Fortunately, current trends are favoring Cattaraugus County in terms of economic diversity. Our rural, agricultural economy has become much more diversified over the past 10 to 15 years because of our unique natural assets, geographic location and highway access. Tourism is a major area of new growth. It is driven by a variety of attractions and events based on natural resources, and the ingenuity of entrepreneurs.
Outdoor recreation includes skiing, hiking, biking, camping, golfing, hunting, and fishing.
The people behind our special events and recreational attractions are reaching out to these markets, making this one of western New York's major centers for fun and enjoyment. These major tourism destinations, when put together with the many other unique tourism attractions and destinations in the County, make a significant engine for our local economy. We have economic engines other than tourism, of course, which sustain our overall employment base of 41,500 jobs. The City of Olean is our County's largest urban area with a full range of services. The Greater Olean area has truly grown to be a major retail hub for Southern Tier counties and neighboring Pennsylvania to the south.