Orleans County, New York

Not to be confused with Orleans, New York.
Orleans County, New York
County courthouse and clerk's office in Albion

Seal
Map of New York highlighting Orleans County
Location in the state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location in the U.S.
Founded 1824
Named for House of Orléans
Seat Albion
Largest town Albion
Area
 • Total 817 sq mi (2,116 km2)
 • Land 391 sq mi (1,013 km2)
 • Water 426 sq mi (1,103 km2), 52%
Population
 • (2010) 42,883
 • Density 110/sq mi (42/km²)
Congressional district 27th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.orleansny.com

Orleans County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,883.[1] The county seat is Albion.[2] The name is in honor of the French Royal House of Orleans.

Orleans County is part of the Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Orleans County was part of Albany County. When the county was formed, a dispute arose about naming it after Andrew Jackson or John Adams; the conflict was ended by choosing the name Orleans. 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

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.[3]

The high proportion of water is due to the extension of Orleans County north into Lake Ontario to the Canadian 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 underwater is actually 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.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

State protected areas

Government and politics

Orleans County is governed by a seven–member legislature headed by a chairman.

State and federal government

Office District Area of the county Officeholder Party First took office Residence
Congressman New York's 27th congressional district All[4] Christopher C. Collins Republican 2013 Clarence, Erie County
State Senator 62nd State Senate District All[5] George D. Maziarz Republican 1995 Newfane, Niagara County
State Assemblyman 139th State Assembly District All[6] 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%
Est. 201342,235−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 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 89.12% White, 7.31% Black or 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.3% were of German, 18.3% English, 10.8% Italian, 10.3% Irish, 9.4% American and 7.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 3.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 15,363 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,972, and the median income for a family was $42,830. Males had a median income of $32,450 versus $22,605 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,457. About 7.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The county is considered to have 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:

The only post-secondary education available in the county are two branches of Genesee Community College located in Albion and Medina.

Communities

The town and village borders

Towns

Villages

Hamlets

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ W, Eric (2012-04-02). "Congressional District 27" (PDF). View 2012 Congressional Maps. Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
  5. ↑ W, Eric (2012-03-02). "Senate District 62" (PDF). View 2012 Senate District Maps. Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
  6. ↑ W, Eric (2012-01-25). "Assembly District 139" (PDF). View Proposed 2012 Assembly District Maps. Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

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

 Lake Ontario
Niagara County Monroe County
   Orleans County, New York  
Erie County Genesee County