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G.A.R. Memorial, Lincoln Park, Olean, New York - 20210730
New York›Cattaraugus County

OleanNY

A town of 1,664, settled in 1765. Nearly 0% of it is conserved land.

6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,664
−4.2% since 2010
Median home value
$159K
Census ACS
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
53.8
years
Jobs based here
970
Balanced

What makes Olean stand out

The 3 things Olean does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Olean’s report card

See the data ↓

Now in Olean

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The data

Ordered by what stands out in Olean. Another town gets a different order.

Work & commute

Most working residents commute out of Olean

Most working residents leave Olean for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Olean (25%), Allegany (13%) and Portville (9%). Half commute less than 8 miles.

5%work in town

Where working residents work

In Olean5%
Olean25%
Allegany13%
Portville9%
Little Valley4%
8 mi
median commute distance
970
jobs based in Olean
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors

0% of Olean is conserved land

35 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.

#149for trails in NY
0%
conserved · 5 of 18,900 acres
35 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
#329
most conserved land in NY
#123
most walkable in NY
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health

Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns

Olean beats the New York average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14.

C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. New York
0 better18 too close to call14 worse
What stands outOleanNY
More adults with COPD9.3%6%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth19.4%12.8%
More smokers16.8%11.3%
Olean General Hospital
2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
16th
percentile among NY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate

Snowy winters, pleasant summers

Olean has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 65 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

65″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter17–35°
Spring32–58°
Summer54–79°
Fall38–61°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Schools

Olean’s public schools outperform 43% of New York districts

The public schools Olean’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 57% of New York’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

C+School Grade
SchoolGradesStudentsGrade
Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BocesK–12452Not graded
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NY on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Natural hazards

Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.

52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
52Moderate riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingTornadoes
21
paid flood claims since 1996
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Burning oil tanks at Olean.Alternate Title: Stereoscopic views of the oil country
c. 1860 · Burning oil tanks at Olean.Alternate Title: Stereoscopic views of the oil country · Wikimedia Commons
Olean’s story

261 years in pictures

1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.

Explore the history →

Famous people from Olean

26 notable people were born in Olean.

See all 26 →

About Olean

City in New York, United States

Official town website ↗

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. As of the 2020 census, Olean had a population of 13,937. The city is surrounded by the town of Olean and is located in the southeastern part of Cattaraugus County.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1765
Population
13,937
Area
6.2 sq mi
Elevation
1,463 ft
ZIP code
14760

Olean’s neighbors

6 towns share a border with Olean.

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More about Olean

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Photo of Olean

Olean, NY · Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗