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.

The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.

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.

[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.

[3] During and following the Napoleonic era in France, numerous French refugees came to New York, some settling in the upstate areas.

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.

When its construction was completed in 1824, it attracted new settlers to the largely rural 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.

https://orleanscountytourism.com/history/ There are two major dams on Oak Orchard Creek that have created public boating areas.

[21] The county's Department of Public Works is headquartered in Albion and is charged with maintaining roads, including:[22] Each town and village within Orleans County maintains its own highway department.