Oil City is a city in
Venango County, Pennsylvania, that is known in the initial exploration and development of the
petroleum industry. After the first
oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the
Pennzoil,
Quaker State, and
Wolf's Head motor oil companies. Tourism plays a prominent role in the region by promoting oil heritage sites, nature trails, and
Victorian architecture. The population was 10,557 at the
2010 census, and is the principal city of the
Oil City, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.