Editing Orange, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Orange, Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Train Depot (Orange, VA).JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Restored train depot in Orange, now used as a visitors' center
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = VAMap-doton-Orange.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Orange, Virginia
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1834; Officially in 1872
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.38
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.36
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/orange-va-population | title=Orange, Virginia Population 2023 }}</ref>
| population_total   = 4880
| population_density_sq_mi = 1516.22

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 522
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|14|45|N|78|6|35|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 22960
| area_code          = [[Area code 540|540]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-59496<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1498525<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.townoforangeva.org/index.asp?NID=31 Town of Orange official website]
| footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2     = 8.75
| area_land_km2      = 8.71
| area_water_km2     = 0.04
| population_density_km2 = 585.36
}}

'''Orange''' is a town and the [[county seat]] of [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]], [[Virginia]], United States. The population was 4,880 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], representing a 3.4% increase since the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Orange town, Virginia| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 28, 2011}}</ref> Orange is {{convert|28|mi|0}} northeast of [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], {{convert|88|mi|0}} southwest of [[Washington, D.C.]], and {{convert|4|mi|0}} east of [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Father]] and fourth U.S. president [[James Madison]]'s plantation of [[Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)|Montpelier]].

==History==
[[Image:James Madison Museum, Orange, VA IMG 4282.JPG|thumb|left|James Madison Museum]]
[[Image:Bank of America, Orange, VA IMG 4304.JPG|thumb|left|Bank of America in Orange]]
[[Image:U.S. Post Office, Orange, VA IMG 4303.JPG|thumb|left|Post Office]]
[[Image:Orange County, Virginia Courthouse.png|thumb|left|County Courthouse and Confederate monument]]

This area of the [[Piedmont region of Virginia|Piedmont]] was occupied by [[Siouan languages|Siouan]]-speaking peoples at the time of European encounter. Tribes located in coastal areas generally spoke [[Algonquian languages]].

===Pre-Civil War===
The present-day Town of Orange was known as the Town of Orange Court House prior to the late 19th century. Following the establishment of [[Culpeper County, Virginia|Culpeper County]] from a part of Orange County in 1749, the courthouse was relocated to Orange Court House from elsewhere in the county. The court convened in the house of a man named Timothy Crosthwait until 1752; after Crosthwait deeded the two acres to the county, a new courthouse was constructed on the property. The town at that time consisted of the courthouse and its related public buildings, a few houses and stores, a tavern and little else. The first [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Post Office]] was constructed in the town in 1796. From 1801 to 1804, the courthouse was replaced with a new building, clerk's office and, later, a new jail.<ref name=":4">"Orange Commercial Historic District." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. June 1998. Form prepared by Debra McClane of Gray & Pape, Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2013. http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Orange/275-5001_Orange_Commercial_Historic_District_1999_Final_Nomination.pdf</ref>

In 1799, Paul Verdier purchased the property of William Bell, an 18th-century farm that included much of the modern-day Town of Orange adjacent to Main Street, near present-day Bellevue and Peliso avenues. Verdier divided the land into lots, which helped shape the town's pattern of development. His house, which he named ''Montpeliso'', still stands on the land. Growth continued into the 19th century as new roadways were constructed through the town. Along with expanding agricultural markets, the roads helped transform Orange Court House into a regional center. In 1834, the [[Virginia General Assembly]] passed an act allowing the incorporation of the Town of Orange Court House, but the act did not have implementing legislation.<ref name=":4"/><ref name="Walker, Frank S. 2004" /><ref name="Miller, Ann L. 1988" />

Orange Court House continued growing, with several significant downtown buildings being constructed from this point up to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], including the Sparks Building (1829) the [[Holladay House]] (1830), and the St. Thomas Episcopal Church (1833). These buildings still stand as part of the [[Orange Commercial Historic District]].<ref name=":4"/> In 1847, the [[Orange and Alexandria Railroad]] chose to route their new railway from [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] to [[Gordonsville, Virginia|Gordonsville]] through Orange. The county court granted the railroad right-of-way through the courthouse property, which required the courthouse to be moved to another location.<ref name=":4" />

The fourth and current courthouse was completed in 1859 in the Italian Villa architectural style and stands today on the corner of Madison Road and Main Street. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1979. The General Assembly passed an act in 1855 which officially incorporated the Town of Orange Court House, but it did not take effect until a majority of citizens qualified to vote consented, which did not occur until after the Civil War.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia: Passed in 1855–56, in the Eightieth Year of the Commonwealth. Chapter 256, pages 175-176. Printed by William Ritchie in 1856. Digitized November 30, 2007, by the University of Virginia. Retrieved August 19, 2013.</ref>

Orange was a strategically important location during the American Civil War. Just north of town, the [[Rapidan River]] was effectively the northern border of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] from March 1862 to May 1864. Consequently, the area witnessed countless troop movements, patrols, skirmishes, and encampments. In addition, the Town of Orange served as General [[Robert E. Lee]]'s headquarters during that time. General Lee worshipped at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. This church is also significant as it served as a hospital for Confederate wounded after the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]] and the [[Battle of the Wilderness]]. Lee passed by this church many times during his stay in Orange. [[Mort Künstler]], an artist of American historical subjects, immortalized this scene in his painting ''Soldier of Faith.''<ref name="Walker, Frank S. 2004">Walker, Frank S.: "Remembering: A History of Orange County, Virginia." Orange County Historical Society, 2004.</ref><ref name="Miller, Ann L. 1988">Miller, Ann L.: "Antebellum Orange." Moss Publications, 1988.</ref> County records dating back to its founding in 1734 were protected by a clerk of court removing them to "a place of safety" as Federal troops were moving through Orange and towards Richmond.

===Post-Civil War===
Numerous buildings constructed soon after the Civil War stand in the downtown historic district. Following Virginia's readmission to the Union in 1870, Orange Court House officially became a town in 1872 when the petition (required by the 1855 General Assembly act) for an election of town trustees was filed in the court. The first town council meeting was held on June 28, 1872. In 1890, the village changed its name officially to the current-day Town of Orange.<ref name=":4"/>

The economy and population continued to grow up until the time of a fire in 1909, which destroyed most of the eastern portion of town. Like nearby Gordonsville, Orange's importance as a railroad hub began declining in the early 20th century. Because of its location at the confluence of two major roadways and the establishment of the Orange Automobile Club in 1910, the town became a regional center for automobile sales and services. Its accessibility allowed it to maintain a relatively healthy economy through the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]].

A notable company in Orange during that period was American Silk Mills, Inc., which was established in 1929 and processed raw [[silk]] into a finished material. During [[World War II]], the mill was awarded a presidential citation for its production of [[parachute]]s for Allied troops. Although much of the mid-20th-century industry moved to other locations, the population of Orange has grown steadily up through the 2010 census.<ref name=":4"/>

As of September 2013, Orange County contained [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange County, Virginia|33 places]] listed on the National Register of Historic Places, seven of which are within the Town of Orange.

==Geography==
Orange is located at {{coord|38|14|45|N|78|6|35|W|type:city}} (38.245894, &minus;78.109786).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|8.60|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|8.56|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.49%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Orange town, Virginia| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 28, 2011}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Orange, Virginia (Piedmont Research Station) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 81
|Feb record high F = 81
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 79
|year record high F = 106
|Jan high F = 44.4
|Feb high F = 47.8
|Mar high F = 55.6
|Apr high F = 66.8
|May high F = 74.3
|Jun high F = 82.6
|Jul high F = 86.5
|Aug high F = 84.8
|Sep high F = 78.6
|Oct high F = 68.2
|Nov high F = 57.3
|Dec high F = 47.9
|year high F = 66.2
|Jan mean F = 34.9
|Feb mean F = 37.7
|Mar mean F = 44.9
|Apr mean F = 55.5
|May mean F = 64.1
|Jun mean F = 72.5
|Jul mean F = 76.7
|Aug mean F = 75.1
|Sep mean F = 68.7
|Oct mean F = 57.3
|Nov mean F = 46.9
|Dec mean F = 38.6
|year mean F = 56.1
|Jan low F = 25.3
|Feb low F = 27.6
|Mar low F = 34.3
|Apr low F = 44.2
|May low F = 53.8
|Jun low F = 62.5
|Jul low F = 66.9
|Aug low F = 65.4
|Sep low F = 58.7
|Oct low F = 46.3
|Nov low F = 36.5
|Dec low F = 29.2
|year low F = 45.9
|Jan record low F = −9
|Feb record low F = −11
|Mar record low F = 4
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 41
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = -4
|year record low F = -11
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.90
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.61
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.56
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.38
|May precipitation inch = 4.14
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.79
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.29
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.38
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.27
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.62
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.39
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.41
|year precipitation inch = 43.74
|Jan snow inch = 4.6
|Feb snow inch = 5.6
|Mar snow inch = 2.7
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 3.2
|year snow inch = 16.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 8.9
|Feb precipitation days = 7.8
|Mar precipitation days = 9.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.5
|May precipitation days = 11.9
|Jun precipitation days = 10.6
|Jul precipitation days = 11.2
|Aug precipitation days = 8.9
|Sep precipitation days = 8.4
|Oct precipitation days = 7.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.9
|Dec precipitation days = 8.3
|year precipitation days = 111.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.8
|Feb snow days = 2.7
|Mar snow days = 1.5
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 1.8
|year snow days = 9.0
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lwx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 3, 2021
| archive-date = July 24, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150724075300/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lwx
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00446712&format=pdf
| title = Station: Piedmont RSCH STN, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 3, 2021}}</ref>
}}
[[File:2016-07-21 18 23 31 View south along U.S. Route 15 and north along Virginia State Route 20 (Caroline Street) between Old Main Line and Lindsay Drive in Orange, Orange County, Virginia.jpg|thumb|left|US 15 and SR 20 in Orange]]

==Transportation==
The primary roadways serving Orange are [[U.S. Route 15 in Virginia|U.S. Route 15]] and [[Virginia State Route 20]]. U.S. 15 extends north and south, connecting Orange to [[Culpeper, Virginia|Culpeper]] to the north and [[Gordonsville, Virginia|Gordonsville]] to the south. SR 20 extends more east and west (though is also signed north/south), connecting to [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]] to the west and heading towards [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]] in the east. Virginia Regional Transit operates the Town of Orange Transit (TOOT), as well as a connecting service to Culpeper.<ref>
{{Cite web| title = Culpeper – Virginia Regional Transit| access-date = January 20, 2020| url = https://vatransit.org/culpeper/}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1870 = 731
| 1880 = 547
| 1890 = 571
| 1900 = 536
| 1910 = 674
| 1920 = 1078
| 1930 = 1381
| 1940 = 1980
| 1950 = 2571
| 1960 = 2955
| 1970 = 2768
| 1980 = 2631
| 1990 = 2582
| 2000 = 4123
| 2010 = 4721
| 2020 = 4880
| 2020n = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/orangetownvirginia/PST045223 }}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the census<ref name="Census 2010" /> of 2010, there were 4,721 people, 1,779 households, and 1,058 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 1,423 people per square mile (549/km{{sup|2}}). There were 1,991 housing units at an average density of 600 per square mile (231.5/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the town was 72.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 22.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.5% of the population.

Out of the 1,779 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.15 were non-families. Householders living alone accounted for 34.2% of the total households and 30.4% had a resident who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution of Orange's population was 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,191, and the median income for a family was $49,524. Males working full-time had a median income of $38,247 versus $30,012 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,151. Approximately 12.7% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 24.6% of those age 65 or over.

Of the population of 3,761 persons aged 16 and older, 57.2% were in the [[labor force]]; all worked in civilian occupations.

==Government==
The Town of Orange has a [[Council–manager government|council-manager]] form of government, with 5 elected [[at-large]] council members. They collectively appoint a town manager to administer the town's daily operations. The town manager hires staff to run the Community Development, Finance, Police, Public Works, Town Attorney and Town Clerk offices.<ref>Town of Orange municipal website. Retrieved August 18, 2013. http://www.townoforangeva.org/index.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810025804/http://www.townoforangeva.org/index.aspx |date=August 10, 2013 }}</ref>

Orange operated on a budget of $8,034,744 for the 2013/2014 fiscal year, with revenue being composed of approximately 72% water/sewer utility payments, 8% real estate and personal [[property taxes]], 8% (on top of state sales tax) taxes on prepared foods (a "meals" tax), and the remaining 7% from various other sources.<ref>Town of Orange FY2014 Budget. Retrieved August 18, 2013. http://www.townoforangeva.org/DocumentCenter/View/660</ref>

== Orange County School System ==

* [[Orange County High School]]
* Prospect Heights Middle School
* Locust Grove Middle School
* Locust Grove Elementary School
* Orange Elementary School
* Unionville Elementary School
* Gordon-Barbour Elementary School
* Lightfoot Elementary School (grades 3–5)
* Locust Grove Primary School
* Taylor Educational Administration Complex (school administrative offices)

==Notable people==
* [[Norman C. Bailey]] (1890–1969), mayor of Orange, state delegate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9506 |title=Norman C. Bailey |website=Virginia House of Delegates |access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref>
* [[Cathy Baker (actress)|Cathy Baker]], co-star of ''Hee Haw''
* [[Nannie Helen Burroughs]], black American educator, orator, religious leader and businesswoman
* [[Chris Haney]], Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher
* [[Larry Haney]], MLB catcher and coach
* [[Patrick Kilpatrick]], actor
* [[Randolph Scott]], [[Western (genre)|western]] film actor
* [[James Taliaferro]], [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] for Florida
* [[Jeannette Walls|Jeanette Walls]], journalist and author of ''[[The Glass Castle]]'', ''[[Half Broke Horses]]'', and ''The Silver Star''

== Media ==
''The Orange County Review'' is a weekly newspaper based in Orange and owned by [[Berkshire Hathaway|Berkshire Hathaway Inc.]] The newspaper focuses on local community news. Public notices from Orange County commissioners also appear in the newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=10797370|title=Orange Wal-Mart Public Hearing Canceled|date=July 27, 2009|publisher=[[WVIR]]|access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Orange, Virginia}}
* [http://www.townoforangeva.org/index.asp?NID=31 Town of Orange official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080402011826/http://www.orangedowntownalliance.org/default.aspx Orange Downtown Alliance]
* [http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/VAmainstreet/ora.htm Orange Commercial Historic District], Main Street program, National Park Service 
{{Orange County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Orange County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]