Orleans County was incorporated on April 15, 1825 and celebrated its Bicentennial throughout 2025. 

Orleans County was incorporated on April 15, 1825, and celebrated its bicentennial throughout 2025. A Bicentennial Committee met to brainstorm and implement a variety of ways to commemorate the historic anniversary. The committee was chaired by Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper and included representatives from the community, including village and county government, museums, Cornell Cooperative Extension, historians, local media and tourism.

The committee chose the ox to be the official mascot of the Orleans County Bicentennial.  Oxen were critical for the fledgling county, pulling wagons across rough terrain, helping to clear trees, dig the Erie Canal and provide the muscle for taming the land. Read more on the history of the ox in Orleans County.

The committee also introduced Orly the Ox! Orly served as the official face of the bicentennial and was featured daily on the Orleans County Tourism social media pages in 2025, posing at historic sites and attractions and trying out many of the county’s activities. Photos from Orly’s adventures appear below.

Projects that were implemented to commemorate the Orleans County Bicentennial are:

• A commemorative poster
• Bicentennial Quilt
• Oxen of Orleans County Public Art Trail. 

We are encouraging the community organizations to jump on the "Oxen of Orleans County" Public Art project and populate Orleans County with an artistic & historic oxen trail. Read more on this effort >>>