Orange County, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Orange County, North Carolina | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina |
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 North Carolina's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1752 |
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| Seat | Hillsborough |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
401 sq mi (1,039 km²) 400 sq mi (1,036 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.34% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
118,227 295/sq mi (114/km²) |
| Website: www.co.orange.nc.us | |
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 118,227. Its county seat is Hillsborough[1]. It is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the flagship institution of the University of North Carolina System.
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[edit] History
The county was formed in 1752 from parts of Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County. It was named for the infant William V of Orange, whose mother Anne, daughter of King George II of Great Britain, was then regent of the Dutch Republic.
In 1771 Orange County was greatly reduced in area. The western part of it was combined with the eastern part of Rowan County to form Guilford County. Another part was combined with parts of Cumberland County and Johnston County to form Wake County. The southern part of what remained became Chatham County.
In 1777 the northern half of what was left of Orange County became Caswell County. In 1849 the western third of the still shrinking county became Alamance County. Finally, in 1881 the eastern half of the county's remaining territory was combined with part of Wake County to form Durham County.
[edit] Law and government
Orange County is governed by a five-member board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected to four-year terms in at-large partisan elections, which are held in November of even-numbered years.
Due in large part to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Orange County has gained a reputation as one of the most liberal counties in North Carolina. The county consistently delivers one of the heaviest Democratic majorities in the state in presidential, state, and local elections.
Orange County is a member of the regional Triangle J Council of Governments.
See also: List of commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 401 square miles (1,040 km²), of which, 400 square miles (1,036 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.34%) is water.
The county is drained, in part, by the Eno River.
[edit] Townships
The county is divided into seven townships: Bingham, Cedar Grove, Chapel Hill, Cheeks, Eno, Hillsborough, and Little River.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Person County, North Carolina - northeast
- Durham County, North Carolina - east
- Chatham County, North Carolina - south
- Alamance County, North Carolina - west
- Caswell County, North Carolina - northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 118,227 people, 45,863 households, and 26,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 296 people per square mile (114/km²). There were 49,289 housing units at an average density of 123 per square mile (48/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.05% White, 13.79% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 4.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 4.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 45,863 households out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.60% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.00% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 21.00% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 8.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,372, and the median income for a family was $59,874. Males had a median income of $39,298 versus $31,328 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,873. About 6.20% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities
[edit] Cities and towns
There are three incorporated municipalities located primarily in Orange County: Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. However, parts of the City of Mebane in Alamance County are located in Orange County.
[edit] Unincorporated communities
There are several unincorporated communities in the rural parts of the county:
- Blackwood
- Buckhorn (also known as Cheeks Crossroads)
- Caldwell
- Calvander
- Carr
- Cedar Grove
- Dodsons Crossroads
- Dogwood Acres
- Eno
- Eubanks
- Fairview
- Hurdle Mills
- Laws
- McDade
- Miles
- Oaks
- Orange Grove
- Piney Grove
- Rougemont
- Schley
- Teer
- University (formerly known as Glenn)
- White Cross
[edit] Notable residents
- Thomas Samuel Ashe, United States Congressman from North Carolina[3]
- John Edwards, former North Carolina Senator, 2008 Presidential candidate
- Doug Marlette, cartoonist and writer
- Archibald Murphey, North Carolina politician
- Beverly Perdue, North Carolina lieutenant governor
- David Price, U.S. congressman
- Lee Smith, author
- Connie Ray, actress and playwright
- Joseph H. Johnston, WWI veteran, Distinguished Service Cross awardee (posthumously)
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
[edit] External links
- Orange County official Web site
- OrangePolitics.org Multi-author blog about progressive politics in Orange County
- Squeeze the Pulp Internet forum on politics, news, and community in Orange County
- Orange County historic information cache
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