# Orleans County, New York

Orleans County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,343. The county seat is Albion. The county received its name at the insistence of Nehemiah Ingersoll though historians are unsure how the name was selected. The two competing theories are that it was named to honor the French Royal House of Orleans or that it was to honor Andrew Jackson's victory in New Orleans. The county is part of the Finger Lakes region of the state.
Located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, Orleans County since the late 20th century has been considered part of the Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

When counties were established by the British authorities in the province of New York in 1683, the present Orleans County was part of the territory of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of present-day New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.
On March 12, 1772, the remaining Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. Tryon County contained the large western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the Mohawk River valley, the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York. This western area was occupied largely by the Onondaga, Oneida and other western nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. The westernmost European settlements were in the area of Little Falls and present-day Herkimer.
During the unrest prior to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, feelings ran high in the Mohawk Valley, and there were local attacks by rebels against known Loyalists. Most of Tryon County's Loyalists fled to Canada before 1776, where they were later granted land by the Crown to develop what is now Ontario.
In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, Tryon County's name was changed to Montgomery County to honor the general, Richard Montgomery. He had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec. It replaced the name of the now hated colonial British governor. In 1789, Ontario County split off from Montgomery. During this period, thousands of migrants settled in the western part of the state from New England and eastern New York resulting in the creation of more counties.
In 1802, Genesee County was created by splitting Ontario County. Genesee County was then divided into Allegany County in 1806, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties in 1808, Ontario, Livingston, and Monroe Counties in 1821, and finally Orleans County in 1824.
When Orleans County was formed in 1824, a dispute arose about naming it after President Andrew Jackson or President John Adams. During and following the Napoleonic era in France, numerous French refugees came to New York, some settling in the upstate areas.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 817 square miles (2,120 km$^2$), of which 391 square miles (1,010 km$^2$) is land and 426 square miles (1,100 km$^2$) (52%) is water.
The high proportion of water is due to the extension of Orleans County north into Lake Ontario to the Canada–US border (a line of latitude running through the middle of the lake). The distance from the Orleans shore north to the international border is greater than the distance from the shore south to the Genesee County line, meaning the area of Orleans under water is greater than that above water.
Orleans County is in western New York State, northeast of Buffalo and west of Rochester, on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.
The Erie Canal passes (east–west) through the middle of the county. When its construction was completed in 1824, it attracted new settlers to the largely rural county. Trade and passenger traffic stimulated the development of local businesses.

### Adjacent counties

* Monroe County - east
* Genesee County - south
* Niagara County - west

### National protected area

* Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (part)

### State protected areas

* Lakeside Beach State Park
* Oak Orchard State Marine Park
* Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area
* Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area

## Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Orleans County, New York :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 12,659 | 70.05% | 5,366 | 29.69% | 46 | 0.25% |
| 2020 | 12,126 | 66.80% | 5,587 | 30.78% | 441 | 2.43% |
| 2016 | 10,936 | 66.76% | 4,470 | 27.29% | 974 | 5.95% |
| 2012 | 8,594 | 58.44% | 5,787 | 39.35% | 325 | 2.21% |
| 2008 | 9,708 | 58.54% | 6,614 | 39.88% | 262 | 1.58% |
| 2004 | 10,317 | 62.24% | 5,959 | 35.95% | 301 | 1.82% |
| 2000 | 9,202 | 58.08% | 5,991 | 37.81% | 651 | 4.11% |
| 1996 | 6,865 | 44.96% | 6,233 | 40.82% | 2,170 | 14.21% |
| 1992 | 7,468 | 44.57% | 4,927 | 29.41% | 4,359 | 26.02% |
| 1988 | 9,028 | 59.97% | 5,913 | 39.28% | 114 | 0.76% |
| 1984 | 10,543 | 70.17% | 4,429 | 29.48% | 52 | 0.35% |
| 1980 | 7,536 | 51.58% | 5,767 | 39.47% | 1,308 | 8.95% |
| 1976 | 8,994 | 59.87% | 5,927 | 39.45% | 102 | 0.68% |
| 1972 | 10,938 | 71.35% | 4,371 | 28.51% | 20 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 8,509 | 60.67% | 4,786 | 34.13% | 729 | 5.20% |
| 1964 | 5,567 | 37.37% | 9,304 | 62.46% | 25 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 10,344 | 65.20% | 5,515 | 34.76% | 5 | 0.03% |
| 1956 | 11,895 | 77.45% | 3,464 | 22.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 11,686 | 74.97% | 3,893 | 24.98% | 8 | 0.05% |
| 1948 | 9,566 | 69.15% | 4,009 | 28.98% | 259 | 1.87% |
| 1944 | 9,998 | 71.28% | 4,006 | 28.56% | 22 | 0.16% |
| 1940 | 10,958 | 70.61% | 4,525 | 29.16% | 36 | 0.23% |
| 1936 | 10,569 | 70.49% | 4,016 | 26.78% | 409 | 2.73% |
| 1932 | 9,735 | 67.98% | 4,303 | 30.05% | 283 | 1.98% |
| 1928 | 9,828 | 68.77% | 3,792 | 26.53% | 672 | 4.70% |
| 1924 | 8,543 | 71.91% | 2,320 | 19.53% | 1,017 | 8.56% |
| 1920 | 8,305 | 72.79% | 2,266 | 19.86% | 839 | 7.35% |
| 1916 | 4,903 | 64.41% | 2,529 | 33.22% | 180 | 2.36% |
| 1912 | 2,983 | 41.36% | 2,448 | 33.94% | 1,781 | 24.69% |
| 1908 | 4,885 | 62.31% | 2,590 | 33.04% | 365 | 4.66% |
| 1904 | 5,027 | 63.49% | 2,502 | 31.60% | 389 | 4.91% |
| 1900 | 4,667 | 59.14% | 2,851 | 36.13% | 373 | 4.73% |
| 1896 | 4,664 | 58.97% | 2,993 | 37.84% | 252 | 3.19% |
| 1892 | 4,013 | 52.29% | 3,065 | 39.94% | 596 | 7.77% |
| 1888 | 4,277 | 51.98% | 3,214 | 39.06% | 737 | 8.96% |
| 1884 | 3,997 | 52.31% | 2,907 | 38.04% | 737 | 9.65% |
Starting in 1824, the county government was run by a board of supervisors, consisting of elected supervisors from each township in Orleans County. This geographic representation meant that the residents of more urbanized areas were underrepresented on the board.
In 1980, the state and county established a seven-member elected legislature to replace the board of supervisors. Representatives are elected from single-member districts roughly equal in population. It is headed by a chairman.
Orleans County is heavily Republican. It has voted Republican in every presidential election since the party's founding in 1856, except for one, 1964. It also voted Whig in every presidential election from 1828 until 1852.

### County government
#### Orleans County legislature

| Office | District | Area of the county | Officeholder | Party | Residence |
| County Legislator - Vice Chairman | District 1 | Barre, Clarendon, Shelby | William H. Eick | Republican | Medina |
| County Legislator - Chairwoman | District 2 | Ridgeway, Yates, Shelby | Lynne M. Johnson | Republican | Lyndonville |
| County Legislator - Minority Leader | District 3 | Albion, Gaines | Fred Miller | Democratic | Albion |
| County Legislator | District 4 | Carlton, Kendall, Murray | John M. Fitzak | Republican | Kendall |
| County Legislator | At Large | West | Merle L. "Skip" Draper | Republican | Ridgeway |
| County Legislator | At Large | Central | Don Allport | Republican | Albion |
| County Legislator | At Large | East | Edward F. Morgan | Republican | Holley |

#### Orleans County elected officials

| Office | Officeholder | Party |
| County Judge | Sanford A. Church | Republican |
| District Attorney | Joseph V. Cardone | Republican |
| County Clerk | Nadine P. Hanlon | Republican |
| County Treasurer | Kimberly C. L. DeFrank | Republican |
| Chief Coroner | Scott M. Schmidt | Republican |
| Coroner | Rocco L. Sidari | Republican |
| Coroner | Charles M. Smith | Republican |

#### State and federal government

| Office | District | Officeholder | Party | First took office | Residence |
| Congressman | New York's 25th congressional district | Joe Morelle | Democratic | 2018 | Irondequoit, Monroe County |
| Congressman | New York's 24th congressional district | Claudia Tenney | Republican | 2023 | New Hartford, Oneida County |
| State Senator | 62nd State Senate District | Rob Ortt | Republican | 2015 | North Tonawanda, Niagara County |
| State Assemblyman | 139th State Assembly District | Stephen M. Hawley | Republican | 2006 | Batavia, Genesee County |
Orleans County is part of:
* The 8th Judicial District of the New York Supreme Court
* The 4th Division of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division

## Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 42,883 people, 16,119 households, and 10,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 inhabitants per square mile (44/km$^2$). There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 units per square mile (17/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 89.8% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 4.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to Census 2000, 20.3% were of German, 18.3% English, 10.8% Italian, 10.3% Irish, 9.4% American and 7.3% Polish ancestry and 96.0% spoke English and 3.0% Spanish as their first language.
Census 2010 showed there were 16,119 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,731. Males had a median income of $32,450 versus $22,605 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,457. About 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line.

### 2020 Census

Orleans County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 34,037 | 84.4% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,840 | 4.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 177 | 0.5% |
| Asian (NH) | 154 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 12 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,036 | 5.04% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,087 | 5.2% |

## Education

Public schools
The county has five school districts, although the actual district boundaries can extend into neighboring counties, and the same is true for neighboring counties' districts. The five districts, from west to east, are:
* Lyndonville Central School District (northern half of western third, roughly covering Lyndonville village and the towns of Yates and Ridgeway)
* Medina Central School District (southern half of western third, roughly covering Medina village and the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby)
* Albion Central School District (middle third, roughly covering Albion village and the towns of Carlton, Gaines, Albion, and Barre)
* Kendall Central School District (northern half of eastern third, roughly covering the towns of Kendall and Murray)
* Holley Central School District (southern half of eastern third, roughly covering Holley village and the towns of Murray and Clarendon)
Each of these school districts participates in Orleans/Niagara BOCES or Monroe #2-Orleans BOCES.
Private school
There is currently one non-denominational K-12 school in the county.
* Orleans County Christian School
College
One college maintains satellite campuses in Orleans County.
* Genesee Community College - Albion (This campus has been declared defunct, with all staff & operations moved to Medina campus)
* Genesee Community College - Medina

## Recreation

The County of Orleans has created an interactive map of notable places for visitors to see while visiting the county.
https://orleanscountytourism.com/history/

### Lakes

There are two major dams on Oak Orchard Creek that have created public boating areas.
* Waterport Pond in the town of Carlton also called lake Alice by locals.
* Glenwood Lake in the town of Ridgeway and the village of Medina

### Libraries

Orleans County has 4 public libraries serving its population.
* Community Free Library, located in Holley
* Hoag Library, located in Albion
* Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, located in Medina
* Yates Community Library, located in Lyndonville

### Museums

Orleans County has 6 museums that are open to the public.
* Clarendon Historical Society Museum & Farwell's Settlement
* The Cobblestone Museum
* Holley Depot Museum
* Medina Railroad Museum
* Murray-Holley Historical Society
* Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum

### Parks

There are two State Parks and many municipal parks spread throughout the county.
* Lakeside Beach State Park
* Oak Orchard Marine State Park

## Transportation

Orleans County has eight private airstrips and one public-use airport:
* Pine Hill Airport (New York) (9G6)
RTS Orleans provides bus service to Orleans County. The county's Department of Public Works is headquartered in Albion and is charged with maintaining roads, including:
* Overseeing construction and repair of county roads, bridges, and ditches
* Removing snow and ice
Each town and village within Orleans County maintains its own highway department.

### Major roadways

* New York State Route 18
* New York State Route 31
* New York State Route 31A
* New York State Route 31E
* New York State Route 63
* New York State Route 98
* New York State Route 104
* New York State Route 237
* New York State Route 269
* New York State Route 272
* New York State Route 279
* New York State Route 387
* Lake Ontario State Parkway
* List of county routes in Orleans County, New York
The former New York State Route 941M was located in Orleans County.

## Communities
### Larger Settlements

All larger settlements are Villages
| # | Location | Population |
| 1 | Medina | 6,065 |
| 2 | †Albion | 6,056 |
| 3 | Holley | 1,811 |
| 4 | Lyndonville | 838 |

### Towns

* Albion
* Barre
* Carlton
* Clarendon
* Gaines
* Kendall
* Murray
* Ridgeway
* Shelby
* Yates

### Villages

* Albion (county seat)
* Holley
* Lyndonville
* Medina

### Hamlets

* Ashwood
* Barre Center
* Baldwin Corner
* Brockville
* Carlton Station
* Childs
* County Line
* Eagle Harbor
* East Shelby
* Fancher
* Gaines
* Hindsburg
* Hulberton
* Jeddo
* Jones Beach
* Kendall Mills
* Kent
* Kenyonville
* Knowlesville
* Kuckville
* Lomond Shore
* Millers
* Millville
* Oak Orchard
* Point Breeze
* Sawyer
* Shadigee
* Shelby Center
* Sunset Beach
* Yates Center
* Waterport
* West Barre
* West Gaines
* West Shelby