Government
Orleans County is blessed with natural beauty, quaint Victorian villages and a rich history.  From the Erie Canal and the Seaway Trail, to railroading history and world class sportfishing, Orleans County is a popular destination with small town USA appeal.

Agriculture is our number one industry and you may sample “guaranteed fresh” fruits and vegetables at a roadside farm market.  Bring a basket to pick your own!  Learn about our farming heritage with a tour of the Country Barn Quilt Trail.  Over 50 quilt blocks each tell a story of farm families.  And we celebrate the harvest with family-oriented festivals in the summer and fall.

Railroading history thrives in Orleans County.  In the quaint Victorian village of Medina step back in time to the heydays of the rail era at the Medina Railroad Museum showcasing the New York Central Railroad.  Hop aboard at the Museum for a vintage train excursion along the Erie Canal.  At Albion’s historic Courthouse Square visit a church built by George Pullman, inventor of the rail sleeping car, or take a ride through an apple orchard aboard a trolley train.

The Cobblestone Museum features an architectural style popular from 1830 to 1860.  A narrated tour of seven buildings shows how this wave washed stone from Lake Ontario was used to enhance homes unique to the Great Lakes region. 

Our maritime history along the coast is presented at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum at Point Breeze.  The light is an exact replica of the original 1871 that was the beacon to the shipping industry on Lake Ontario.

Another of our watery destinations is the Erie Canal, built in 1825.  Today it is a linear park, offering an easy paddle by canoe or kayak.  The hard-surfaced Canalway Trail is popular with bicyclists and threads its way through three villages with lots of services and amenities.

And for trophy trout and salmon sportfishing Lake Ontario and the Oak Orchard River will thrill the angler all year long.  Summer deep water trolling produces monster Chinook salmon.  And tributary fly fishing for brown trout is a unique fall angling experience.  Anglers and pleasure boaters alike enjoy the full-service, yet secluded port of Oak Orchard Harbor.  Set your GPS waypoint to 43° 22.5’N  78° 11.36’W and explore our waterfront restaurants, lodging, marinas, and public parks. 

Lynne M. Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature