Orange County, New York
56168
225473461
2008-07-13T21:48:05Z
Red4tribe
1232072
/* Famous Residents Past and Present */
{{otheruses|Orange County (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox U.S. County|
county = Orange County|
state = New York |
seal = Orange County, New York seal.png |
map size = 250|
founded = [[1683]]|
seat = [[Goshen (village), New York|Goshen]] |
largest city = [[Newburgh, New York|Newburgh]] |
area_total_sq_mi =839 |
area_land_sq_mi =816 |
area_water_sq_mi =22 |
area percentage = 2.72% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 341367 |
density_km2 =161|
web = www.orangecountygov.com|
|}}
'''Orange County''' is a [[county]] located in the upstate portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York]]. At the northern reaches of the [[New York metropolitan area]], it sits in the state's scenic [[Mid-Hudson Region]] of the [[Hudson Valley]]. Its name is in honor of [[William III of England|William III of Orange]], who was greatly esteemed by the original settlers of the region. As of the [[United States Census 2000|2000 census]], the population was 341,367. The [[County Executive]] is [[Ed Diana]], and the [[county seat]] is [[Goshen (village), New York|Goshen]]. The [[center of population]] of New York is located in Orange County, in [[Deerpark, New York|Deerpark]] [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt].
== History ==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
Orange County was one of the first twelve counties established by the [[Province of New York]] in [[1683]]. Its boundaries at that time included present-day [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland County]], which split from Orange County in [[1798]].
==Geography==
Orange County is in southeastern New York State, directly north of the [[New Jersey]]-New York border, west of the [[Hudson River]], east of the [[Delaware River]] and northwest of [[New York City]]. It borders the New York counties of [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]], [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam]], [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland]], [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan]], [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]], and [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]], as well as [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] and [[Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex]] counties in New Jersey and [[Pike County, Pennsylvania|Pike County]] in [[Pennsylvania]].
Orange County is the only county in New York State which borders both the Hudson and Delaware Rivers.
Orange County is where the Great Valley of the Appalachians finally opens up and ends. The western corner is set off by the [[Shawangunk Ridge]]. The area along the Rockland County border (within [[Harriman State Park|Harriman]] and [[Bear Mountain State Park|Bear Mountain]] [[state park]]s) and south of Newburgh is part of the [[Hudson Highlands]]. The land in between is the valley of the [[Wallkill River]]. In the southern portion of the county the Wallkill valley expands into a wide glacial lake bed known as the [[Black Dirt Region]] for its fertility.
The highest point is [[Schunemunk Mountain]], at 1,664 [[foot (unit of measure)|feet]] (507 [[metre|m]]) above sea level. The lowest is sea level along the Hudson.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 839 square miles (2,172 km²), with 816 square miles (2,114 km²) as land and 22 square miles (58 km²) as water.
===National [[protected area]]===
* [[Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River]] (part)
==Transportation==
[[Image:Coach USA ShortLine MCI D4500CT 70422.jpg|thumb|[[ShortLine]] is the main public transit provider in Orange County.]]
The county is served by [[Stewart International Airport]], located two miles west of [[Newburgh, New York]]. The airport serves [[AirTran Airways]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[JetBlue Airways]], [[Northwest Airlines]], and [[US Airways]]. Ground transportation within Orange County is provided primarily by [[New Jersey Transit]], [[ShortLine]], and [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[Port Jervis Line]], as well as amenities such as senior citizen bussing and car services, which usually restrict themselves to their respective town or city.
==Demographics==
[[Image:Orange County Government Center.jpg|300px|thumb|The [[Orange County Government Center]] in Goshen, N.Y., designed by [[Paul Rudolph (architect)|Paul Rudolph]].]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 341,367 people, 114,788 households, and 84,483 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 418 people per square mile (161/km²). There were 122,754 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.70% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 8.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.35% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.51% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.23% from two or more races. 11.64% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 18.3% were of [[italian people|Italian]], 17.4% [[irish people|Irish]], 10.2% [[german people|German]] and 5.0% [[polish people|Polish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 9.23% reported speaking [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home, 3.29% [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]], and 1.20% [[Italian language|Italian]].[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=36&county_id=71&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r]
By 2005, census estimates placed Orange County's non-Hispanic white population at 72.4%. African Americans were now 10.2% of the population. Native Americans were at 0.4%, a change that was less than can be measured by the precision of the 2005 estimates being used for these figures. Asians were up to 2.2% of the population. Latinos had however made the largest gain as an increase in their percentage of the population, and now constituted 14.9% of the counties population.<ref>[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36071.html Orange County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
There were 114,788 households out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the county the population was spread out with 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,058, and the median income for a family was $60,355. Males had a median income of $42,363 versus $30,821 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,597. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
Despite its rural roots, Orange County is considered to be among the fastest growing [[suburb]]/[[exurb]] regions of the [[New York City]] Metropolitan Area.
== Governmental Positions ==
*County Executive: Edward A. Diana (Republican)
*County Clerk: Donna L. Benson
*Sheriff: Carl E. DuBois (Republican)
*District Attorney: Francis D. Phillips
== Places ==
=== Cities ===
*[[Middletown, Orange County, New York|Middletown]]
*[[Newburgh (city), New York|Newburgh]]
*[[Port Jervis, New York|Port Jervis]]
=== Villages ===
*[[Otisville, New York|Otisville]]
*[[Tuxedo Park, New York|Tuxedo Park]]
*[[Unionville, New York|Unionville]]
*[[Walden, New York|Walden]]
*[[Chester (village), New York|Chester]]
*[[Cornwall on Hudson, New York|Cornwall on Hudson]]
*[[Florida, Orange County, New York|Florida]]
*[[Goshen (village), New York|Goshen]]
*[[Monroe (village), New York|Monroe]]
*[[Harriman, New York|Harriman]]
*[[Highland Falls, New York|Highland Falls]]
*[[Montgomery (village), New York|Montgomery]]
*[[Kiryas Joel, New York|Kiryas Joel]]
*[[Maybrook, New York|Maybrook]]
*[[Greenwood Lake, New York|Greenwood Lake]]
*[[Warwick (village), New York|Warwick]]
*[[Washingtonville, New York|Washingtonville]]
*[[Woodbury, Orange County, New York|Woodbury]]
=== Towns ===
*[[Tuxedo, New York|Tuxedo]]
*[[Cornwall, New York|Cornwall]]
*[[Crawford, New York|Crawford]]
*[[Deerpark, New York|Deerpark]]
*[[Blooming Grove, New York|Blooming Grove]]
*[[Chester (town), New York|Chester]]
*[[Goshen (town), New York|Goshen]]
*[[Greenville, New York|Greenville]]
*[[Wawayanda, New York|Wawayanda]]
*[[Woodbury, Orange County, New York|Woodbury]]
*[[Hamptonburgh, New York|Hamptonburgh]]
*[[Highlands, New York|Highlands]]
*[[Minisink, New York|Minisink]]
*[[Monroe (town), New York|Monroe]]
*[[Montgomery (town), New York|Montgomery]]
*[[Mount Hope, New York|Mount Hope]]
*[[New Windsor, New York|New Windsor]]
*[[Newburgh, New York|Newburgh]]
*[[Wallkill, Orange County, New York|Wallkill]]
*[[Warwick (town), New York|Warwick]]
=== Hamlets ===
There are many hamlets in Orange County. Some Towns may have 5 or more. A Hamlet is defined as an Unincorporated Village.
==Points of interest==
Points of interest in Orange County include, the [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point, New York|West Point]], [[Brotherhood Winery]], America's oldest winery, in [[Washingtonville, New York|Washingtonville]], the birthplace of [[William H. Seward]] in [[Florida, Orange County, New York|Florida]], the home and birthplace of [[Velveeta]] Cheese, the [[Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame]] in Goshen, the ''[[Times Herald-Record]]'' newspaper, the first [[cold press offset]] daily in the country, in [[Middletown, Orange County, New York|Middletown]], [[Galleria at Crystal Run]], in Middletown, the [[Orange County Fair (New York)|Orange County Fair]] in Middletown. The only state parks include Goosepond Mountain State Park, [[Harriman State Park]] and [[Sterling Forest State Park]]. There is also the [[Woodbury Common Premium Outlets]]. It is also the location of [[Orange County Choppers]], the custom motorcycle shop featured on [[The Learning Channel]] television series ''[[American Chopper]]''.
=== Famous Residents Past and Present ===
*[[George Washington]], 1st President of the [[United States]], leader of the [[American Revolutionary War]]
*[[William Seward]], U.S. Secretary of State
*[[Whoopi Goldberg]], Academy Award winning actress
*[[Paul Teutul, Sr.]], custom motorcycle builder of [[Orange County Choppers]]
*[[Paul Teutul, Jr.]], custom motorcycle builder of [[Orange County Choppers]]
*[[Geraldine Ferraro]], 1984 U.S. Vice-Presidential Candidate, U.S. Congresswoman
*[[James Patterson]], author
*[[Spencer Tunick]], famed photographer
*[[Noah Webster]]
*[[Stephen Crane]], author of [[The Red Badge of Courage]]
*[[Pierre Lorillard]], tobacco magnate
*[[Tony Gilroy]], Academy Award nominated director and writer
*[[James Mangold]], film director
*[[Armand Assante]], actor
*[[Emily Post]], author
*[[Barry Bostwick]], actor
*[[Cyndi Lauper]], used to spend summers in [[Tuxedo Park]]
*[[Greg Anthony]], former [[New York Knicks]] player
*[[Tim Hummel]], former major league baseball player for the [[Cincinati Reds]].
*[[Mike Aviles]], baseball player for the [[Kansas City Royals]]
*[[Matt Morris (baseball)|Matt Morris]], former baseball pitcher for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]
*[[Joe Nathan]], baseball player for the [[Minnesota Twins]]
*[[Scott Pioli]], Vice-President of Player Personnel for the [[New England Patriots]]
*[[Rose Thompson Hovick]], famous stage mother of [[Gypsy Rose Lee]] and [[June Havoc]]
*[[Nathaniel White]], serial killer
*[[Solomon Townsend]], industrialist and State Legislator
{| width ="75%" border ="2" align="center"
|-----
| width ="35%" align="center" |
| width ="30%" align="center" | '''North:''' [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan]] and [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]] Counties
| width ="35%" align="center" |
|-----
| width ="10%" align="center" | '''West:''' [[Delaware River]]<br> [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan County]] and [[Pike County, Pennsylvania]]
| width ="35%" align="center" | '''Orange County'''
| width ="30%" align="center" | '''East:''' [[Hudson River]]<br> [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]] and [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam]] Counties
|-----
| width ="35%" align="center" |
| width ="30%" align="center" |'''South:'''[[Rockland County, New York|Rockland]] and [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]] Counties <br>[[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] and [[Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex]] Counties in [[New Jersey]]
| width ="35%" align="center" |
|}
==See also==
* [[Orange County Youth Football League]]
{{portal|New York}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.co.orange.ny.us Orange County, New York government]
* [http://www.ocny.com Orange County, New York information and website directory]
* [http://www.orangetourism.org/ Orange County tourism information]
* [http://www.orangeny.com/ Orange County, New York, Chamber of Commerce]
* {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/New_York/Counties/Orange|Orange County}}
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk3/ch1.html Early summary history of Orange County]
{{Orange County, New York}}
{{New_York}}
{{coord|41.40|-74.31|display=title|type:adm2_region:US-NY_source:UScensus1990}}
[[Category:Orange County, New York| ]]
[[ar:مقاطعة أورانج، نيويورك]]
[[cs:Orange County (New York)]]
[[de:Orange County (New York)]]
[[es:Condado de Orange (Nueva York)]]
[[fr:Comté d'Orange (New York)]]
[[bpy:ওরেঞ্জ কাউন্টি, নিউ ইয়র্ক]]
[[it:Contea di Orange (New York)]]
[[nl:Orange County (New York)]]
[[no:Orange County (New York)]]
[[nds:Orange County (New York)]]
[[pl:Hrabstwo Orange (Nowy Jork)]]
[[pt:Condado de Orange (Nova Iorque)]]
[[zh:奧蘭治縣 (紐約州)]]