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Orange County
Orange County
County
	Orange County Superior Court in Chelsea
	Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
	Vermont's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 43°59′45″N 72°22′30″W / 43.995815°N 72.374886°W
Country	United States
State	Vermont
Founded	1781
Named for	William of Orange (William III of England)
Shire Town	Chelsea
Largest town	Randolph
Area
• Total	692 sq mi (1,790 km2)
• Land	687 sq mi (1,780 km2)
• Water	5.2 sq mi (13 km2) 0.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	29,277
• Density	42/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	At-large

Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,277.^[2] Its shire town (county seat) is the town of Chelsea.^[3] Orange County was organized on February 2, 1781, as an original county within the state.^{[failed verification]}

Geography

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.

Adjacent counties

Caledonia County – northeast
Grafton County, New Hampshire – east
Windsor County – southwest
Addison County – west
Washington County – northwest

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	10,526	—
1800	18,238	73.3%
1810	25,247	38.4%
1820	24,681	−2.2%
1830	27,285	10.6%
1840	27,873	2.2%
1850	27,296	−2.1%
1860	25,455	−6.7%
1870	23,090	−9.3%
1880	23,525	1.9%
1890	19,575	−16.8%
1900	19,313	−1.3%
1910	18,703	−3.2%
1920	17,279	−7.6%
1930	16,694	−3.4%
1940	17,048	2.1%
1950	17,027	−0.1%
1960	16,014	−5.9%
1970	17,676	10.4%
1980	22,739	28.6%
1990	26,149	15.0%
2000	28,226	7.9%
2010	28,936	2.5%
2020	29,277	1.2%
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).

The county's racial makeup was 98.02% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.3% were of English, 12.8% French, 11.5% American, 10.8% Irish, 6.0% German and 5.5% French Canadian ancestry. 97.4% spoke English and 1.5% French as their first language.

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."

Legislators

Towns in Orange County are represented in four Vermont Senate Districts. The Orange Senate district includes most of Orange County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Mark A. MacDonald (D).

The Washington Senate district includes the Towns of Braintree and Orange, both in Orange County, as well as all of Washington County and the Town of Stowe in Lamoille County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Ann Cummings (D), Andrew Perchlik (D), and Anne Watson (D).

The Windsor Senate district includes the Town of Thetford, in Orange County, as well as most of Windsor County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Alison Clarkson (D), Dick McCormack (D), and Rebecca White (D).

The Caledonia Senate district includes the Town of Newbury, in Orange County, as well as most of Caledonia County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Jane Kitchel (D).

Politics

In 1828, Orange County was won by National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams.

In 1832, the county was won by Anti-Masonic Party candidate William Wirt.

From William Henry Harrison in 1836 to Winfield Scott in 1852, the county would vote the Whig Party candidates.

From John C. Frémont in 1856 to Richard Nixon in 1960 (barring 1912, where the county was won by Progressive Party candidate and former president Theodore Roosevelt), the Republican Party would have a 104-year winning streak in the county.

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]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	6,683	37.82%	10,220	57.83%	769	4.35%
2020	6,187	36.13%	10,304	60.18%	631	3.69%
2016	5,007	34.18%	7,541	51.48%	2,101	14.34%
2012	4,588	32.65%	9,076	64.58%	389	2.77%
2008	5,047	33.25%	9,799	64.56%	333	2.19%
2004	6,421	43.11%	8,159	54.78%	315	2.11%
2000	6,858	46.67%	6,694	45.55%	1,143	7.78%
1996	4,043	32.96%	6,107	49.79%	2,116	17.25%
1992	4,249	31.69%	5,774	43.06%	3,387	25.26%
1988	6,151	54.35%	4,977	43.97%	190	1.68%
1984	6,407	60.24%	4,088	38.44%	140	1.32%
1980	4,656	49.52%	3,079	32.75%	1,667	17.73%
1976	4,768	58.61%	3,171	38.98%	196	2.41%
1972	5,389	69.12%	2,332	29.91%	76	0.97%
1968	4,135	66.16%	1,879	30.06%	236	3.78%
1964	2,723	41.00%	3,918	58.99%	1	0.02%
1960	5,363	77.23%	1,581	22.77%	0	0.00%
1956	5,616	83.95%	1,072	16.02%	2	0.03%
1952	5,610	83.49%	1,082	16.10%	27	0.40%
1948	4,061	76.97%	1,139	21.59%	76	1.44%
1944	4,117	73.77%	1,464	26.23%	0	0.00%
1940	4,527	68.81%	2,029	30.84%	23	0.35%
1936	4,956	73.28%	1,796	26.56%	11	0.16%
1932	4,305	69.30%	1,830	29.46%	77	1.24%
1928	5,223	84.69%	914	14.82%	30	0.49%
1924	4,657	82.85%	724	12.88%	240	4.27%
1920	3,713	78.93%	938	19.94%	53	1.13%
1916	2,151	59.31%	1,379	38.02%	97	2.67%
1912	1,289	34.19%	956	25.36%	1,525	40.45%
1908	2,262	74.46%	667	21.96%	109	3.59%
1904	2,259	77.13%	587	20.04%	83	2.83%
1900	2,515	75.32%	740	22.16%	84	2.52%
1896	3,067	80.20%	567	14.83%	190	4.97%
1892	2,395	66.18%	1,088	30.06%	136	3.76%
1888	2,792	62.61%	1,277	28.64%	390	8.75%
1884	2,351	60.50%	1,392	35.82%	143	3.68%
1880	3,107	65.14%	1,631	34.19%	32	0.67%

Education

The county is served by four school districts (supervisory unions):^[15]

Orange East Supervisory Union (Superintendent: Wendy Baker^[16])
Orange North Supervisory Union
Orange Southwest Supervisory Union
Orange Windsor Supervisory Union

Additionally, Fairlee, Vershire, and West Fairlee are in the Rivendell Interstate School District.^[17]

The town of Randolph is also home to the campus of Vermont State University Randolph (which was known as Vermont Technical College, or Vermont Tech, until July 2023).^[18]

Orange North Supervisory Union

The union's superintendent is Douglas Shiok,^[19] and it includes:^[19]

Orange Center School (Principal: Richard P. Jacobs^[20])
Washington Village School (Principal: Charles R. Witters, Jr.^[21])
Williamstown Elementary School (Principal: Elaine K. Watson^[22])
Williamstown Middle High School (Principal: Heidi Moccia [middle]; Juanita Burch-Clay [high]^[23]).