General Overview Orleans County is facing some challenges, though there are bright spots. Orleans' population has decreased slightly and incomes are relatively low. Compared to other counties in the region, higher proportions of Orleans' residents are uninsured or rely on some form of public assistance, and a larger share of its children live in poverty. Crime rates have increased substantially, counter to regional trends, and there is a recent rise in the number of juvenile delinquency intakes. However, Orleans has very affordable housing and the highest rates of homeownership in the region. Though Orleans spends the least per pupil in the area, student performance is on par with the region and exceeds the state. Orleans County also experienced a substantial recent increase in prekindergarten participation rates, exceeding the rates of both the region and the state.
Demographic Overview Since 2000, Orleans had the greatest decline in population in the region. Orleans' population lost 1,800 residents (-4%) to nearly 42,400 residents in 2007. Despite the slight decline since 2000, Orleans did grow by just over 1% since 1990. This slight growth lags behind the region (2%), the state (7%) and the nation (21%). After Wyoming, Orleans has the second smallest population of our area counties.
Orleans County's population is aging, but at a slower rate than surrounding counties. The number of adults 40 to 59 years old increased by 46% from 1990 to 2007, making it the largest segment of the population and consistent with regional, state and national trends. Of counties in the region, Orleans had the second lowest percent change in both the 60-84 age range and in the number of residents over 85. These numbers are roughly on par with the state, but much lower than the nation.
Similar to other counties in the upstate region, Orleans County is experiencing substantial declines in its number of youths and younger adults. Since 1990, the number of residents between 20 and 39 years old fell 16% in Orleans County, more than the state decrease of 11% and counter to a national increase of 1%. There were 2,200 fewer people aged 20-39 in the county in 2007 than there were in 1990. The number of children and young adults under 20 years old also declined by 15% since 1990, which is the third highest decline in regional counties, and is counter to national and state increases in that segment of the population.
Orleans County experienced small growth in minority populations other than black residents, although it remains about 91% white. The Asian, American Indian, and Hispanic populations grew slightly since 2000, as did the population of those self-identifying as "two or more races." The rates of increase—12%, 8%, 7% and 12% respectively—are on the low side compared to other counties in the area. The black population declined by 8% during this time, but remains Orleans' largest minority group of 3,000 residents.
Orleans County has seen a decline in the share of households of married couples with children and an increase in unmarried households with children. In 2000, about 25% of households in the county were composed of married couples with children living at home, down from 30% in 1990. In the same time period, unmarried households with children grew as a share of the total, from 7% to 11%. These changes in household type are similar to trends in both the state and nation.
Arts, Culture and Leisure
Tourism and recreation spending in Orleans County are on the rise. While the $22.4 million spent on tourism in Orleans during 2007 is the smallest amount among regional counties, it is up from $15 million (in 2007 dollars) only two years ago. The per capita spending on recreation, adjusted for inflation, increased from $26 per capita in 2005 to $103 per capita in 2006. This $77 per capita increase is even more impressive given that five other counties in the region experienced declines in per capita recreation spending during the same period.
Orleans County invests in arts education. Each year since 2001, Orleans has had more arts teachers per public school student than any other county in our region. The 2006 rate of 7.2 full-time arts teachers per 1,000 students was just below the state's rate of 7.6 and above the region's rate of 6.3. |
Photo provided by Lynne Menz/Orleans County Tourism |
Tourism and recreation spending in Orleans County are on the rise. While the $22.4 million spent on tourism in Orleans during 2007 is the smallest amount among regional counties, it is up from $15 million (in 2007 dollars) only two years ago. The per capita spending on recreation, adjusted for inflation, increased from $26 per capita in 2005 to $103 per capita in 2006. This $77 per capita increase is even more impressive given that five other counties in the region experienced declines in per capita recreation spending during the same period.
Orleans County invests in arts education. Each year since 2001, Orleans has had more arts teachers per public school student than any other county in our region. The 2006 rate of 7.2 full-time arts teachers per 1,000 students was just below the state's rate of 7.6 and above the region's rate of 6.3.
Children and Youth
In 2000, a regional high of about 16% of children in Orleans County were living in poverty. This is an increase from the 1990 proportion (14%) and the highest proportion in our region along with Monroe. Despite the increase, Orleans County had a lower percentage of children living in poverty than in the state or nation.
Orleans County has seen a significant increase in the number of children living in single parent households. In 2000, nearly 31% of children lived with one parent, compared to 18% in 1990. While this is a common trend, Orleans County had the largest increase in the region of 70%. The single-parent rates were highest among American Indian/Alaskan Native (80%), black (61%), and Hispanic (56%) households.
Child abuse and neglect reports spiked in 2005 and 2006, with the number of reports doubling since 2000. Orleans County's rate of 26 indicated reports per 1,000 children under 18 is by far the highest in our region and is much higher than the state's rate of 16. Since 2000, Orleans County typically has also had a higher rate of foster care admissions than most of the area counties and the state.
Despite a recent increase, teen pregnancy has generally declined, and remains lower than the state rate. In 2006, there were 30 teen pregnancies per 1,000 15-to-17-year-old females in Orleans County, below the state rate of 36. This was nearly a 70% increase in teen pregnancies from 2005, but overall the rate has declined 40% from 1996 to 2006. All counties in the region have had consistently lower rates than the state rate throughout this decade.
While the rate of persons in need of supervision (PINS) increased in the region from 2000 to 2007, Orleans County decreased by 8%. Although there has been a decrease in the rate per 1,000 children (ages 10-18) since 2000, Orleans has not shown the substantial decreases experienced by several other counties in the region, while Monroe County's rate more than doubled. Despite declining since 2000, Orleans' 2007 intake rate (109) was an increase over 2006 (85).
Economy
In 2007, Orleans County's average salary of $31,700, adjusted for inflation, represented an increase of 2% over 1999, which was one of the larger increases in the region. During this time, the United States' average salary grew by about 7% and New York State's by about 12%.
Education
Pre-Kindergarten participation soars in Orleans County. In 1998, Orleans County enrolled just 3% of its 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten despite a new state law providing public funding for the program. In 2007, this rate soared to 54% and exceeded the rate of participation in all other area counties and in the state. Much of this increase came from a large jump between 2006 and 2007 (from 138 children to 239).
Similar to students throughout our region, students in Orleans outperform those across the state on most key state tests and graduate at higher rates. The only test on which Orleans did not consistently exceed the state's performance was the 8th grade English test. About 80% of Orleans students graduated on-time, compared to 76% in the region and 70% statewide.
Orleans County adults aged 25 and over have less formal education than in the region, state or nation. In 2000, 37% of adults in Orleans had attended at least some college, which along with Wyoming County is the lowest percent in our region. This compares to 57% in the region, 51% in the state, and 52% in the nation. In 2000, 7% of Orleans adults reported earning less than a 9th grade education and another 17% had not completed high school.
Spending per student by school districts in Orleans is lower than in surrounding counties, despite increasing 24% since 2000. In 2006, Orleans school districts spent $13,200 per student, much less than the state ($16,700) or the region ($14,900). Orleans has consistently spent less per pupil over the last decade.
Environment Orleans and Wayne Counties are leading the region in reduction of emissions that contribute to air pollution. In 2005, both Wayne and Orleans Counties had the lowest total emissions and lowest vehicle emissions (tons per capita) in the region. Both counties set an impressive example in that they have reduced total emissions by over 40% since 1999 and vehicle emissions by 55% in the same time.
Orleans County has some environmental hazards. Orleans County has 10 of the 131 hazardous waste (Superfund) sites in our region. While many are in the process of being cleaned up, Orleans does have two sites which are on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priority List, a list of the most hazardous sites in the nation. As a whole, our region has five such sites. Orleans and Wayne are also the only regional counties to see an increase in sales of "restricted pesticides"—Orleans was up 38% from 2003-2005.
Financial Self-Sufficiency Orleans County's median household income decreased to the lowest in the region in 2000 (the latest year for which data are available). After adjusting for inflation, the median household income in 2000 was about $47,200 — down from $47,400 in 1990. Orleans was one of three counties in the region to see the median income decrease, although the decline (-0.3%) is less than the state (-2.0% ) from 1990 to 2000. Median incomes vary among racial and ethnic groups in the county. The median incomes of "two or more races" and Asian residents were higher than that of whites in 2000, while the median income of black residents was roughly half that of the other groups. Incomes are expected to worsen in light of the 2008 recession.
Orleans has a higher proportion of residents living below the poverty line than most other area counties, but lower than the state and nation. In 2000, 11% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, second only to Monroe in the region. This was below the state (15%) and regional (12%) levels. However in 2000, there were 11% more people living in poverty in Orleans than there were in 1990, the second highest increase of the area counties. Poverty rates vary between racial and ethnic groups. Compared to whites, the poverty rate was five times higher for black residents and three times higher for residents who are Hispanic or self-identified as "two or more races."
Orleans County has a more financially vulnerable population than many surrounding counties. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and subsidized childcare are often used as measures of the "working poor" in a community. In 2005, 17% of the Orleans population claimed the EITC, the highest rate among area counties, and equal to the state's rate. After Monroe County, Orleans has the highest rate of children in subsidized care, growing above the state's rate since 2003. Orleans consistently has higher rates of residents receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and public assistance, both of which speak to many residents' dependence on government support to make ends meet.
Health In 2005, Orleans County had the highest rate of people without health insurance in the region. Just over 12% of the county residents were uninsured, higher than the region (11%) but lower than the state (13%) and nation (15%). Orleans also had the largest increase in the proportion of uninsured from 2000 to 2005, with 11% more residents living without health insurance. Orleans has typically had among the highest proportions of residents enrolled in Medicaid in the region.
Every county in the region has seen a steady decline in mortality rates since 2000. Orleans residents had a decline in mortality rates from heart disease (-11%), cancer (-9%), respiratory disease (-29%), and stroke (-30%).
Orleans County has seen an increase in the number of people living with HIV and AIDS since 2000. Most counties in the region have experienced increases during this time period. Orleans' rate for persons living with HIV per 100,000 has increased 77%, while the rate for AIDS has increased by 72%. Both of these exceed the regional and state increases, but are not out of line with other surrounding counties.
Orleans County residents have the lowest access to physicians, with the lowest number of doctors per 10,000 residents of all the regional counties. In 2006, Orleans had 8 doctors per 10,000 residents, down from 9 in 2002. This is substantially less than either the regional rate (27 per 10,000 residents) or the state rate (33 per 10,000 residents). In 2006, Orleans also had the highest rate of "preventable hospital admissions" which can be an effect of less access to quality health care.
Housing
In 2000, Orleans County had the lowest median home value in the region. Orleans' median home value in 2000 was $85,500, well below the values for the region ($115,600), state ($177,700) and nation ($134,600). While all counties in the region experienced a decline in home values from 1990 to 2000, Orleans' median home value, adjusted for inflation, decreased by the least amount (5%). In 2000, both black and white renters in Orleans spent a higher percentage of their incomes on rent and utilities than they did in other regional counties or the state.
In 2000, Orleans County had among the highest homeownership rates in our region. In 2000, 76% of all occupied housing units in Orleans County were owner-occupied. This homeownership rate was higher than the rates for the region (67%), the state (53%) and nation (66%). Homeownership rates vary by race and ethnicity with 77% of white residents owning homes, 34% of blacks, 50% of Hispanics, and 80% of those residents considered "two or more races."
Public Safety Orleans County's crime rates have increased substantially since 2000, standing out in our region. Between 2000 and 2007, contrary to the reduced crime rates experienced statewide and by the other counties in the region, Orleans has seen a substantial increase in serious crime (55%), violent crime (53%), property crime (56%), and other reported crimes (11%). Felony drug-related arrest rates more than doubled since 2000, and 2007's rate of 179 per 100,000 residents was the highest of any county in the region. In most cases, Orleans is notably out of sync with the other regional counties, either posting higher rates or greater increases while others are showing reductions in crime.
Juvenile delinquency intakes declined from 2000 to 2003, yet have begun to increase over the past few years. Orleans County is the only county in the region to see an increase in the juvenile delinquency rate, increasing 61% since 2000. In 2007, Orleans intake rate of 20 per 1,000 children was the highest of all the regional counties and much higher than the state (10) and regional (11) rates.
Note: Data research and analysis conducted by the Center for Governmental Research.
Banner photo provided by Lynne Menz/Orleans County Tourism