Editing Orange County, Virginia (section)

==Economy==
Orange County businesses generated over $200 billion in taxable sales in 2012. The top five industries by taxable sales, as classified by the [[North American Industry Classification System|NAICS]], were food and beverage stores, food services and drinking places, gasoline stations, general merchandise dealers and motor vehicle and parts dealers. The top five industries by employment were local government, retail trade, manufacturing, accommodations and food services, and wholesale trade. In July {{When|date=January 2023}}), the top five private-sector employers are Dogwood Village, Macmillan Publishing Solutions, Battlefield Farms Inc., American Woodmark Corp. and Aerojet Rocketdyne. However, small businesses were the predominant employer type, with 65% of all Orange County businesses employing four or fewer workers.

Agriculture is an important part of the county's economy, of which nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod (NAICS category) represent the largest sector. Orange County is Virginia's top producer in this market sector. The equestrian and forestry industries are also large sectors within the agricultural economy of the county. In addition, tourism (particularly related to history, wine and [[agritourism]]) is a significant and growing portion of the economy.

Unemployment over the years has remained considerably below the United States average and slightly above that of Virginia. Recent studies show a 6% unemployment rate, which is the second highest rate in the region.<ref>[http://www.dailyprogress.com/eedition/mapping/jobless-rate-rises-in-region/article_0817d1bf-2e27-5a87-a95d-647710a40d61.html?mode=image&photo=0 "July/August 2014 Unemployment Rate"], ''Daily Progress''</ref> The highest-paid industry in Orange County in 2012 was finance and insurance, followed by Professional/scientific/technical services, educational services and transportation/warehousing. The highest-paid was accommodations/food services, followed by arts/entertainment/recreation, health care/social assistance and retail trade. The average weekly wage across all industries was $671.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orangecountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/543 |title=AOrange County Draft 2013 Comprehensive Plan |access-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729080737/http://orangecountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/543 |archive-date=July 29, 2013 }}<br />- {{cite web |url=http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5104000137.pdf |title=Orange County Community Profile|publisher=Virginia Employment Commission |access-date=August 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020233252/http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5104000137.pdf |archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref>

===Wine===
Portions of Orange County lie within the [[Monticello AVA|Monticello Viticultural Area]]. Four wineries are located within the county: [[Barboursville Vineyards]], [[Horton Vineyards]], [[Chateau MerrillAnne]]<ref>Virginia Wine Association</ref> and the Reynard Florence Vineyard. In 2012, Orange County contained 214 acres (868 [[short ton]]s) worth of wine grape production, which was the third highest of all counties in the state. Tonnage of grapes produced and acreage devoted to production in the county has risen 60% and 72%, respectively, since 2004. This is representative of the growing [[Virginia wine|wine industry in Virginia]], which contributed a total of $747 billion to the state economy in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virginiawine.org/system/datas/376/original/Grape_Report_2012.pdf?1363691676 |title=Virginia 2012 Commercial Grape Report |publisher=Virginia Wine Marketing Office|access-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725112703/http://www.virginiawine.org/system/datas/376/original/Grape_Report_2012.pdf?1363691676 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 }}</ref>

'''<sup><big>Development Issues:</big></sup>'''[[File:WalMart Locust Grove.JPG|thumb|right|Locust Grove WalMart under construction]]
[[File:Germanna Walmart Completed.JPG|thumb|right| Locust Grove Walmart completed]]
In September 2008, [[Wal-Mart]] submitted an application for a special use permit to build a {{convert|141000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Supercenter store less than a quarter of a mile from the [[National Park Service]] boundary of the [[Battle of the Wilderness|Wilderness Battlefield]]. It was to be situated on a {{convert|52|acre|m2|adj=on}} tract just north of the Route 3/Route 20 intersection in eastern Orange County. The Orange County Board of Supervisors formally approved the application on August 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009, the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation|National Trust for Historical Preservation]], Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield and six nearby citizens filed suit against the Board of Supervisors claiming the store was likely to produce a significant increase in traffic and subsequent development, among other counts. The National Trust was dropped from the suit for lack of [[Standing (law)|legal standing]], and Wal-Mart, its chosen developer and the property owner were later named as additional defendants.<ref>Schemmer, Clint, [http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/082008/08222008/404923 "Group wants to sidetrack Orange project"], August 22, 2008 {{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=SheriffIsInTown |fix-attempted=yes }}<br />-  {{cite web |url=http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/09/november/walmart_110903.html |title=County Claims Wal-mart Opponents Lack Standing in Court|work=Civil War News|author=Boyd, Scott C. |date=November 9, 2009|access-date=July 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020224516/http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/09/november/walmart_110903.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref>

The lawsuit attracted national media attention, with the actor [[Robert Duvall]] and the filmmaker [[Ken Burns]] taking a formal stand against the project.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131021104459/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/va-walmart-battle-continues.html "Va. battle of Wal-Mart continues"], ''Washington Post'', April 30, 2010</ref> On January 26, 2011, the morning before the trial was set to begin, Wal-Mart submitted a statement to the court abandoning its plans for the store. In that statement, the company also agreed to purchase the subject property without developing it, to reimburse Orange County for its legal and administrative expenses related to the lawsuit and to find another site elsewhere in the county. The lawsuit was formally dismissed on 12 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/2011/june/walmart-061105.html |title=Wal-mart Wilderness Case Finally Over |work=Civil War News |author=Boyd, Scott C.|date=June 2011|access-date=July 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020224511/http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/2011/june/walmart-061105.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref>

Wal-Mart announced its selection on May 23, 2011, of a new site in the county, approximately 4 miles west of the original site, in the Germanna area of [[Locust Grove, Orange County, Virginia|Locust Grove]]. Following approval of a new special use permit from the Board of Supervisors, the new store officially opened on July 10, 2013. The original plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with other preservationist groups, expressed approval of Wal-Mart's new site and its decision to abandon the original plans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/2011/july/walmart-071105.html |title=Wal-mart Finds Orange County Site|work=Civil War News|date=July 2011|author= Boyd, Scott C.|access-date=July 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114224845/http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/articles/2011/july/walmart-071105.html |archive-date=January 14, 2014 }}</ref> In August 2013, Wal-Mart dedicated 25 feet of [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]] from the original site to the Commonwealth of Virginia<ref>Instrument #130008956. Retrieved from the Orange County Circuit Court on November 15, 2013.</ref> and 70 feet of right-of-way to the county<ref>Instrument #130008955. Retrieved from the Orange County Circuit Court on November 15, 2013.</ref> for future transportation improvements. In September 2013, Walmart deeded the remainder of the site (approximately 48 acres) to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.<ref>Instrument #130008957. Retrieved from the Orange County Circuit Court on November 15, 2013.</ref>

Subsequent to the selection of the new location, the county board of supervisors reduced the amount of tax revenue collected annually through the merchant's capital tax by 15% (11% in 2010, 2% in 2011 and 2% in 2012). This tax is determined by the value of inventory carried by a local business. In 2011, the county lost $599,690 in revenue provided by the federal government and, rather than adjust the annual budget or restore the merchants capital tax, the board approved a 16% personal property tax increase to raise an additional $666,141 of revenue for the county.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coopercenter.org/search/unit?keys=tax+rates&group_nid=7|title=Search &#124; Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service|date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210559/http://www.coopercenter.org/search/unit?keys=tax+rates&group_nid=7 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 }}</ref>

An October 2013 revision to the county's 2009 comprehensive plan was met with overwhelming opposition by local residents concerned that the plan's vision to "sustain the rural character of Orange County while enhancing and improving the quality of life for all its citizens" was not accurately reflected in the document's development-friendly wording.<ref>[http://www.dailyprogress.com/orangenews/news/comp-plan-tabled/article_4ade0f72-41a2-11e3-b110-0019bb30f31a.html "OC Comp Plan Debate"], ''Daily Progress''</ref> The plan was passed by the Board of Supervisors on December 17, 2013, by a vote of 3–1.<ref name="dailyprogress.com">[http://www.dailyprogress.com/orangenews/news/comp-plan-passed/article_83b0d200-6cd4-11e3-bd5a-0019bb30f31a.html "Comp Plan Passed"], ''Daily Progress''</ref>

On February 21, 2013,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orangecountyva.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/02212013-62&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=PmOPVK-3HOqIsQS35IDIAw&ved=0CBQQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHDY7gH1UwssyNWNbCmFQVHmFZT5g|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216021150/http://orangecountyva.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/02212013-62%26rct%3Dj%26frm%3D1%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26sa%3DU%26ei%3DPmOPVK-3HOqIsQS35IDIAw%26ved%3D0CBQQFjAA%26usg%3DAFQjCNHDY7gH1UwssyNWNbCmFQVHmFZT5g|url-status=dead|title=Signature Station REZ 11-01|archivedate=December 16, 2014}}</ref> members of the Orange County planning commission, voted to approve a re-zoning application in the Germanna area, and redesignate what had been an agricultural zone to a commercial and high-density residential area. Despite 90% of the local residents in attendance making a request for denial, the application was passed by J.P. Tucker III (owner of a construction company),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jptuckerexcavating.com/contact-us |title=Contact us - JP Tucker Excavating |access-date=April 16, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416222052/http://www.jptuckerexcavating.com/contact-us |archive-date=April 16, 2017 }}</ref> Andy Hutchinson (owner of a sod company),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somersetsod.com/about-us.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216011933/http://www.somersetsod.com/about-us.htm |archive-date=December 16, 2014 }}</ref> and Donald Brooks (political candidate for sheriff).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/familiar-foes-face-off-in-orange-sheriff-race/article_7efcbc48-1c2a-5464-9a82-ebeedf6c89de.html?mode=jqm|title=Familiar foes face off in Orange sheriff race|first=Drew Jackson, Media General News|last=Service|website=Daily Progress}}</ref>

In May 2013, the county board of supervisors passed a resolution to create the Route 3 Strategic Initiative;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orangecountyva.gov/index.aspx?nid=655|title=Route 3 Strategic Visioning Initiative|publisher=Orange County|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416234252/http://orangecountyva.gov/index.aspx?nid=655|archive-date=April 16, 2017|access-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> this resolution was based on a nine-year-old survey taken at the beginning of the 60% increase in population during the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orangecountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/564|title=564|publisher=Orange County|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930080301/http://orangecountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/564|archive-date=September 30, 2013|access-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> Public comment was solicited in three half-hour sessions only after the board dinner break during three monthly board meetings. The initiative which affects Districts 4 and 5 was spearheaded by District 2 supervisor Jim White, and may further the conflict between developers and local residents wishing to keep the area rural in character.

On December 9, 2014, Orange County supervisors Lee Frame and James White, planning commission member P. Nigel Goodwin, and Economic Authority members William Hager and Winston Sides proposed a land use plan entitled the Germanna-Wilderness Area Plan (GWAP) after consulting with private sector developers, financial analysts, and engineers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orangecountyva.gov/index.aspx?NID=703 |title=AGermanna-Wilderness Area Plan |access-date=December 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216022804/http://orangecountyva.gov/index.aspx?NID=703 |publisher=Orange County |archive-date=December 16, 2014 }}</ref> This plan is a 50-year vision to develop a "place to live, work, and play with a higher standard of design and development which is a self-contained, complete community that is appealing to current and prospective residents."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/orangenews/news/gwap-zoning-up-for-review/article_9b25d77c-837d-11e8-8216-8f3a16a11b1d.html|title=GWAP zoning up for review|last=Galaviz|first=Amber|work=The Daily Progress|access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref> The document was adopted in 2015.

On July 9, 2018, the Orange County Board of Supervisors considered adding three new zoning districts to the Germanna-Wilderness Area Plan (GWAP). The vote was unanimous in approving these changes.