Orleans County, New York

History When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Orleans County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of 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, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryon County, contained the 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 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.

In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County in order to honor the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, Ontario County was split off from Montgomery.

In 1802, Genesee County was created by a splitting of Ontario County . This was much larger than the present Genesee County, however, containing the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties, and parts of Livingston and Monroe Counties.

In 1806, Genesee County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Allegany County. In 1808, Genesee County was further reduced in size by the splitting off of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties. Niagara County at that time also included the present Erie County.

In 1821, Genesee County was reduced in size by the splitting off of portions which were combined with portions of Ontario County to create Livingston and Monroe Counties. By this time Genesee County had been reduced considerably in size from its original area of 1802, still containing the present Orleans and Wyoming Counties in addition to its present area, however.

In 1824, Orleans County was created from what was left of Genesee County.

Geography Orleans County is in western New York State, northeast of Buffalo and west of Rochester, on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,117 km² (817 mi²). 1,014 km² (391 mi²) of it is land and 1,104 km² (426 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 52.12% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density is 44/km² (113/mi²). There are 17,347 housing units at an average density of 17/km² (44/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 89.12% White, 7.31% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 15,363 households out of which 35.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% are married couples living together, 11.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% are non-families. 23.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.65 and the average family size is 3.13.

In the county the population is spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $37,972, and the median income for a family is $42,830. Males have a median income of $32,450 versus $22,605 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,457. 10.80% of the population and 7.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 15.00% are under the age of 18 and 5.20% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Albion
• Barre
• Carlton
• Clarendon
• Gaines
• Holley
• Kendall
• Lyndonville
• Medina
• Murray
• Ridgeway
• Shelby
• Yates