The Phillips and Woodford Wells on Tarr Farm, north of Oil City, Pennsylvania, in 1873.

Boomtown Legacy

Ryan Hilton, Engineer

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    Oil Discoveries in Pennsylvania and Beyond (Feb. 20, 1860)

    Oil Discoveries in Pennsylvania and Beyond (Feb. 20, 1860)

    Feb 20, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    An 1860 report on oil discoveries in Pennsylvania and other countries, highlighting early uses of petroleum worldwide and its growing commercial potential.

    Read more

  • This Day in Oil History
    Allegheny Valley Railroad, Tidioute, & More: Feb. 18, 1871

    Allegheny Valley Railroad, Tidioute, & More: Feb. 18, 1871

    Feb 18, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    The 1871 oil boom spurred growth in Tidioute and Oil City, with new wells, business expansion, and the Allegheny Valley Railroad improving transportation.

    Read more

  • This Day in Oil History
    Oil Boom Fortunes: From Poverty to Riches in 1865

    Oil Boom Fortunes: From Poverty to Riches in 1865

    Feb 16, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    In 1865, the Pennsylvania oil boom proved that with luck and timing, anyone could strike it rich—turning struggling speculators into overnight millionaires.

    Read more

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Boomtown Legacy

Blogging about 19th-century oil fever in Pennsylvania.


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About the author

I’m Ryan Hilton, a petroleum engineer with Chevron.

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