Orleans is a mix of farm community and tourist destination
Orleans is a rural town in north Jefferson County, at the New York-Canada border. It may be easiest to understand Orleans as two different communities that have been glued together. The southern part of town is mostly made up of farmland and centers around the village of La Fargeville, while northern Orleans is defined by the tourism and culture of the Thousand Islands area along the St. Lawrence River. “I love our area because it's so versatile,” says real estate salesperson Shondra Beach of Bridgeview Real Estate Services. “We have some of the best fishing in the world, amazing hiking, and world-class boating. I live on Wellesley Island, and we can watch the boats go by along the shipping lane from our front yard.” Tourism is a major industry along the river, and many neighborhoods in the area can shift from crowded in the summer to nearly empty in the winter.
Traditional farmhouses and luxury waterfront homes
Housing in Orleans is more diverse than one might expect of a small community on the New York-Canada border. The inland portion of the housing inventory is made up of a mix of farm houses, traditional two-story homes and midcentury ranch-style homes. Homes along the St. Lawrence River often have a distinctly different character: while midcentury ranch-style homes are still common, luxury homes are also easy to find, particularly along the waterfront. There is also a cluster of historic Victorian homes in the Thousand Island Park neighborhood on Wellesley Island. Inland homes in Orleans usually sell for between $80,000 and $360,000, while luxury homes and waterfront properties near the river go for anywhere from $400,000 to over $1 million. Mobile homes can also be found, and usually sell for between $125,000 and $150,000.
4 state parks sit within Orleans' borders
Recreation in the area begins and ends with the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands area. Grass Point State Park, Wellesley Island State Park, Waterson Point State Park and Rock Island Lighthouse State Park are all found in north Orleans along the water. Grass Point and Wellesley Island State Parks both offer camping, hiking, boating and fishing. Rock Island Lighthouse, meanwhile, is accessible only by boat and offers public boat tours out of nearby Clayton from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. “You basically never run out of things to do here, especially if you have a boat and you like the outdoors,” says Beach. “You can always find a new island to explore. And if it’s too cold for that, there’s always ice fishing and cross-country skiing.”
Retail and restaurants along the St. Lawrence River
Apart from a few small shops around La Fargeville, nearly all the shopping and dining in Orleans is found along state Route 12, which runs along the American side of the St. Lawrence River. Locals can pick up groceries at the Price Chopper supermarket near the Wellesley Island Bridge, grab a bite at the popular Wolfes kountry Kottage diner or enjoy some creative cocktails at the Why Knot Tiki Bar. Additional shopping and dining can be found in nearby Alexandria Bay, the closest place with a traditional downtown area. However, those looking for larger shopping centers and big box stores generally make the trek to either Watertown on the New York side or Kingston in Ontario. While Alexandria Bay is home to a small hospital and emergency room, locals often have to travel to Watertown to see specialists.
La Fargeville Central School teaches grades K through 12
The area is served by the La Fargeville Central School District. The district oversees a single school, La Fargeville Central School, which serves grades K through 12 and has a C-minus rating on Niche. The school offers college credit courses to older students through a partnership with Jefferson Community College in Watertown.
Old Farm & Home Days in La Fargeville
The Stone Mills Agricultural Museum in La Fargeville stages an annual Old Farm & Home Days, which features tractor pulls and heritage demonstrations. Alexandria Bay has a more varied event schedule, including waterfront concerts and boat shows. The state parks also put on events throughout the warmer months, most notably Wellesley Island State Park’s Autumn Festival in October.
Interstate 81 makes it easy to get to Watertown
Interstate 81 and state Route 12 are the two major thoroughfares in Orleans, connecting residents to the rest of the region. There is no regular bus service, so locals typically rely on cars to get around. It’s around 45 miles by car to Kingston, while Watertown is just 20 miles away. While Watertown does have an airport, flights are limited, and locals often choose to make the 85-mile drive to Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
