Orleans dates to 1693, and 4 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 72% of U.S. towns · #251 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Most of Orleans was built recently: 10% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1979. Below: 10 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1850.
Orleans dates its founding to 1693 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1850.
First census: 1,848 in 18502020 census: 6,307333 years
How did Orleans get its name?
Orleans was named in honor of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans in recognition of France's support for the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution and because the town did not want an English name, as they had been captured twice by the British during the war.
How historic is Orleans?
B+
More historic than 72% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1800. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Orleans’ History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Orleans is more historic than 72% of U.S. towns, #251 of 283 in Massachusetts. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Orleans’ overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Orleans’ 6.2 sits below most of its state (24% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 4 listings outnumber those of 68% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.0 points). Two sources give 1693.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Orleans’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Orleans was settled in 1693 by Pilgrims from the Plymouth Colony who were dissatisfied with the poor soil and small tracts of land granted to them. The town was officially separated from Eastham and incorporated in 1797. It was named in honor of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans in recognition of France's support for the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution and because the town did not want an English name, as they had been captured twice by the British during the war.
Passages that mention Orleans, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1637-1686-18901890 · page 759Read the page →
Read the text
Villages.— The village of Orleans, called by its people the Centre, occupies the first settled territory of the town. It embraces Skaket and Rock harbor— parts of the town settled in 1643 by one of the original purchasers. The village has grown westerly around the railroad station in later years; but the principal street winds southeasterly and then easterly, with its beautiful residences and extensive business places on either side, until the post office at East Orleans is reached. There are three villages in the town, with no definite
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1637-1686-18901890 · page 747Read the page →
Read the text
THE territory embraced within the present town of Orleans was chiefly included in that valuable tract known first to the Puritans as Nauset, and was therefore included in the first grant of 1640, as noticed in the history of Eastham, and for 164 years after its settlement was a part of that ancient town. Southwest of the Nauset territory was the Potanumaquut lands on which, until their extinction, the remnant of the Nausets remained. A part of these lands now comprise the southwestern portion of the town of Orleans, while the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Orleans, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1693, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Orleans’ post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1850 counted 1,848 people here.
How does Orleans rank for history?
Orleans is more historic than 72% of U.S. towns, #251 of 283 in Massachusetts. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Orleans?
4 listings: 3 buildings, among them the French Cable Station (listed 1972, the first), and 1 structure.
How old are the homes in Orleans?
10% of Orleans’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.0 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1979.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (10), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1899
1907–1915
1907–1915
c. 1930
c. 1930
c. 1930
c. 1930
