Titusville: Where the modern oil industry began with Drake's Well, which kicked off the Pennsylvania oil rush.
A small industrial community of just over 5,500 residents, Titusville is located in Northwestern Pennsylvania
Titusville: Where the modern oil industry began with Drake's Well, which kicked off the Pennsylvania oil rush.
A small industrial community of just over 5,500 residents, Titusville is located in Northwestern Pennsylvania. An old oil town that has developed and grown over the years, the town is a tight and friendly community. It's a great area for outdoorsy folk, with lots of acreage to explore and outdoor festivals going on seemingly every month.
Moving to Titusville
What to Expect
With Titusville being an oil boom town, a lot of the housing units in town date back to the early 20th century, or even further back. Almost 49 percent of the units in the town are considered historic. Another 28 percent were constructed between 1940 and 1969, so you might need to take a good look around your potential apartment or duplex for rent to see what kind of problems can crop up. Given the nasty winter weather and the cold winds that can blow in off of Lake Erie, you really want to keep an eye on how doors and windows seal to avoid drafts.
Lead Time
The housing market in Titusville is pretty steady, and there's not a huge housing crunch, so you won't need all that long of a lead time to find a spot. Two or three weeks' time should be enough, especially if you make sure you have the appropriate references and proof of employment, such as pay stubs. All of this, along with the full security deposit -- which shouldn't be all that hefty, given that Titusville's average rent is below the state and national average -- should make sure that you don't have to wait long between applying and getting approved for a place.
Single-Family Housing Paradise
A full 62 percent of the housing units in town are single-family detached houses, so finding full rental homes in Titusville isn't all that difficult. That's great for folks who need a little bit of space between themselves and their neighbors. Only 3% of housing units are townhomes or duplexes, so if you are looking for these, leave yourself at least three months to find what you are looking for.
Titusville's Neighborhoods
There are three distinct neighborhoods in Titusville, all with their own amenities, favorite local places and housing options.
City Center: City Center is a wonderfully walkable neighborhood that is a combination of retail, residential and commercial buildings, as well as government and municipal services. If you want to be in the middle of everything, you can find rental apartments just off the center of town, and sometimes even entire rental homes. Once you settle down, you can enjoy the numerous shops and even stumble home from Titusville's brewery, the Blue Canoe Brewery.
Northwest Titusville: This neighborhood is mostly residential, with a little bit of commercial and retail mixed throughout. It's somewhat walkable as far as just wandering around, but there isn't much in the way of necessities within walking distance of many of the homes. This neighborhood is mostly single-family houses, so it's a great place to start looking for rental homes in Titusville. Best of all, Titusville Area Hospital is right there in the neighborhood.
Eastern Titusville: If you're looking for an apartment for rent in an apartment complex, this is the neighborhood to look in. The Von Bora Place and Titusville Manor Apartments are great spot to start searching in Titusville. You will need a car to get around in this area of town -- unless you are a super athlete -- even getting a pizza from Pasquale's Pizza and Sub's is a bit of a drive.
Living in Titusville
Getting around Titusville isn't all that bad. A number of areas are easy to walk or bike. You may not want to walk, however, in the bitter cold of winter, especially with the cold wind cutting in off of Lake Erie. A heavy jacket may do the trick, but the Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is a much warmer transportation choice, and it runs some limited routes in the area and provides daily routes as well as some door-to-door transportation if needed. Service can be limited, particularly on holidays, so most folks will find having a car on hand is still necessary.
The big yearly to-do in the area is the Titusville Oil Festival, a get-together that brings out the entire town to eat, drink, play and enjoy lots of entertainment. This two-day event includes a parade, a car show, concerts and plenty of games for young and old alike. It's not the only festival in town, though. The yearly Drake's Folly Beerfest attracts craft brewers from all over the western half of Pennsylvania. Titusville also supports the arts, with the Heart of the Art Folk Music and Art Festival, which has workshops led by national performing artists.
The great outdoors beckons just outside of Titusville, so anyone who likes to spend days at a time enjoying outdoor pursuits will have tons of fun. A few minutes to the east is the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania's only National Forest, that covers over 500,000 acres of land. There are hundreds of miles of trails to be explored, and plenty of open water for boating and fishing. They even have trails set out for all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, and over 600 campsites that can be reserved for overnight stays.
Having been built around the oil industry, Titusville still centers a lot of activities around its past. The Drake Well Museum tells the story of how the modern oil industry got its start, with special events and educational programs. You can turn it into a whole day with the Oil Creek State Park surrounding the museum. There are bike and hiking trails and picnic pavilions, and you can get out onto Oil Creek for fishing and canoeing. You can even hop on the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad for a scenic ride up and down through the region.
The restaurants in Titusville are centered in the downtown area, mostly within a few blocks. There are quite a few national chain restaurants, but there are some local favorite's as well. Missy's Arcade Restaurant is well-known for high quality, American diner fare. Y You've only got Lin's China Wok Buffet for international flavor. If home cooking is your thing, check out the Titusville Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays for locally raised produce and meats, locally crafted cheese and jams, and artisanal breads.
