Orange County, Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Orange County, Virginia | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Virginia |
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 Virginia's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1734 |
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| Seat | Orange |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
343 sq mi (888 km²) 342 sq mi (886 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.50% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
25,881 75/sq mi (29/km²) |
| Website: www.orangecova.com | |
Orange County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 25,881. Its county seat is Orange.[1]
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[edit] History
The area was previously inhabited by the Siouan Manahoac tribe, the first white settlement in what was to become Orange County was Germanna. It was there in 1714 that Governor Alexander Spotswood settled 12 families from Westphalia, Germany—42 people in all. The legal entity of Orange County was established in 1734 from a portion of Spotsylvania County. Orange County is named for Prince William III of Orange, a famous protestant King of Great Britain and Ireland, by Ulster-Scots settlers. The family name of William of Orange was derived from the dynasty's ancestral origins as feudal lords of the French town of Orange, which was named by the ancient Gauls in honour of a celtic water deity.
President James Madison's home, Montpelier, and Virginia governor and U.S. Senator James Barbour's ruined home, Barboursville, are located in the county. President Zachary Taylor was born here.[2] During the Civil War, the Battle of the Wilderness took place in the County in May 1864.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 343 square miles (889 km²), of which, 342 square miles (885 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Madison County - northwest
- Culpeper County - north
- Spotsylvania County - east
- Louisa County - south
- Albemarle County - southwest
- Greene County - west
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.36% White, 13.78% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,150 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,889, and the median income for a family was $48,197. Males had a median income of $31,982 versus $24,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,107. About 7.10% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those aged 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The county is served by Orange County Public Schools[4], whose superintendent is Dr. Robert P. Grimesey[5].
[edit] Towns
[edit] Incorporated
[edit] Unincorporated
[edit] Attractions
Orange County is the location of a number of National Register of Historic Places-listed properties and districts, including Montpelier and Barboursville.
The Wilderness Battlefield
The Battle of the Wilderness was fought in Orange County on May 5-6, 1864. The battle marked the first occasion legendary Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee would face each other in battle. The fighting at the Wilderness was also the first battle in Grant's Overland Campaign that would ultimately lead to the fall of Richmond and Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
Over 160,000 troops were engaged at the Wilderness in a bloody, see-saw, battle that saw both sides on the brink of destruction. When the guns fell silent on May 7, over 29,000 soldiers lay dead or wounded on the fields at the Wilderness, and Grant’s Union army was able to disengage and press on toward Richmond.
Today, the Battle of the Wilderness is a part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which has preserved 2,773 acres (11.22 km2) of the original battlefield. The park is closed on New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Otherwise the park grounds are open from dawn to dusk on a daily basis.
Ellwood
The Ellwood Manor is the only surviving house that witnessed the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864. During the battle Ellwood became a base of operations for the Union Army as Union General Ulysses S. Grant made his headquarters nearby. Ellwood would also play a role in the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 when Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, who was wounded during the battle, had his arm amputated and buried in the family cemetery at Ellwood. Following the battle at Chancellorsville, Ellwood served as a Confederate hospital.
In 2008, Ellwood was named “Favorite Virginia Civil War Site” by the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s “Cooperative Living” magazine. [6]
Portions of Orange County lie within the Monticello AVA. Several award-winning wineries are within the county, including Barboursville Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards and Horton Vineyards.
[edit] Development Concerns
As of September 2008, Wal-Mart has submitted a proposal to build a 141,000-square-foot (13,100 m2) Supercenter store less than one quarter mile from the National Park Service Boundary of the Wilderness Battlefield. It would be situated on a 52-acre (210,000 m2) tract just north of the Route 3/Route 20 intersection in Orange County. Preservation groups have formed the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition to oppose the construction of this Wal-Mart, arguing that it is likely to produce a significant increase in traffic and subsequent development.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American President: Zachary Taylor". Miller Center of Public Affairs. http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/taylor.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Virginia, State of (1998-2009). "Virginia.gov - Education - Home Page". http://www.state.va.us/cmsportal3/education_4096/schools,_libraries_and_museums_4101/k-12_schools_4356/index.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-30.
- ^ Schools, Orange County Public. "Orange County Schools Office of the Superintendent". http://www.ocss-va.org/departments/superintendent/index.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-30.
- ^ Ellwood named favorite Virginia Civil War site - Culpeper Star-Exponent
- ^ Groups want to sidetrack Orange project - Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star
[edit] External links
- Orange County official government site
- The Wilderness Battlefield Coalition - Help Stop the Wilderness Walmart
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Madison County | Culpeper County |
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| Greene County |  |
Spotsylvania County | |||||
 Orange County, Virginia  |
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| Albemarle County | Louisa County |
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