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Olean
New York, United States
Olean, city, Cattaraugus county, western New York, U.S. It lies along the Allegheny River at the mouth of Olean Creek, 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Buffalo. First settled in 1804 as a lumber camp, its name is derived from the word oleum (i.e., oil) for the oil deposits found in the vicinity; the first settler child born there was named Olean Shepard. Olean became an embarkation point for settlers bound for the Ohio River valley in flatboats, and a town (township) was organized in 1808. Because of Olean’s proximity to the Pennsylvania oil fields, an oil-based economy developed there; ...(100 of 156 words)