ORLEANS COUNTY
County Offices
3 South Main Street
Albion 585-589-7053
https://www.orleansny.com/
Chamber of Commerce
102 North Main Street
Albion 585-589-7727
https://orleanschamber.com/
Home to fewer than 50,000 residents, rural Orleans County lies in the northwest section of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area. Major highways serving this area include the Lake Ontario State Parkway and state routes 18, 31, 63, 98, and 104. In addition to preserving scores of historic buildings and sites, Orleans County is also home to Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas and a section of the vast Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The natural treasures that drove development of this region still attract businesses and newcomers to a rare quality of life.
Services
Residents of Orleans County never have to travel far to access state-of-the-art healthcare services and the finest of professional care. Orleans Community Health, which began as Medina Memorial Hospital in 1908, points to more than 100 years of clinical excellence in a patient-centered atmosphere. Orleans Community Health is the only system in the county and its full-service, acute-care hospital has the only 24-hour fully staffed emergency department in Orleans, eastern Niagara, and northern Genesee counties. Centrally located in Medina Village, Orleans Community Health Center Medina Hospital has a Critical Access Hospital designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Orleans Community Health in Albion provides an urgent care facility and a wide range of primary care and outpatient services that include women’s health, pediatrics, and rehabilitation therapies. Dialysis centers, a long-term home health agency, accredited acute physical rehabilitation beds, and skilled nursing home beds combine with other programs and services to meet every routine and many specialized needs. Within a reasonable commute, Greater Rochester and Buffalo are home to highly respected and even nationally ranked hospitals and medical systems.
Educational excellence begins on grassroots levels in Orleans County, home to progressive school districts staffed by dedicated teachers. Higher education can begin affordably and conveniently at the Albion Campus for Genesee Community College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. SUNY GCC opened the Albion Campus Center in 1990 as its first expansion and now provides a wealth of resources that include computer labs and high-tech SMART classrooms, an art room, video conferencing capability, study lab, student lounge, and attractive outdoor patio. The Albion Campus Center is also home to a satellite art gallery for the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, which presents exhibits throughout the year. High school students also benefit from SUNY GCC with tuition discounts on courses that earn college credit and an SAT/ACT Math Review Boot Camp. SUNY GCC opened the Medina Campus Center in 2007, expanding classroom space and adding science and computer labs. Home to award-winning faculty members, the college provides a Microenterprise Program for Small Businesses in collaboration with the Orleans Economic Development Agency. Two-year, four-year, pre-professional, and professional degrees are all available within an easy commute to any number of outstanding institutions. The Rochester Area Colleges Consortium alone encompasses more than 20 public and private colleges and universities.
Lifestyle
Nestled on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Orleans County invites newcomers to enjoy a peaceful rural atmosphere with easy access to first-rate urban advantages. Well-known for world-class sports fishing and agricultural production, the county excels in natural beauty, quaint Victorian villages, friendly communities, homespun pleasures, and a rich history. Unique features like the Erie Canal and the Seaway Trail combine with railroading history to make Orleans County popular with tourists, particularly during the summer and autumn months. Waterfront restaurants, historic and modern lodging, picturesque marinas, and sprawling parkland serve visitors and residents alike. Natural treasures abound in this region of lake plains, quiet streams, and wooded marshes. Wonderful parks include the 11-acre Orleans County Marine Park, Lakeside Beach State Park, and the Orleans County Marine Park—all located in Carleton Town. Hunting, fishing, hiking, cycling, camping, horseback riding, winter sports, nature study, and water sports are popular outdoor activities.
Scenes reminiscent of early America wait around every corner in Orleans County, from antiques, fine collectibles, or handcrafted goods displayed in charming Victorian shops to “cobblestone country” or the craftsmanship and culinary delights throughout rural Amish and Mennonite communities. Artist studios are scattered through the towns and villages, featuring unique creations and stunning crafts. Agribusiness thrives in this post-glacial region of exceptionally rich soil, from farmer’s markets and roadside stands to popular wineries. The Media Railroad Museum is housed in a 1905 wooden freight depot and features interactive displays, thousands of artifacts and memorabilia, and a model railroad along with historic fire-fighting equipment. The museum also sponsors excursion train trips and family-oriented events like Thomas the Tank Engine and Day Out with Thomas. The open-air attraction of Cobblestone Museum promotes the study of 1800-era cobblestone construction methods in Victorian and wood structures. Another point of pride is the Oak Orchard Lighthouse and Museum at Point Breeze, reconstructed in 2010 to proudly stand as a jewel of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. From its lovely landscapes to friendly communities and homes that range from historic to contemporary, Orleans County is an idyllic place to call home.
COMMUNITIES
Albion Village/Town, Gaines Town, Barre Town
Village Hall
555-589-9176
https://villageofalbionny.com/
Albion Town Hall
585-589-7048
http://www.townofalbion.com/
Gaines Town Hall
585-589-4592
https://www.townofgaines.org/
Barre Town Hall
585-589-1000
https://townofbarreny.com/
Chamber of Commerce
585-589-7727
https://orleanschamber.com/
Serving as the county seat of government and a hub of education and commerce, Albion Village stretches between the towns of Albion and Gaines in central Orleans County. Residents enjoy a serene lifestyle in quaint village neighborhoods or open country living throughout the surrounding towns just 30 miles from Rochester. The village is ideally located at the junction of Routes 31 and 98, the latter joining with Route 279 just north of Albion. The village offers an urgent and primary healthcare center, a wonderful library, a branch campus for Genesee Community College, and a pleasing mix of services and commercial development. The adjacent town of Barre is located midway between Buffalo and Rochester, drawing newcomers to fresh country air and thriving agricultural enterprises. Nearby fishing and boating opportunities combine with easy access to theatre, concerts, and major sports attractions to offer residents the best of all worlds.
Medina Village, Ridgeway Town, Shelby Town
Village Hall
585-798-1790
https://villagemedina.org/
Ridgeway Town Hall
585-798-0730
https://townridgeway.org/
Shelby Town Hall
585-798-3120
https://townofshelbyny.org/
Chamber of Commerce
585-589-7727
https://orleanschamber.com/
“Where history lives on the banks of the Erie Canal” is the slogan chosen by the Village of Medina, joining Albion as a hub for healthcare, education, and commerce for the surrounding rural population. Downtown Medina offers a charming atmosphere of historic architecture that houses wonderful shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants along with businesses like kayak and bicycle rentals. Hometown activities and simple pleasures include Cruise Nights each Friday during the summer months, a showcase of live music, great food, and dozens of classic cars in Medina’s Canal Basin. The village maintains a number of lush parks that dot the landscape with attractive green space and recreational opportunities, including the Canal Basin Park with docking facilities and other amenities. Genesee Community College maintains a campus center in Medina, which is also home to the flagship hospital for Albion Community Health. The surrounding towns of Ridgeway and Shelby offer a rural atmosphere within minutes of Medina’s expanded amenities and a short commute to Great Rochester. Shelby is also home to part of the Iroquois National Wildlife refuge along with many successful manufacturing, industrial, and multigenerational farming operations.
Yates Town, Lyndonville Village, Carleton Town
Yates Town Hall
585-765-9716
https://townofyates.org/
Village Hall
585-765-9385
www.villageoflyndonville.com
Carleton Town Hall
585-682-4358
https://townofcarlton.org/
Chamber of Commerce
585-589-7727
https://orleanschamber.com/
Billing itself as the “Gateway to Lake Ontario,” the picturesque community of Carleton is home to three large parks for outstanding recreational opportunities. Lakeside Beach State Park provides breathtaking views of Lake Ontario and surrounding farmland. Hundreds of campsites, miles of hiking and cycling trails, lakefront fishing, picnicking, disc golfing, and athletic fields make this a popular destination. During the winter months, the park hosts cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Oak Orchard Marine State Park and Orleans County Marine Park are popular with boaters and anglers alike. Yates Town is situated in the northeast corner of the county on Lake Ontario, home to the Village of Lyndonville and a number of tiny hamlets. Residents enjoy a rural lifestyle midway between the urban advantage of Buffalo and Rochester in an area well-served by several major state highways. The quaint village also features the natural beauty of Johnson’s Creek. In addition to agricultural activity, this picturesque area features marinas, restaurants, unique shops, cottages, and bed and breakfast inns.
Murray Town, Holley Village, Kendall Town
Murray Town Hall
585-638-6570
https://townofmurray.org/
Village Hall
585-638-6367
http://villageofholley.org/
Kendall Town Hall
585-659-8721
https://www.townofkendall.com/
Chamber of Commerce
585-589-7727
https://orleanschamber.com/
Situated along the eastern border of Orleans County, the Town of Murray is northwest of the City of Rochester. The picturesque Erie Canal meanders through the town, which is well-served by state routes 31, 104, and 387 for quick commutes to regional attractions and employment centers. In the southeastern section along the Erie Canal lies the Village of Holley, although the town is home to a number of tiny hamlets. Remnants of the area’s past booming quarry businesses are still evident in several of Holley’s sandstone structures, where the historic Village Square is surrounded by convenient shops and services. Canal Park is a point of pride and community gathering place for picnics, walks, concerts, playground fun, fishing, or just enjoying the beauty of Holley Falls. The village offers stores, churches, clubs, a library, a community center, and a museum that also serve the surrounding rural communities. The Town of Kendall adds a popular attraction with its annual Community Scarecrow Festival.
