You can see a copy of the Background Study here, or pick up a copy from Cornplanter, Oil City, or Rouseville offices, but please, plan on attending one of the public meetings. It's at these meetings that you can provide your comments to the Consultant and to the participant community leaders.
If you take a look at the Background Study, you'll see that it's divided into several chapters: Demographics (the study of numbers as they relate to people); Land Use; Physical, Natural and Historic Resources; Housing; Community Facilities and Public Utilities; Transportation; and the Economy.
While an in-depth review of the Study is beyond the scope of this Blog, we'll provide a few brief highlights from the background study here.
Background Study Highlights
- In the 30-year period between 1970 and 2000, the study area lost nearly 20% of its population. While the pattern of change varied in this 30-year period--both Oil City (-3,529) and Rouseville (-405) lost population while Cornplanter grew (+296)--all three municipalities lost population between 1990 and 2000.
- The loss is happening in great part because there is an out-migration of the crucial age demographic of 20- to 34-year-olds. If this out-migration continues, there will be a decline in school enrollment and a steady erosion of the next critical age bracket, the 35 to 64 cohorts. A continued outmigration will also affect wage taxes and the real estate market, with fewer new homebuyers. Further, those over 65 will increase in number.
- The history of the region is a microcosm of the industrial revolution. Oil, refining, shipping, and support industries were the economic lifeblood of the area for over one hundred years. At one time, the population of Pithole alone was higher than the current population of the entire study area.
- Though the Oil Creek Valley, the epicenter of the oil boom, has returned largely to its rural past, many remnants of prosperous times are still visible, especially in Oil City. Therefore, there are many historic resources available to the Study communities.
- Much has been written about the quality of housing in Venango County. There can be little doubt that during economic boom times in Oil City, and to a lesser extent in Cornplanter and Rouseville, homes were built everywhere, including areas that we would now consider not appropriate for development. Many of the units built in marginal locations are no longer market attractive.
- Further, the housing stock is older, with most houses being built before 1958; there is too much of it (to many vacancies); and there are not enough of the kinds of houses buyers would prefer to purchase.
- According to economic development professionals, the County’s economy is now feeling the effects of the National recession. Generally, the area is not affected by short-term variations. However, many manufacturers are 30% to 60% behind their normal employment levels.
- Additionally, the Oil Regional Alliance has expressed its concern that some local businesses may not survive a long-term slow down. They emphasize that many of the smaller operations are subcontractors to larger operations. While these firms may not be in the immediate study area, businesses in the study area rely upon a healthy overall county/ regional economy.
