The oil boom shaped Titusville’s downtown and economy
Titusville earned its title, “Birthplace of the Oil Industry,” when oil was struck in the northwestern region of Pennsylvania in 1859. An economic boom followed the discovery, and downtown was established near the city’s iron works. Today, many of the original Italianate buildings are home to local taphouses, restaurants and shops. The city’s business district, museums and residential areas cover about 30 miles of roadway, and many farms and open spaces surround them. “The lifestyle is a little slower. You’re getting away from the busyness of the main cities and moving into country living,” says Karen Puckly, Realtor at Re/Max Real Estate Group with over a decade of experience. Erie is about 45 miles away.
Historic homes on small, downtown lots and others on larger properties
Many homes on downtown’s gridded streets are original to the area. They were built between the early to mid 1900s and often have less than a half-acre of property. Architectural styles include Victorians and Craftsman bungalows. Prices range from around $20,000 to $180,000. “You also have a lot of agricultural homes, homes with a lot of acreage and farms,” Puckly says. Houses on larger properties are farther from downtown and include ranch-style homes and multi-story traditional homes, many with over a half-acre to over 3 acres of land. Depending on their condition and age, homes on larger properties are priced between about $40,000 and $570,000.
Oil Creek flows through the region, and the surrounding areas have an elevated flood risk. Homebuyers are advised to learn which flood zone they occupy and purchase proper insurance.
Local shops and restaurants downtown and a Giant Eagle nearby
Downtown Titusville is home to Maria’s Italian Restaurant and Missy’s Arcade Restaurant, a 1950s-themed diner with barstool seating and Coca-Cola artwork. Titusville Iron Works on South Franklin Street has a taphouse, restaurant and museum with exhibits about the old factory and oil industry. During the 1860s, the site was filled with machinery that made iron tanks, steam engines and well drilling tools. Today, it has various antique signs and automobiles in the dining room and stage area, where musicians play Friday through Sunday. Local shops include Titusville Market Square, on North Franklin Street, which sells artisan goods, comic books and farm products. A Giant Eagle supermarket is in the area.
Oil history inspires a museum, train rides and a festival
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad is a vintage freight station that hosts train rides through Oil Creek State Park. Some rides highlight local history, and others are themed holiday experiences. The Drake Well Museum marks the spot where oil was found, launching the local oil industry. Museum artifacts include oil field machinery. Downtown embraces the area’s industrial past by hosting the two-day Oil Festival in August, featuring a parade, food vendors and a kid zone with games.
Trails, a state park and Ed Myer Complex’s athletic facilities
The Drake Well BMX track is in the 38-acre Ed Myer Complex, which includes a track and field facility, soccer and baseball fields, and tennis and sand volleyball courts. Queen City Trail runs for nearly 2 miles, with some segments off-road around the sports complex and others that share the road with cars. The trail meets the almost 10-mile Oil Creek State Park Bicycle Trail near the Jersey Bridge. Over 52 miles of trail wind through the state park, where Oil Creek flows and kayaks and canoes glide across the water. Burgess Park includes a skate park, splash pad and playground. It is also home to the Titusville Community Center and a local sledding hill. Scheide Park hosts Titusville Open Air Market from June through mid-October on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
State highways to nearby cities, public transit and travel to Erie
Pennsylvania Route 27 connects Titusville to Meadville, the county seat of Crawford County, about 28 miles away. Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) serves the area with fixed bus routes. One CATA route runs PA-27 between downtown Meadville and Titusville, with a timed stop at the Titusville Area Hospital. Another route travels Pennsylvania Route 8 to Oil City’s central business district, nearly 16 miles south. PA-8 also leads to Erie, around a 45-mile drive away. Erie International Airport offers nonstop flights to Charlotte, Tampa and Orlando.
Attending Titusville Area schools and dual enrollment course options
Titusville Area School District serves the area and offers open enrollment, so students living outside the district’s attendance boundaries can apply to attend its schools. The district includes an Early Childhood Education Center, a kindergarten-only school, which Niche gives a B-minus. Several elementary schools educate those in grades 1 through 5. Many homes are zoned for the B-minus graded Main Street Elementary. Titusville Middle is the only sixth through eighth-grade school in the district, and it earns a C. Titusville High School scores a C-plus and offers dual enrollment courses with support from University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
