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63-597: The Canandaigua and Corning Railroad Company was incorporated by a special act of the New York Legislature on May 14, 1845, to build between the two points named, and the Chemung Railroad was incorporated on the same date. The Chemung RR was the first to finish its line, from Horseheads , on the New York and Erie Railroad , to Watkins Glen (then known as Jefferson), on Seneca Lake , in 1850. It

126-565: A concurring opinion : "[A]s I recall my esteemed former colleague, Thurgood Marshall , remarking on numerous occasions: 'The Constitution does not prohibit legislatures from enacting stupid laws. ' " There is said to be a compact to which members of the New York Legislature unofficially adhere a code of silence regarding behavior such as illicit extramarital affairs or other embarrassing behavior. Olean, New York Olean ( / ˈ oʊ l i æ n / OH -lee-ann )

189-508: A single-member district . The New York Constitution allows the number of Senate seats to vary; as of 2014 , the Senate had 63 seats. The Assembly is headed by the speaker , while the Senate is headed by the president, a post held ex officio by the State lieutenant governor . the lieutenant governor, as president of the Senate, has only a tie-breaking " casting vote ". More often, the Senate

252-569: A French explorer in 1632, but it was rediscovered for commercial use during the Pennsylvania oil rush . Oil became the city's claim to fame for fifty years. Olean was the railroad and pipeline hub for the surrounding oil region. The operations HQ of Standard Oil's New York affiliate, Socony , was based in the city. Oil produced on both sides of the state line (e.g. in Bradford, Pennsylvania ) would be transported to Olean for rail travel. For

315-400: A city in 1893. Olean was a rival of the comparably-populated, but much newer, city of Salamanca, New York at the turn of the 20th century, but the decline of the timber industry in southwestern Cattaraugus County and complications with Salamanca being situated on borrowed Seneca Nation land allowed Olean to continue growing while Salamanca declined. Oil was first discovered in the region by

378-648: A connection at Gorham would not soon be forthcoming, and the line between Gorham and the Elmira, Jefferson & Canandaigua RR connection at Stanley was abandoned on February 16, 1873. The Sodus Point & Southern RR was sold at foreclosure on September 21, 1875, and reorganized on November 30, 1875, as the Ontario Southern Railroad Company. The Geneva and Southwestern Railway Company was incorporated in New York on May 29, 1871, to build

441-470: A female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

504-608: A line from Geneva (at the head of Seneca Lake and on the New York Central) to Wayland . The Rochester, Hornellsville, and Pine Creek Railroad Company was incorporated in New York on March 30, 1872, to build from Olean east to Hornellsville; then south to the Pennsylvania state line to connect with the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and State Line Railroad . The Geneva Southwestern and Hornellsville Railway Company

567-518: A north–south highway. As a result of its higher elevation, Olean has a cooler humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) than the larger western New York cities with hot-summer humid continental climates (Dfa). As of the census of 2000, there were 15,347 people, 6,446 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,588.0 inhabitants per square mile (999.2/km ). There were 7,121 housing units at an average density of 1,200.8 per square mile (463.6/km ). The racial makeup of

630-693: A receiver was appointed on July 1, 1858; the Chemung RR reverting to Erie operation. The bankrupt railroad was sold at foreclosure on July 23, 1858, to Charles Congdon and Robert B. Potter. On August 25, 1858, the foreclosed Canandaigua and Niagara Falls RR was reorganized as the Niagara Bridge and Canandaigua Railroad , which was leased to the New York Central on September 1, 1858. It was regauged to 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge , depriving

693-455: A short time, Olean was the world's largest oil depot, complete with a "tank city" on the edge of town. A pipeline was also built linking the city to Standard Oil refineries in Bayonne, New Jersey . The oil industry maintained a presence in the city until 1954, the same year in which Olean's population peaked. Oil also produced Olean's highest-ranking politician. Oil executive Frank W. Higgins

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756-690: A shortline railroad that has also operated portions of the former Pennsylvania Railroad Buffalo Line, both north and south of its Olean headquarters, since 2007. Until January 6, 1970, the Erie Lackawanna Railroad operated through Olean with the Chicago - Hoboken, New Jersey " Lake Cities": the last passenger train to traverse the entire Southern Tier. The Erie and the PRR train stations were about one mile (1.6 km) apart. The nearest general commercial airports with scheduled flights for

819-472: A situation which endures into today with the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad . Olean was the home of several corporations. During the late-19th century, Olean had a few mills, a bicycle company, a manufacturer of mechanical pumps and a glass works, among other factories. St. Bonaventure University was founded just outside town in 1858. Olean was incorporated as a village in 1854, and as

882-519: A subsidiary of the Northern Central, which built a coal trestle at the terminus at Sodus Bay. The Chemung RR, Elmira, Jefferson & Canandaigua RR, and Sodus Bay & Southern Ry. were consolidated on December 31, 1886, to form the Elmira and Lake Ontario Railroad Company, a continuous line from the Erie interchange at Horseheads to Sodus Point, with a branch from Stanley to Canandaigua. It

945-612: 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 . The city is surrounded by the town of Olean and is located in the southeastern part of Cattaraugus County. The first European in

1008-509: Is presided over by the temporary president, or by a senator of the majority leader's choosing. The assembly speaker and Senate majority leader control the assignment of committees and leadership positions, along with control of the agenda in their chambers. The two are considered powerful statewide leaders and along with the governor of New York control most of the agenda of state business in New York. The Legislative Bill Drafting Commission (LBDC) aids in drafting legislation; advises as to

1071-622: Is within the city. St. Bonaventure University is a few miles to the west in the town of Allegany . Bradner Stadium , originally built in the 1920s, is a multi-purpose stadium which for years was once the home to the minor-league baseball teams the Olean Oilers . However, in 2012 the Olean Oilers were recreated. The Oilers currently play in the New York Collegiate Baseball League or NYCBL and won

1134-453: The Buffalo, New York and Erie Railroad ; the line to be given a third ( standard gauge ) rail by May 1, when the lease was to take effect. The Sodus Point and Southern Rail Road Company was incorporated on March 19, 1852, under the general law of New York State . The railroad was not finished until January 16, 1873, when it opened between Sodus Point and Gorham . It became apparent that

1197-532: The New York and Pennsylvania Railroad . However, the Panic of 1873 brought work on these railroads to a halt, never to resume. The Gaines and State Line Rail Road Company was incorporated on November 4, 1875, in Pennsylvania. It was intended as another outlet for the RH&;PC, to run from a connection at the state line through Potter and Tioga Counties to West Branch Township, Pennsylvania . On November 12, 1875,

1260-756: 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

1323-870: The United States Post Office . The Church of St Mary of the Angels on Henley Street was built in 1915 and was designated by Pope Francis as a basilica in 2017. Interstate 86 spans east–west and is to the northern edge of Olean. New York Route 16 heads north from Olean to Buffalo . New York Route 417 heads east from Olean. Until 1968, the Pennsylvania Railroad operated the Buffalo Day Express heading north from Washington, D.C., through Olean to Buffalo (the Baltimore Day Express operated on

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1386-478: The poverty line , including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over. Olean has two elementary schools , East View Elementary and Washington West Elementary; a middle school , Olean Intermediate Middle School; and Olean High School is the city's public high school . It was the site of the 1974 Olean High School shooting . Archbishop Walsh Academy is Olean's Roman Catholic school for grades K-12. A branch of Jamestown Community College

1449-548: 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 . Originally the entire territory of the county of Cattaraugus

1512-543: The 1840s, New York launched the first great wave of civil procedure reform in the United States by enacting the Field Code . The Code inspired the enactment of similar codes in 26 other states, and gave birth to the term " code pleading " for the system of civil procedure it created. The first African-American elected to the legislature was Edward A. Johnson , a Republican, in 1917. The first women elected to

1575-707: The 2018 elections, Democrats won control of the State Senate and increased their majority in the State Assembly. At the beginning of the 2019–2020 legislative session, the Senate Democratic Conference held 39 of the chamber's 63 seats and the Assembly Democratic Conference held 106 of the 150 seats in that chamber. The Senate Democratic Conference increased to 40 seats after Democratic senator Simcha Felder

1638-471: The Allegheny River in 1862, but the Allegheny's shallowness and the rise of the railroads rendered it obsolete before it even opened. Timber was a major industry in New York and Pennsylvania between 1830 and 1850, and Olean was the chief timber town in the region during those times. After river travel declined Olean became the regional railroad hub. The town was the crossroads of several railroads,

1701-633: The Canandaigua & Elmira RR, giving it access to the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge . The Canandaigua & Elmira RR was sold at foreclosure on April 23, 1857, to George B. Holmes and was reorganized on May 2, 1857, as the Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Rail Road Company, continuing to operate the Chemung RR. On November 6, 1857, the Canandaigua & Niagara Falls RR was also sold under foreclosure. The Elmira, Canandaigua & Niagara Falls RR went bankrupt, and

1764-708: The Elmira & Lake Ontario a year later. On January 31, 1956, the Elmira & Lake Ontario was merged into the Northern Central Railway . New York Legislature Minority caucus Minority caucus The New York State Legislature consists of the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York : the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly . The Constitution of New York does not designate an official term for

1827-457: The Erie of a broad gauge connection to Niagara Falls. The foreclosed Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls RR was reorganized on February 18, 1859, as the Elmira, Jefferson and Canandaigua Railroad Company. The Erie continued to operate the Elmira, Jefferson & Canandaigua RR, which in turn operated the Chemung RR, until January 19, 1866. The two lines were then leased to the Northern Central Railway to replace an unsatisfactory joint routing over

1890-469: The Geneva & Southwestern Ry. was consolidated with the Geneva, Southwestern & Hornellsville Ry. to form The Geneva and Hornellsville Railway. The Geneva & Hornellsville Ry., Gaines & State Line RR and Rochester, Hornellsville & Pine Creek RR were consolidated on January 13, 1876, to form The Geneva, Hornellsville and Pine Creek Railway Company. The Geneva, Hornellsville & Pine Creek Ry.

1953-785: The League Championship in 2015 and 2016. Between 1908 and 1916, Olean hosted minor league baseball preceding the Oilers. The Olean Refiners played as a member of the Class D level Interstate League . Beginning in 2017, the "Olean Oilers," have continued play in the New York Collegiate League, a summer collegiate baseball league. Olean is also the home of the Southern Tier Diesel adult amateur football team. Bradner Stadium also hosts

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2016-649: The New York State Legislature, which is the highest paid state legislature in the country. Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year. Both Assembly members and Senators serve two-year terms. In order to be a member of either house, one must be a citizen of the United States , a resident of the state of New York for at least five years, and a resident of the district for at least one year prior to election. The Assembly consists of 150 members; they are each chosen from

2079-711: The Olean High School football team. The Huskies play all of their home games in the stadium located in East Olean. The following are listed on the National Register of Historic Places : Beardsley-Oliver House , Conklin Mountain House , Oak Hill Park Historic District , Olean Armory , Olean Public Library , Olean School No. 10 , St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex , Temple B'Nai Israel , Union and State Streets Historic District , and

2142-646: The amendment becomes valid if agreed to by the voters at a referendum . The legislature originated in the revolutionary New York Provincial Congress , assembled by rebels when the New York General Assembly would not send delegates to the Continental Congress . The New York State Legislature has had several corruption scandals during its existence. These include the Black Horse Cavalry and Canal Ring . In

2205-582: 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 , 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 Iroquois speaking people. In 1643, the Wenro tribes became the first victims of a series of brutal conflicts known as

2268-510: The city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km ), of which 5.9 square miles (15.3 km ) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km ), or 4.19%, is water. The city is located where Olean Creek flows into the Allegheny River and by the Southern Tier Expressway ( Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17 ). New York State Route 417 passes east–west through the city and intersects New York State Route 16 ,

2331-413: The city was 93.31% White , 3.47% Black or African American , 0.43% Native American , 0.89% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.43% from other races , and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population. There were 6,446 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had

2394-569: The constitutionality, consistency or effect of proposed legislation; conducts research; and publishes and maintains the documents of the Legislature, such as the Laws of New York . The LBDC consists of two commissioners, the commissioner for administration and the commissioner for operations, each appointed jointly by the temporary president of the Senate and the speaker of the Assembly. In

2457-463: The first letter you may have occasion to write to me, after I receive the survey, to the Mouth of Olean. The bearer being properly instructed, there will be thereafter no difficulty. Your co-operation in the matter (the effect of which, though not important in itself, may be so on account of precision) will oblige. Your servant, A. HOOPS The Post Office recognized the new town as "Olean Point". The site

2520-576: The land and gave it its modern name. Hoops was a surveyor and Revolutionary War veteran, and was politically connected with Robert Morris , the financier of the Revolution. Along with Morris, Hoops became involved with the Holland Land Company , which was settling western New York. This was a time of great western expansion into places such as Ohio and Indiana . Since neither canals nor railroads had become widespread by this point,

2583-492: The largest city in Cattaraugus County. The city's population peaked at an estimated 25,000 during the mid-1950s. The current population of the city is around 15,000. Olean is located in southeastern Cattaraugus County at 42°4′57″N 78°25′51″W  /  42.08250°N 78.43083°W  / 42.08250; -78.43083 (42.08264, -78.430965). According to the United States Census Bureau ,

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2646-496: The legislature were Republican Ida Sammis and Democrat Mary Lilly , both in 1919. The first African-American woman elected to the legislature was Bessie A. Buchanan in 1955. Five assemblymen were expelled in 1920 for belonging to the Socialist Party . In 2008, when the U.S. Supreme Court reluctantly affirmed the constitutionality of a statute enacted by the New York legislature, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in

2709-401: The main means of travel was either by cart or small-boat travel. The Allegheny River was a major transportation route. Hoops believed that a great city could be created at the confluence of the Allegheny and one of its tributaries and went looking for the right spot. In 1804 he found a spot where Olean Creek meets the river; the confluence was important as it was the farthest point downstream in

2772-399: The most famous gang leader of the time, visited Olean in pursuance of his illegal endeavors. Olean was nicknamed "Little Chicago" in the press, due to its connection with mobsters and bootleggers, and Capone was a frequent visitor. In September 1968, Olean was the first city in the United States to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime. Olean is

2835-466: The name Olean from the local Oil Springs and the Latin word oleum : Canandaigua, N.Y., April 15, 1804 "To Joseph ELLICOTT, Esq., Batavia, New York . Dear Sir,―It was proposed to me at New York to drop the Indian name of Ischue or Ischua (it is also spelt other ways). Confusion might arise from the various spellings, of which to obviate all risk I have concluded so to do as proposed. The neighborhood of

2898-438: The oil spring suggests a name different in sound, though perhaps not different in meaning, which I wish to adopt,―it is "Olean." You will do me a favor by assisting me to establish this name. It may easily be done now by your concurrence. The purpose will be most effectually answered by employing the term, when occasion requires, without saying anything of an intended change of name. To begin, you will greatly oblige me by addressing

2961-500: The southbound version of the route). The Penn Central railroad operated an unnamed successor train through Olean from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Buffalo between 1968 and May 1, 1971, when passenger train service in the region ended with the inception of Amtrak. Since 2001, the former Erie Lackawanna Railway mainline between Hornell, NY and Meadville, PA has been operated by the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad,

3024-562: The state before hitting the Seneca Reservation that surrounded most of New York's piece of the river. Hoops received title to 20,000 acres (81 km ) from the Holland Land Company in 1804. Hoops' brother Robert came to the site and built the first permanent structure near today's Forness Park, calling the area Hamilton in honor of Alexander Hamilton . In a letter to Joseph Ellicott in 1804, Hoops discusses

3087-540: The two houses together; it says only that the state's legislative power "shall be vested in the senate and assembly". Session laws passed by the Legislature are published in the official Laws of New York . Permanent New York laws of a general nature are codified in the Consolidated Laws of New York . As of January 2021 , the Democratic Party holds supermajorities in both houses of

3150-469: The violator was responsible for a crime committed in his jurisdiction. As long as you kept your nose clean in the Olean City limits, it was a "safe haven". Local stories relating to this period are numerous. Some are documented and some are legends. Olean, located on a back-road route between Chicago and New York City , was often frequented by famous mobsters of the era. Al Capone of Chicago, probably

3213-651: Was governor of New York in 1905–1907. Higgins' family owned grocery stores in the area, and Higgins also ran this business before his political career. To this day, Olean is one of the few smaller cities in New York State to be home to a governor. Olean garnered notoriety as a major stop on bootlegging routes during Prohibition through the 1920s until 1933. Dempsey, the Chief of Police , did not condone these thugs or their illegal activities. He did not aggressively pursue arrests, however, unless he had evidence that

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3276-408: Was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 30,400, and the median income for a family was $ 38,355. Males had a median income of $ 32,341 versus $ 22,469 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,169. About 13.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below

3339-409: Was appointed clerk of Olean. Adam Hoops's dream of creating a major transportation hub on the Allegheny River, on the scale of a Buffalo or a Pittsburgh , was never realized and he himself died in poverty. Nonetheless, Olean prospered and was soon the central town of the region. Olean grew quickly as a transportation hub for migrants taking the Allegheny River into Ohio . For much of this era Olean

3402-524: Was called the Town of Olean, formed March 11, 1808. As population allowed, the county was split in half and the top half was called "Hebe", and was taken off in 1812, a part of Perrysburgh in 1814, then Great Valley in 1818. Hinsdale formed in 1820, and Portville in 1837, leaving the current boundary of Olean that lies upon the south line of the county, near the southeast corner. The area remained sparsely populated until 1804, when Major Adam Hoops acquired

3465-545: Was incorporated in New York on November 29, 1872, to extend the Geneva & Southwestern Ry. to Hornellsville and connect it with the Rochester, Hornellsville & Pine Creek Ry. Some grading was done by the Geneva & Southwestern Ry. between Geneva and Naples , which was later used by the Lehigh Valley Naples Branch, and by the RH&PC between Canisteo and Rexville , which was later used by

3528-583: Was larger and better known than its northern competitor Buffalo. This period ended with the creation of the great canals, especially the Erie Canal in 1825. The Allegheny River was usually too shallow for the larger steamboats to navigate, except in the spring, and only two steamboats—the Allegheny in 1830 and the New Castle of 1837—reached the city. A Genesee Valley Canal was extended to Olean and

3591-437: Was leased and operated by the Northern Central, which reached it via the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad , another subsidiary, and trackage rights over the Erie from Elmira to Horseheads. The lease was transferred to the PRR, which controlled the Northern Central, on January 1, 1911. A short line from Canandaigua to a pier on Canandaigua Lake was built by the Canandaigua Lake Railroad Company, incorporated July 21, 1887, which

3654-402: Was merged into the Elmira & Lake Ontario on December 27, 1888. The principal purpose of the railroad was to serve as an outlet for coal shipments from the mines tapped by the Northern Central, using the coal pier at Sodus Bay to ship to markets on the Great Lakes . Parent Pennsylvania Railroad acquired control of the connecting Newark and Marion Railway on May 4, 1930, and merged it into

3717-400: Was merged with the Ontario Southern RR on December 17, 1879, to form The Lake Ontario Southern Railway Company. One of the backers of the Sodus Point & Southern RR was E. H. Harriman , who hoped to sell it to the Erie or the Northern Central. It was sold at foreclosure on September 4, 1882, and reorganized as the Sodus Bay and Southern Railway Company on November 5, 1882. In 1884, it became

3780-417: Was operated as a branch of the Erie, and accordingly used 6 ft ( 1,829 mm ) broad gauge . On March 8, 1850, another act authorized the Canandaigua & Corning to change its name to the Canandaigua & Elmira and connect with the Chemung RR . It opened a line between the Chemung RR at Jefferson and Canandaigua on September 15, 1851, and was also operated by the Erie. On September 14, 1852, it

3843-426: Was re-accepted into the Conference. The Legislature is empowered to make law, subject to the governor's power to veto a bill. However, the veto may be overridden by the Legislature if there is a two-thirds vote in favor of overriding in each House. Furthermore, it has the power to propose New York Constitution amendments by a majority vote , and then another majority vote following an election. If so proposed,

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3906-407: Was renamed the Canandaigua and Elmira Railroad Company. On January 1, 1853, the Erie ceased to operate the two railroads, and the Chemung RR was run as part of the Canandaigua & Elmira, now an independent operation. On July 1, 1853, the Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad opened between Canandaigua and North Tonawanda . It was also 6 ft ( 1,829 mm ) broad gauge, and was leased by

3969-442: Was surveyed by 1808, and a map from that year shows a basic street pattern that still survives, along with most of the modern street names. In 1823, the city is called Olean, without the "Point", on county maps. In 1854 Olean was formally incorporated by the New York State Legislature , and the trustees elected at the first subsequent town meeting were Lambert Thithney, C.B.B. Barse, Charles Thing, and John K. Comstock. Enos C. Brooks

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