Olean, New York

Olean is a city in southwest New York State, near the Pennsylvania border. Occupying an area of 6.2 square miles on the Allegheny River, Olean has a current population of just over 14,000, making it the largest city in Cattaraugus County. Olean's business interests cover a mix of manufacturing, high-tech and service areas. Significant employers include Dresser-Rand, Inc., Cytec Industries and Alcas Corporation. Rock City Park, a local scenic attraction since 1890, is prized for its unusual formations of prehistoric quartz conglomerate, or puddingstone.

In 1804, Major Adam Hoops purchased and settled on a 20,000-acre tract of land on the Allegheny River, which was then a major route for westward expansion. Grist and saw mills were soon built, and a thriving lumber industry established. By 1823, the settlement had adopted the name of Olean. In 1851 and 1872, the Erie-Lackawanna and Pennsylvania Railroads provided access to the Pennsylvania oilfields and made Olean a desirable location for refineries and storage yards. The Wing, Wilbur & Company refinery opened in 1877, followed by Standard Oil Company of New York in 1884. In 1893, Olean incorporated as a city. By the 1920s, Olean had the largest petroleum storage facilities in the world, with a tank farm of more than 100,000 acres, and a pipeline connecting the city with Standard Oil's Bayonne, NJ refinery. Socony merged with Vacuum Oil Company in 1931 and continued as a major presence in Olean until 1954. Although the oil industry is no longer prominent in Olean, other industries which relocated to the city in the early 20th century remain. In 1912, the Clark Bros. Company began producing steam engines for the oil industry. During World War II, they produced marine diesel engines and compressors, a process continued by their successor, Dresser-Rand, today. Olean is also home to the iconic KA-BAR military knife, first produced by the Union Cutlery Company (est. 1911), and currently made by a division of Alcas Corporation.

Olean's legacy of industry has made asbestos exposure in the workplace a continuing concern. Workers exposed to asbestos may be at risk for mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer. Mesothelioma treatment options in and around Olean are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma in Olean, you may also benefit from seeking the advice of a mesothelioma lawyer.

Jobsites in Olean where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Olean, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Olean, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Olean, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.