According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 692 square miles (1,790 km2), of which 687 square miles (1,780 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4] Orange County is located near the geographic center of the state.
Despite Orange County's hilly terrain, several major routes cross the county. The county is served by both of Vermont's main Interstate highways; with Interstate 89 running north–south through the western side of the county, and Interstate 91 running north–south along the county's eastern edge and the New Hampshire state line. In addition to the Interstates, two U.S. Routes also enter Orange County. U.S. Route 5 parallels I-91 in a north–south route along the county's eastern edge, while U.S. Route 302 runs east–west along the county's northern border with Caledonia County. There are also several Vermont state routes located partially or fully within Orange County. Vermont Route 12, Vermont Route 14, Vermont Route 25, and Vermont Route 110 are all north–south routes, while Vermont Route 66 and Vermont Route 113 are east–west routes.
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010–2018[2]
2000 census
As of the census[9] of 2000, the county had 28,226 people, 10,936 households, and 7,611 families. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 13,386 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2).
There were 10,936 households, of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.
25.60% of the county's population was under age 18, 7.80% was from age 18 to 24, 28.20% was from age 25 to 44, 25.60% was from age 45 to 64, and 12.80% was age 65 or older.
The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.
The county's median household income was $39,855, and the median family income was $45,771. Males had a median income of $30,679 versus $24,144 for females. The county's per capita income was $18,784. About 6.10% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, the county had 28,936 people, 11,887 households, and 7,865 families.[10] The population density was 42.1 inhabitants per square mile (16.3/km2). There were 14,845 housing units at an average density of 21.6 per square mile (8.3/km2).[11]
The county's racial makeup was 97.0% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[10] The largest ancestry groups were English (22.4%), Irish (16.5%); French (14.7%), German (10.4%), "American" (7.3%), French Canadian (7.1%), Italian (6.5%); Scottish (6.5%).[12]
Of the 11,887 households, 28.3% had children under age 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 43.8 years.[10]
The county's median household income was $52,079 and the median family income was $61,221. Males had a median income of $41,281 versus $35,938 for females. The county's per capita income was $25,951. About 6.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Government
As in all Vermont counties, there is a small executive function that is mostly consolidated at the state level. Remaining county government is judicial. There are no "county taxes."
In 1964, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson, who became not only the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Orange County, but the first to win the state of Vermont entirely.
Following the Democrats victory in 1964, the county went back to voting for Republican candidates for another 20 year winning streak starting with Richard Nixon in 1968 and ending with George H. W. Bush in 1988.
The county would be won by Bill Clinton in both the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections.
George W. Bush would win Orange County in 2000 and would be the last time a Republican presidential candidate would carry the county.
John Kerry won the county in 2004, and Orange County has been won by the Democratic candidates in presidential elections since then.
United States presidential election results for Orange County, Vermont[14]
