathan Titus. Within 14 years, others bought and improved land lying near his, along the banks of what is now Oil Creek. Titus named the village Edinburg(h), but as it grew, the settlers began to call the hamlet Titusville. The village was incorporated as a borough in 1849. It was a slow-growing community until the 1850s, when petroleum was discovered in the region.

Oil was known to exist there, but there was no practical way to extract it. Its main use at that time had been as a medicine for both animals and humans.{{Cite book |last=Hendrick |first=Burton J. |chapter=II THE FIRST GREAT AMERICAN TRUST |title=The Age of Big Business |year=1919 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |page=27 |chapter-url=http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/4521519?n=46&printThumbnails=no |chapter-format=PDF |access-date=August 17, 2013}} In the late 1850s, the Seneca Oil Company (formerly the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company) sent Col. Edwin L. Drake to start drilling on a piece of leased land just south of Titusville, near what is now Oil Creek State Park. In the summer of 1859, Drake hired a salt well driller, William A. Smith. They had many difficulties, but on August 27, at the site of an oil spring just south of Titusville, they finally drilled a well that could be commercially successful.

Teamsters were needed immediately to transport the oil to markets. In 1862, the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad was built between Titusville and Corry, where the product was transferred to larger east-west railroad lines. In 1865, pipelines were laid directly to the line and the demand for teamsters practically ended. The next year the railroad line was extended south to Petroleum Centre and Oil City. The Union & Titusville Railroad was built in 1865. That line became part of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad in 1871. That fall, President Ulysses S. Grant visited Titusville to view the important region.

Other oil-related businesses were quickly established. Eight refineries were built between 1862 and 1868. Drilling tools were needed and several iron works were built. Titusville grew from 250 residents to 10,000 almost overnight and in 1866, it incorporated as a city. In 1871, the first oil exchange in the United States was established there. The exchange moved from the city, but returned in 1881 in a new, brick building, before being dissolved in 1897.[http://www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=447 Explorepahistory.com] Accessed August 8, 2008

The first oil millionaire was Jonathan Watson, a resident of Titusville. He owned the land where Drake's well was drilled. He had been a partner in a lumber business prior to the success of the well. At one time it was said that Titusville had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world.

One resident of note was Franklin S. Tarbell, whose large Italianate home still stands. He first moved a few miles south in Venango County and established a wooden stock tank business. About {{convert|10|mi|km}} south-east of Titusville was another oil boom city, Pithole. Oil was discovered in a rolling meadow there in January 1865 and, by September 1865, the population was 15,000. But the oil soon ran dry and within four years the city was nearly deserted. Tarbell moved to Titusville in 1870. His daughter, Ida Minerva Tarbell, grew up amidst the sounds and smells of the oil industry. She became an accomplished writer and published a series of articles about the business practices of the Standard Oil Company and its president, John D. Rockefeller, which sparked legislative action in Congress concerning monopolies.

Fire was always a significant concern around oil and one of the worst blazes was on June 11, 1880. It came to be known as "Black Friday", when almost {{convert|300000|oilbbl|m3}} of oil burned after an oil tank was hit by lightning. The fire raged for three days until it finally was brought under control. The destroyed oil was valued at $2 million, but there was no loss of life. Another fire occurred on June 5, 1892, when Oil Creek flooded and a tank of petroleum ether overturned. The petroleum ether ignited and, in the ensuing explosions, 60 men, women and children died. Another lightning strike in 1894 resulted in {{convert|27000|oilbbl|L|abbr=off|sp=us}} of oil being lost in a fire.

Oil production in Pennsylvania peaked in 1891, after which other industries became established in Titusville. The iron and steel industries dominated the town in the early twentieth century, with lumber eventually reclaiming its former pre-eminence. Oil still has some relevance, however. Charter Plastics, now located in a building that once manufactured pressure vessels, stationary engines and boilers for the oil industry, uses oil in its production processes.{{cite web |url=http://www.charterplastics.com/|title=Charter Plastics|publisher=Charter Plastics |access-date=March 11, 2020}}

Titusville is located at {{Coord|41|38|N|79|40|W|type:city}} (41.629, −79.674).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|2.9|sqmi}}, all land.

Located 44.4 miles south of Erie, Pennsylvania

83.6 miles North of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

122.9 Miles East of Cleveland, Ohio

120.5 Miles South of Buffalo, New York

78.2 Miles North East of Youngstown, Ohio

{{Weather box

|location = Titusville, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 68

|Feb record high F = 74

|Mar record high F = 81

|Apr record high F = 88

|May record high F = 91

|Jun record high F = 94

|Jul record high F = 100

|Aug record high F = 96

|Sep record high F = 97

|Oct record high F = 87

|Nov record high F = 78

|Dec record high F = 72

|year record high F = 100

|Jan high F = 32.8

|Feb high F = 35.3

|Mar high F = 44.0

|Apr high F = 57.9

|May high F = 69.4

|Jun high F = 77.3

|Jul high F = 81.0

|Aug high F = 79.6

|Sep high F = 73.4

|Oct high F = 61.2

|Nov high F = 48.3

|Dec high F = 37.2

|year high F = 58.1

|Jan mean F = 23.9

|Feb mean F = 24.8

|Mar mean F = 33.1

|Apr mean F = 45.2

|May mean F = 56.4

|Jun mean F = 64.9

|Jul mean F = 68.9

|Aug mean F = 67.3

|Sep mean F = 61.0

|Oct mean F = 49.4

|Nov mean F = 38.6

|Dec mean F = 29.2

|year mean F = 46.9

|Jan low F = 15.0

|Feb low F = 14.3

|Mar low F = 22.3

|Apr low F = 32.5

|May low F = 43.3

|Jun low F = 52.6

|Jul low F = 56.7

|Aug low F = 55.0

|Sep low F = 48.7

|Oct low F = 37.6

|Nov low F = 28.8

|Dec low F = 21.3

|year low F = 35.7

|Jan record low F = −31

|Feb record low F = −37

|Mar record low F = -20

|Apr record low F = 4

|May record low F = 17

|Jun record low F = 26

|Jul record low F = 34

|Aug record low F = 32

|Sep record low F = 21

|Oct record low F = 11

|Nov record low F = -1

|Dec record low F = −22

|year record low F = -37

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.53

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.70

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.49

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.24

|May precipitation inch = 4.05

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.86

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.25

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.58

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.06

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.22

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.63

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.72

|year precipitation inch = 46.33

|Jan snow inch = 24.3

|Feb snow inch = 18.5

|Mar snow inch = 12.5

|Apr snow inch = 2.8

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.8

|Nov snow inch = 8.5

|Dec snow inch = 22.0

|year snow inch = 89.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 18.8

|Feb precipitation days = 15.0

|Mar precipitation days = 14.0

|Apr precipitation days = 14.6

|May precipitation days = 12.9

|Jun precipitation days = 12.8

|Jul precipitation days = 11.4

|Aug precipitation days = 10.6

|Sep precipitation days = 10.4

|Oct precipitation days = 14.1

|Nov precipitation days = 14.4

|Dec precipitation days = 17.4

|year precipitation days = 166.4

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 13.9

|Feb snow days = 10.6

|Mar snow days = 6.7

|Apr snow days = 1.7

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.4

|Nov snow days = 3.9

|Dec snow days = 10.4

|year snow days = 47.6

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=cle

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 7, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00368888&format=pdf

| title = Station: Titusville WTR WKS, PA

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 7, 2021}}

}}

The City of Titusville is located in the southeastern Corner of Crawford County in the Pittsburgh High Plateau. The city is drained by Oil Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Allegheny River, and two tributaries to Oil Creek, Pine Creek, and Church Run. The lowest elevation in the City of Titusville is {{convert|1150|ft|abbr=on}} where Oil Creek flows south of out of the city. The highest elevation is {{convert|1650|ft|abbr=on}} on a high point at the northeastern corner of the city.

{{US Census population

|1850= 245

|1860= 438

|1870= 8639

|1880= 11982

|1890= 12786

|1900= 11738

|1910= 9982

|1920= 8432

|1930= 8055

|1940= 8126

|1950= 8923

|1960= 8356

|1970= 7331

|1980= 6884

|1990= 6434

|2000= 6146

|2010= 5601

|2020= 5262

|footnote=Sources:{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}

}}

As of the 2017 United States Census, there were 5,418 people, 2,397 households, and 1,337 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1931.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,876 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|901.7|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 1.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 2,322 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,978 and the median income for a family was $39,679. Males had a median income of $27,283 versus $20,458 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,915. About 13.0% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

• Crawford Area Transportation Authority
• Titusville Regional Airport

File:Titusville, Pennsylvania (8483326973).jpg

• Titusville Early Refinery
• Edwin L Drake Tombstone
• The John Heisman Memorial
• Oil Creek State Park
• Titusville Oil Exchange{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/apps/historical-markers.html|website=www.phmc.state.pa.us|access-date=May 12, 2020}}

File:Drake Well, June 2012.jpg]]

• The Drake Well Museum and Park- A museum that interprets the birth of the American oil industry in 1859 by "Colonel" Edwin Drake along the banks of Oil Creek in Cherrytree Township, Pennsylvania. The museum collects and preserves related artifacts. The reconstructed Drake Well demonstrates the first practical use of salt drilling techniques for the extraction of petroleum through an oil well. A historic site, the museum is located in Cherrytree Township, 2 miles (4.8 km) south of Titusville on Drake Well Road, situated between Pennsylvania Routes 8 and 27. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
• Tarbell House
• Pithole Museum & Visitor Center- Legendary boomtown that was destroyed by a fire{{Cite web|url=https://www.drakewell.org/what-to-see-and-do/pithole|title=Historic Pithole City {{!}} Drake Well Museum|website=www.drakewell.org|access-date=December 6, 2019}}
• South Franklin Street Bridge- The Historical Steel Bridge located in the Heart of Titusville
• Benson Memorial Library- A historic Victorian style building{{Cite web|url=https://benson.ccfls.org/|title=Benson Memorial Library – 213 North Franklin Street, Titusville, PA 16354-1788 — Phone: 814-827-2913|language=en-US|access-date=December 6, 2019}}
• Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad{{Cite web|url=https://www.octrr.org/|title=Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad – Home|website=www.octrr.org|access-date=December 6, 2019}} is a tourist railroad that runs from Titusville to Rynd Farm north of Oil City.
• Titusville Historical Society & Heritage Center
• Titusville City Hall- National Historic Site
• Great Eastern Cutlery- Knife Factory
• Oil Creek Family Campground in Oil Creek State Park
• Benson Memorial Library
• Burgess Park Splash Pad

• OilFest- Festival in Titusville largest day time festival in Pennsylvania
• Home for the Holidays- Christmas Activities in December in Titusville
• Heart of the Arts folk and music festival
• Titusville Summer Concert Series

The area is served by the Titusville Area School District which includes Titusville High School, Titusville Middle School, Mainstreet Elementary. Pleasantville Elementary, Hydetown Elementary, ECLC.

File:Haskell Memorial Library at University of Pittsburgh Titusville.JPG

• University of Pittsburgh at Titusville
• Northern Pennsylvania Regional College

• Joseph Bushnell Ames (1878–1928), novelist
• Peter Ashmun Ames (1888–1920), British Army intelligence officer
• William Henry Andrews (1846–1919), politician
• J. J. Bleday (b. 1997), baseball player signed to Miami Marlins; attended Titusville High School
• Julien Bryan (1899–1974), photographer, filmmaker, and documentarian during World War II
• Axtell J. Byles (1880–1941), football player and coach
• Shane Callahan, film and television actor
• Edwin L. Drake (1819–1880), first American to successfully drill for oil; discovered in Titusville
• Ralph Dunn (1900–1968), actor and filmmaker
• Thomas Griffin (1857–1933), MLB player
• William Draper Harkins (1873–1951) chemist, notable for his contributions to nuclear chemistry
• Ray Harroun (1879–1968), race car driver; first Indianapolis 500 winner
• Thomas Hazzard (1871–1957), football player and Christian minister
• John Heisman (1869–1936), player and coach of football, baseball, and basketball, as well as a sportswriter and actor
• Helen Jepson (1904–1997), opera singer
• Paul S. L. Johnson (1873–1950), scholar and pastor, founder of the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement
• Harry Jordan (1873–1920), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Leal Mack (1892-1962), illustrator and painter
• R. A. Mihailoff, actor and wrestler
• David N. Ott (1937–2020), Maine state representative and lawyer
• John E. Peterson (b. 1938), congressman
• Dane Rauschenberg (b. 1976), endurance athlete
• Rocky Reynolds, professional wrestler; former four-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
• Jeannie Seely (b. 1940), Grand Ole Opry Star
• John Washington Steele (1843–1920), flamboyant oilman, first millionaire from oil
• Ida Tarbell (1857–1944), teacher, journalist
• Ray Tesser (1912–1982), NFL player
• Francis Thompson, film director
• A. Leo Weil (1858–1938), lawyer

• American rapper Afroman says, "Did a show that night in Titusville/Afro is the tightest and that's for real" in the song "Pimpin Pennsylvania".{{Cite web|url=http://www.songlyrics.com/afroman/pimpin-pennsylvania-lyrics/|title=Pimpin' Pennsylvania – Afroman|website=SongLyrics.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 27, 2020}}
• American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Johnny Cash mentioned the story of Titusville and performed a song about it on the Johnny Cash Show in 1970.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/HxxtrK___n4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201223095346/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxxtrK___n4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxxtrK___n4| title = J. Cash – Ride This Train Story 34 [The Year 1859, to Titusville, Pennsylvania] | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

• Oil Region

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Titusville, Pennsylvania}}

• {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Titusville |volume=26 |page=1033 |short=x}}
• [http://www.cityoftitusvillepa.gov City of Titusville official website]

{{Crawford County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Pennsylvania

Category:Populated places established in 1796

Category:Cities in Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Category:1796 establishments in Pennsylvania