Venango County was once home to a world-record-breaking aviation experiment. In 1886, balloonist Mary Hawley took off from Franklin on a natural gas-powered flight, completing a swift, high-altitude journey that placed the Oil Region at the forefront of early flight history.

Venango County’s oil boom did more than fuel the industry—it brought the railroads that powered the region’s growth. From bustling depots in Oil City to rural stops across the county, trains carried people, goods, and opportunity through the heart of the Oil Region.