Indians had known of the oil in western Pennsylvania, and had made some use of it for many years before the mid-19th century.
The US natural gas industry started in 1821 at Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, when William Hart dug a well to a depth of 27ft into gas-bearing shale, then drilled a borehole 43ft further, and piped the natural gas to a nearby inn where it was burned for illumination.