Orleans County, New York

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Not to be confused with Orleans, New York.
Orleans County
County
County Courthouse in Albion
County Courthouse in Albion
Flag of Orleans County
Flag
Official seal of Orleans County
Seal
Map of New York highlighting Orleans County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°22′N 78°14′W / 43.37°N 78.23°W / 43.37; -78.23
Country United States
State New York
Founded1824
Named forHouse of Orléans
SeatAlbion
Largest villageAlbion
Area
 • Total817 sq mi (2,120 km2)
 • Land391 sq mi (1,010 km2)
 • Water426 sq mi (1,100 km2)  52%
Population
 (2020)
 • TotalDecrease 40,343
 • Density103/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district27th
Websiteorleanscountyny.com

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.[1] The county received its name at the insistence of Nehemiah Ingersoll[2] though historians are unsure how the name was selected.[3] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[4] 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,[5] a dispute arose about naming it after President Andrew Jackson or President John Adams.[3] 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 km2), of which 391 square miles (1,010 km2) is land and 426 square miles (1,100 km2) (52%) is water.[6]

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[]

Major highways[]

National protected area[]

State protected areas[]

Government and politics[]

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[7]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 66.8% 12,126 30.8% 5,587 2.4% 441
2016 66.8% 10,936 27.3% 4,470 6.0% 974
2012 58.4% 8,594 39.4% 5,787 2.2% 325
2008 58.5% 9,708 39.9% 6,614 1.6% 262
2004 62.2% 10,317 36.0% 5,959 1.8% 301
2000 58.1% 9,202 37.8% 5,991 4.1% 651
1996 45.0% 6,865 40.8% 6,233 14.2% 2,170
1992 44.6% 7,468 29.4% 4,927 26.0% 4,359
1988 60.0% 9,028 39.3% 5,913 0.8% 114
1984 70.2% 10,543 29.5% 4,429 0.4% 52
1980 51.6% 7,536 39.5% 5,767 9.0% 1,308
1976 59.9% 8,994 39.5% 5,927 0.7% 102
1972 71.4% 10,938 28.5% 4,371 0.1% 20
1968 60.7% 8,509 34.1% 4,786 5.2% 729
1964 37.4% 5,567 62.5% 9,304 0.2% 25
1960 65.2% 10,344 34.8% 5,515 0.0% 5
1956 77.5% 11,895 22.6% 3,464 0.0% 0
1952 75.0% 11,686 25.0% 3,893 0.1% 8
1948 69.2% 9,566 29.0% 4,009 1.9% 259
1944 71.3% 9,998 28.6% 4,006 0.2% 22
1940 70.6% 10,958 29.2% 4,525 0.2% 36
1936 70.5% 10,569 26.8% 4,016 2.7% 409
1932 68.0% 9,735 30.1% 4,303 2.0% 283
1928 68.8% 9,828 26.5% 3,792 4.7% 672
1924 71.9% 8,543 19.5% 2,320 8.6% 1,017
1920 72.8% 8,305 19.9% 2,266 7.4% 839
1916 64.4% 4,903 33.2% 2,529 2.4% 180
1912 41.4% 2,983 33.9% 2,448 24.7% 1,781
1908 62.3% 4,885 33.0% 2,590 4.7% 365
1904 63.5% 5,027 31.6% 2,502 4.9% 389
1900 59.1% 4,667 36.1% 2,851 4.7% 373
1896 59.0% 4,664 37.8% 2,993 3.2% 252
1892 52.3% 4,013 39.9% 3,065 7.8% 596
1888 52.0% 4,277 39.1% 3,214 9.0% 737
1884 52.3% 3,997 38.0% 2,907 9.7% 737

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 election from 1828 until 1852.

County government[]

Orleans County legislature[]

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

Orleans County elected officials[]

Office Officeholder Party
County Judge Sanford A. Church Republican
District Attorney Joseph V. Cardone Republican
County Clerk Karen A. Lake-Maynard 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 27th congressional district Chris Jacobs Republican 2020 Buffalo, Erie 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:

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
183017,732—
184025,12741.7%
185028,50113.4%
186028,7170.8%
187027,689−3.6%
188030,1288.8%
189030,8032.2%
190030,164−2.1%
191032,0006.1%
192028,619−10.6%
193028,7950.6%
194027,760−3.6%
195029,8327.5%
196034,15914.5%
197037,3059.2%
198038,4963.2%
199041,8468.7%
200044,1715.6%
201042,883−2.9%
202040,343−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12]

As of the census[13] of 2010,[14] there were 42,883 people, 16,119 households, and 10,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile (44/km2). There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km2). 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.

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,[15] are:

  • (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.[16]

Private school

There is currently one non-denominational K-12 school in the county.

  • Orleans County Christian School[17]

College

One college maintains satellite campuses in Orleans County.[15]

Recreation[]

Libraries[]

Orleans County has 4 public libraries serving its population.[18]

  • 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 3 museums that are open to the public.

  • The Cobblestone Museum
  • Medina Railroad Museum
  • Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum

Parks[]

There are two State Parks and many municipal parks spread throughout the 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
The town and village borders

Towns[]

Hamlets[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ Lattin, C.W. (January 23, 1981). "Early County History - Part II". Journal-Register.
  3. ^ a b c Lattin, Cary (1976). Orleans County History. Albion, NY: Eddy Printing Corp. p. 20.
  4. ^ a b Signor, Issac (1894). Landmarks of Orleans County New York. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Company. pp. 1.
  5. ^ Signor, Isaac (1894). Landmarks of Orleans County New York. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Company. pp. 2–5.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  7. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "Orleans County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Orleans County Visitors". Orleans County New York. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  16. ^ "Component Districts". Orleans/Niagara BOCES. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  17. ^ "Orleans County Christian School". Orleans County Christian School. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  18. ^ "NIOGA Library System". New York State Library. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

External links[]

Coordinates: 43°22′N 78°14′W / 43.37°N 78.23°W / 43.37; -78.23

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