# Orange County, New York

Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 401,310. The county seat is Goshen. This county was first created in 1683 and reorganized with its present boundaries in 1798. The county is part of the Hudson Valley region of the state.
Orange County is part of the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh metropolitan statistical area, which belongs to the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area.
As of the 2010 census the center of population of the state of New York was located in Orange County, approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the hamlet of Westbrookville.

## History

Orange County was officially established on November 1, 1683 when the Province of New York was divided into twelve counties. Each of these was named to honor a member of the British royal family, and Orange County took its name from the Prince of Orange, who subsequently became King William III of England. As originally defined, Orange County included only the southern part of its present-day territory, plus all of present-day Rockland County further south. The northern part of the present-day county, beyond Moodna Creek, was then a part of neighboring Ulster County.
At that date, the only European inhabitants of the area were a handful of Dutch colonists in present-day Rockland County, and the area of modern Orange County was entirely occupied by the native Munsee people. Due to its relatively small population, the original Orange County was not fully independent and was administered by New York County.
The first European settlers in the area of the present-day county arrived in 1685. They were a party of around twenty-five families from Scotland, led by David Toshach, the Laird of Monzievaird, and his brother-in-law Major Patrick McGregor, a former officer of the French Army. They settled in the Hudson Highlands at the place where the Moodna Creek enters the Hudson River, now known as New Windsor. In 1709, a group of German Palatine refugees settled at Newburgh. They were Protestants from a part of Germany along the Rhine that had suffered during the religious wars. Queen Anne's government arranged for passage from England of nearly 3,000 Palatines in ten ships. Many were settled along the Hudson River in work camps on property belonging to Robert Livingston. In 1712, a 16-year-old indentured servant named Sarah Wells from Manhattan led a small party of three Munsee men and three hired carpenters into the undeveloped interior of the county and created the first settlement in the Town of Goshen on the Otter Kill. She was falsely promised by her master Christopher Denne 100 acres bounty for taking on the dangerous mission to make a land claim for him. He never gave her the land. But, she did fall in love and married Irish immigrant William Bull there in 1718 and they had 12 children and built the Bull Stone House. In 1716, the first known Black woman resident was recorded in Orange County. Her name was Mercy$^{:108}$ and she was enslaved by Christopher Denne at his settlement on the Otter Kill. Additional immigrants came from Ireland; they were of Scots and English descent who had been settled as planters there.
During the American Revolutionary War the county was divided into Loyalists, Patriots, and those who remained neutral. The local government supported the Revolution, or "The Cause." Some residents posed as Loyalists but were part of a secret spy network set up by Gen. George Washington. Capt. William Bull III of the Town of Wallkill (which was then a part of Ulster County) served in the Continental Army with Gen. Washington in Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment. His cousin was revealed after the war to be part of Washington's spy ring. His brother Moses Bull raised 20 men from the Town of Wallkill to service with his brother. Capt. Bull was promoted twice for valor on the battlefield, once in the Battle of Monmouth where he was part of Lord Stirling's men who famously saved the day after Gen. Lee's retreat. Capt. Bull wintered at Valley Forge with several men from Orange County. Capt. Bull retired from the Army in 1781 and returned to the Town of Wallkill where he built Brick Castle. Hundreds of men from Orange County served in the local militia and many of them fought in the Battle of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton. However, many residents remained loyal to King George III, include members of Capt. Bull's family. Many in the county were divided within families. Capt. Bull's uncle Thomas Bull was jailed for years in Goshen and then Fishkill for being a Loyalist. Resident Claudius Smith was a Loyalist marauder whose team robbed and terrorized citizens; he was hanged in Goshen in 1779 for allegedly robbing and killing Major Nathaniel Strong; two of his sons were also executed for similar crimes. Capt. Bull's cousin Peter Bull of Hamptonburgh served in the Orange County regiment and was charged with guarding the roads at night from Smith. The Mathews family of Blooming Grove were active Loyalists; Fletcher Mathews was a sympathizer and sometime associate of Smith, and his brother David Mathews was Mayor of New York City during its British occupation for the entirety of the war.
In 1798, after the American Revolutionary War, the boundaries of Orange County changed. Its southern corner was used to create the new Rockland County, and in exchange, an area to the north of the Moodna Creek was added, which had previously been in Ulster County. This caused a reorganization of the local administration, as the original county seat had been fixed at Orangetown in 1703, but this was now in Rockland County. Duties were subsequently shared between Goshen, which had been the center of government for the northern part of Orange County, and Newburgh, which played a similar role in the area transferred from Ulster County. The county court was established in 1801. It was not until 1970 that Goshen was named as the sole county seat.
Due to a boundary dispute between New York and New Jersey, the boundaries of many of the southern towns of the county were not definitively established until the 19th century.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 839 square miles (2,170 km$^2$), of which 812 square miles (2,100 km$^2$) is land and 27 square miles (70 km$^2$) (3.2%) are water.
Orange County is in southeastern New York State, directly north of the New Jersey-New York border, west of the Hudson River, east of the Delaware River and northwest of New York City. It borders the New York counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester, as well as Passaic and Sussex counties in New Jersey and Pike County in Pennsylvania.
Orange County is the only county which borders both the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, and is also the only county in the state to border both New Jersey (south) and Pennsylvania (west).
Orange County is where the Great Valley of the Appalachians finally opens up and ends. The western corner is set off by the Shawangunk Ridge. The area along the Rockland County border (within Harriman and Bear Mountain state parks) and south of Newburgh is part of the Hudson Highlands. The land in between is the valley of the Wallkill River. In the southern portion of the county the Wallkill valley expands into a wide glacial lake bed known as the Black Dirt Region for its fertility.
The highest point is Schunemunk Mountain, at 1,664 feet (507 m) above sea level. The lowest is sea level along the Hudson.

### National protected areas

* Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (part)
* Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

### Adjacent counties

* Ulster County – north
* Dutchess County – northeast
* Putnam County - east
* Rockland County – southeast
* Passaic County, New Jersey - southeast
* Sussex County, New Jersey - southwest
* Pike County, Pennsylvania – southwest
* Sullivan County – northwest

## Demographics

2020 2024

### 2000–2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 372,813 people living in the county. The population density was 444 inhabitants per square mile (171/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 77.2% White, 10.2% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.4% Asian, and 3.1% from two or more races. 18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2000 United States Census, 18.3% were of Italian, 18.1% English, 17.4% Irish, 10.2% German, and 5.0% Polish ancestry. According to the 2009–13 American Community Survey, 76.57% of people spoke only English at home, 13.39% spoke Spanish, 4.03% spoke Yiddish, and 0.83% spoke Italian.
During the 2000 Census, there were 114,788 households, out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,058, and the median income for a family was $60,355. Males had a median income of $42,363 versus $30,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,597. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
Despite its rural roots, Orange County has been among the fastest-growing regions within the New York City metropolitan area.

### 2018

Per the American Community Survey's 2018 estimates, there were 381,951 residents within Orange County. 63.5% of the county was non-Hispanic white, 12.95 Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from two or more races, and 21.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.4% of Orange County's residents spoke another language other than English at home.
There were 126,776 households in 2018 and an average of 2.90 persons per household. The owner-occupied housing rate was 68.0% and the median gross rent of the county was $1,223. The median homeowner cost with a mortgage was $2,280 and $909 without a mortgage.
The median income for a household from 2014 to 2018 was $76,716 and the per capita income was $33,472. 11.5% of the county's inhabitants were below the poverty line in 2018.

### 2020 Census

Orange County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 231,848 | 57.8% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 41,341 | 10.3% |
| Native American (NH) | 754 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 11,665 | 3% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 104 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 25,854 | 6.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 89,744 | 22.4% |

## Law and government

Originally, like most New York counties, Orange County was governed by a board of supervisors. Its board consisted of the 20 town supervisors, nine city supervisors elected from the nine wards of the City of Newburgh, and four each elected from the wards of the cities of Middletown and Port Jervis. In 1968, the board adopted a county charter and a reapportionment plan that created the county legislature and executive. The first county executive and legislature were elected in November 1969 and took office on January 1, 1970. Today, Orange County is still governed by the same charter; residents elect the county executive and a 21-member county legislature elected from 21 single-member districts. There are also several state constitutional positions that are elected, including a sheriff, county clerk and district attorney. Prior to January 1, 2008, four coroners were also elected; however, on that date, the county switched to a medical examiner system.
The current county officers are:
* County Executive: Steven M. Neuhaus (Republican)
* County Clerk: Kelly A. Eskew (Republican)
* Sheriff: Paul Arteta (Republican)
* District Attorney: David M. Hoovler (Republican)
The County Legislature and its previous board of supervisors were long dominated by the Republican Party. However, since the late 20th century, the Democrats have closed the gap. During 2008 and 2009 the legislature was evenly split between 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats, and 1 Independence Party member. In 2009, the legislature had its first Democratic chairman elected when one member of the Republican caucus voted alongside the 10 Democratic members to elect Roxanne Donnery (D-Highlands/Woodbury) to the post. At the November 2009 election, several Democratic incumbents were defeated. As of the convening of the legislature on January 1, 2022, there are 14 Republicans, 6 Democrats, and 1 Independence member.
Orange County Legislature :
| District | Legislator | Party | Residence |
| 1 | Michael Amo | Independence | Central Valley |
| 2 | Janet Sutherland | Republican | |
| 3 | Paul Ruszkiewicz | Republican | Pine Island |
| 4 | Kevindaryán Luján | Democratic | Newburgh |
| 5 | Katie Bonelli chairwoman | Republican | Blooming Grove |
| 6 | Genesis Ramos | Democratic | Newburgh |
| 7 | Peter Tuohy | Republican | |
| 8 | Barry J. Cheney | Republican | Warwick |
| 9 | L. Stephen Brescia | Republican | Montgomery |
| 10 | Glenn R. Ehlers | Republican | Chester |
| 11 | Kathy Stegenga | Republican | |
| 12 | Kevin Hines | Republican | Cornwall |
| 13 | Thomas J. Faggione majority leader | Republican | Deerpark |
| 14 | Laurie R. Tautel | Democratic | |
| 15 | Joseph J. Minuta | Republican | |
| 16 | Leigh J. Benton | Republican | Newburgh |
| 17 | Mike Anagnostakis | Democratic | Maybrook |
| 18 | Rob Sassi | Republican | |
| 19 | Michael D. Paduch minority leader | Democratic | Middletown |
| 20 | Joel Sierra | Democratic | Middletown |
| 21 | James D. O'Donnell | Republican | Goshen |
2021 Orange County Executive election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Steve Neuhaus | 38,845 | 80.31 |
| Conservative | Steve Neuhaus | 9,072 | 18.76 |
| Total | Steve Neuhaus (incumbent) | 47,917 | 99.06 |
2021 Orange County District Attorney election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | David Hoovler | 36,837 | 80.00 |
| Conservative | David Hoovler | 8,959 | 19.46 |
| Total | David Hoovler (incumbent) | 45,796 | 99.46 |
2021 Orange County Clerk election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kelly Eskew | 33,012 | 53.32 |
| Conservative | Kelly Eskew | 7,063 | 11.41 |
| Total | Kelly Eskew | 40,075 | 64.73 |
| Democratic | Anthony Grice | 20,141 | 32.53 |
| Working Families | Anthony Grice | 1,676 | 2.71 |
| Total | Anthony Grice | 21,817 | 35.24 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 1 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independence | Michael Amo | 1,849 | 84.66 |
| Republican | Michael Amo | 323 | 14.79 |
| Total | Michael Amo (incumbent) | 2,172 | 99.45 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 2 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Janet Sutherland | 1,841 | 79.11 |
| Conservative | Janet Sutherland | 477 | 20.50 |
| Total | Janet Sutherland (incumbent) | 2,318 | 99.61 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 3 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Paul Ruszkiewicz | 2,352 | 80.58 |
| Conservative | Paul Ruszkiewicz | 560 | 19.18 |
| Total | Paul Ruszkiewicz (incumbent) | 2,912 | 99.76 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 4 Democratic Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Kevindaryan Lujan (Incumbent) | 319 | 59.51 |
| | Democratic | Gabrielle Hill | 216 | 40.30 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 4 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Kevindaryan Lujan | 692 | 65.16 |
| Working Families | Kevindaryan Lujan | 86 | 8.10 |
| Total | Kevindaryan Lujan (incumbent) | 778 | 73.26 |
| Republican | Alfonso Ramos | 230 | 21.66 |
| Conservative | Alfonso Ramos | 50 | 4.71 |
| Total | Alfonso Ramos | 280 | 26.37 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 5 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Katie Bonelli | 2,170 | 82.95 |
| Conservative | Katie Bonelli | 433 | 16.55 |
| Total | Katie Bonelli (incumbent) | 2,603 | 99.50 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 6 Democratic Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Genesis Ramos | 394 | 67.35 |
| | Democratic | Roger Ramjug | 188 | 32.14 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 6 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Genesis Ramos | 816 | 48.20 |
| Working Families | Genesis Ramos | 71 | 4.19 |
| Total | Genesis Ramos | 887 | 52.39 |
| Republican | John Giudice | 611 | 36.09 |
| Conservative | John Giudice | 138 | 8.15 |
| Total | John Giudice | 749 | 44.24 |
| Nbg Leadership | Roger Ramjug | 55 | 3.25 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 7 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Peter Tuohy | 1,925 | 80.88 |
| Conservative | Peter Tuohy | 438 | 18.40 |
| Total | Peter Tuohy (incumbent) | 2,363 | 99.29 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 8 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Barry Cheney | 2,276 | 78.75 |
| Conservative | Barry Cheney | 592 | 20.48 |
| Total | Barry Cheney (incumbent) | 2,868 | 99.24 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 9 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Steve Brescia | 1,806 | 46.71 |
| Conservative | Steve Brescia | 398 | 10.29 |
| Total | Steve Brescia (incumbent) | 2,204 | 57.01 |
| Democratic | Fran Fox-Pizzonia | 1,491 | 38.57 |
| Working Families | Fran Fox-Pizzonia | 164 | 4.24 |
| Total | Fran Fox-Pizzonia | 1,655 | 42.81 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 10 Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Glenn Ehlers | 291 | 68.79 |
| | Republican | Orlando Perez | 131 | 30.97 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 10 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Glenn Ehlers | 1,970 | 49.34 |
| Orange First | Glenn Ehlers | 56 | 1.40 |
| Total | Glenn Ehlers | 2,026 | 50.74 |
| Democratic | Susan Bahren | 1,500 | 37.57 |
| Working Families | Susan Bahren | 130 | 3.26 |
| Total | Susan Bahren | 1,630 | 40.82 |
| Conservative | Orlando Perez | 337 | 8.44 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 11 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kathy Stegenga | 2,119 | 56.12 |
| Conservative | Kathy Stegenga | 484 | 12.82 |
| Total | Kathy Stegenga (incumbent) | 2,603 | 68.94 |
| Democratic | Ryan Mayo | 1,170 | 30.99 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 12 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kevin Hines | 2,003 | 42.47 |
| Conservative | Kevin Hines | 490 | 10.39 |
| Total | Kevin Hines (incumbent) | 2,493 | 52.86 |
| Democratic | Matthew Rettig | 2,002 | 42.45 |
| Working Families | Matthew Rettig | 219 | 4.64 |
| Total | Matthew Rettig | 2,221 | 47.09 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 13 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Thomas Faggione | 1,813 | 60.41 |
| Conservative | Thomas Faggione | 441 | 14.70 |
| Total | Thomas Faggione (incumbent) | 2,254 | 75.11 |
| Democratic | Seth Goldman | 744 | 24.79 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 14 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Laurie Tautel | 866 | 43.28 |
| Working Families | Laurie Tautel | 138 | 6.90 |
| Total | Laurie Tautel (incumbent) | 1,004 | 50.17 |
| Republican | Jennifer Gargiulo | 813 | 40.63 |
| Conservative | Jennifer Gargiulo | 184 | 9.20 |
| Total | Jennifer Gargiulo | 997 | 49.83 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 15 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Joseph Minuta | 1,422 | 45.13 |
| Conservative | Joseph Minuta | 250 | 7.93 |
| Total | Joseph Minuta (incumbent) | 1,672 | 53.06 |
| Democratic | Neil Fernandez | 1,405 | 44.59 |
| United 4NW | Neil Fernandez | 74 | 2.35 |
| Total | Neil Fernandez | 1,479 | 46.94 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 16 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Leigh Benton | 1,624 | 57.49 |
| Conservative | Leigh Benton | 362 | 12.81 |
| Total | Leigh Benton (incumbent) | 1,986 | 70.30 |
| Democratic | Pearl Johnson | 836 | 29.59 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 17 Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Anagnostakis (incumbent) | 732 | 72.26 |
| | Republican | Patricia Maher | 280 | 27.64 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 17 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Mike Anagnostakis | 1,275 | 45.08 |
| Democratic | Mike Anagnostakis | 996 | 35.22 |
| Total | Mike Anagnostakis (incumbent) | 2,271 | 80.30 |
| Conservative | Patricia Maher | 555 | 19.63 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 18 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Rob Sassi | 2,001 | 56.77 |
| Conservative | Rob Sassi | 456 | 12.94 |
| Total | Rob Sassi (incumbent) | 2,457 | 69.70 |
| Democratic | Gail Jeter | 953 | 27.04 |
| Working Families | Gail Jeter | 115 | 3.26 |
| Total | Gail Jeter | 1,068 | 30.30 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 19 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mike Paduch (incumbent) | 1,079 | 99.26 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 20 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Joel Sierra | 970 | 67.69 |
| Middle Pride | Joel Sierra | 43 | 3.00 |
| Total | Joel Sierra (incumbent) | 1,013 | 70.69 |
| Conservative | Kevin Gomez | 386 | 26.94 |
| Ind Leadership | Kevin Gomez | 32 | 2.23 |
| Total | Kevin Gomez | 418 | 29.17 |
2021 Orange County Legislature District 21 election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | James O'Donnell | 1,941 | 57.12 |
| Conservative | James O'Donnell | 456 | 13.42 |
| Total | James O'Donnell (incumbent) | 2,397 | 70.54 |
| Democratic | Neal Frishberg | 999 | 29.40 |

## Transportation

The county is served by Stewart International Airport, located two miles west of Newburgh, New York. The airport serves American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Air, and JetBlue Airways. AirTran Airways stopped providing service to the airport in late 2008.
Ground transportation within Orange County is provided primarily by Transit Orange. Leprechaun Lines, Monsey Trails, NJ Transit, Short Line Bus, and Metro-North Railroad's Port Jervis Line also provide services, as well as amenities such as senior citizen & handicapped dial-a-bus and car services, which usually restrict themselves to their respective town or city. Shortline also operates the Main Line of Orange County between Middletown and Monroe Woodbury (Commons), with stops in Walkill & (The Galleria), Goshen, Chester, Monroe & Harriman.

### Major roadways

Major routes in Orange County are freeways Interstate 84, Interstate 87, State Route 17 (Future Interstate 86), and the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and surface roads U.S. Route 6, U.S. Route 9W, and U.S. Route 209. There are two Hudson River crossings in Orange County: the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.
* I-84
* I-87 / New York Thruway
* US 6
* US 9W
* US 202
* US 209
* NY 17
* NY 17A
* NY 17K
* NY 17M
* NY 32
* NY 42
* NY 52
* NY 94
* NY 97
* NY 207
* NY 208
* NY 210
* NY 211
* NY 218
* NY 284
* NY 293
* NY 300
* NY 302
* NY 416
* NY 747
* Palisades Parkway

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Orange County, New York :
| Year | Republican / Whig | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 94,936 | 54.05% | 80,253 | 45.69% | 471 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | 85,068 | 49.30% | 84,955 | 49.24% | 2,516 | 1.46% |
| 2016 | 76,645 | 50.42% | 68,278 | 44.91% | 7,098 | 4.67% |
| 2012 | 65,367 | 46.48% | 73,315 | 52.13% | 1,946 | 1.38% |
| 2008 | 72,042 | 47.40% | 78,326 | 51.54% | 1,614 | 1.06% |
| 2004 | 79,089 | 54.67% | 63,394 | 43.82% | 2,190 | 1.51% |
| 2000 | 62,852 | 49.66% | 58,170 | 45.96% | 5,535 | 4.37% |
| 1996 | 45,956 | 40.12% | 54,995 | 48.01% | 13,587 | 11.86% |
| 1992 | 53,493 | 43.66% | 45,946 | 37.50% | 23,081 | 18.84% |
| 1988 | 65,446 | 62.44% | 38,465 | 36.70% | 899 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 69,413 | 67.78% | 32,663 | 31.89% | 337 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 51,268 | 56.67% | 30,022 | 33.18% | 9,180 | 10.15% |
| 1976 | 49,685 | 54.80% | 40,362 | 44.51% | 626 | 0.69% |
| 1972 | 63,556 | 71.00% | 25,778 | 28.80% | 181 | 0.20% |
| 1968 | 44,955 | 56.09% | 28,122 | 35.09% | 7,072 | 8.82% |
| 1964 | 30,610 | 38.78% | 48,244 | 61.13% | 70 | 0.09% |
| 1960 | 48,646 | 60.67% | 31,471 | 39.25% | 65 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 57,739 | 77.54% | 16,722 | 22.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 51,217 | 71.23% | 20,585 | 28.63% | 98 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 38,351 | 62.84% | 20,638 | 33.82% | 2,042 | 3.35% |
| 1944 | 39,041 | 61.71% | 24,059 | 38.03% | 162 | 0.26% |
| 1940 | 38,913 | 58.35% | 27,632 | 41.43% | 145 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 34,428 | 54.41% | 27,528 | 43.50% | 1,320 | 2.09% |
| 1932 | 30,687 | 56.39% | 22,971 | 42.21% | 765 | 1.41% |
| 1928 | 37,334 | 64.10% | 19,047 | 32.70% | 1,859 | 3.19% |
| 1924 | 29,184 | 67.74% | 9,765 | 22.67% | 4,134 | 9.60% |
| 1920 | 24,558 | 66.13% | 10,567 | 28.46% | 2,010 | 5.41% |
| 1916 | 13,619 | 56.06% | 10,198 | 41.98% | 478 | 1.97% |
| 1912 | 10,364 | 43.14% | 9,404 | 39.14% | 4,258 | 17.72% |
| 1908 | 14,414 | 57.03% | 9,938 | 39.32% | 924 | 3.66% |
| 1904 | 14,222 | 56.93% | 9,882 | 39.55% | 879 | 3.52% |
| 1900 | 14,137 | 57.12% | 10,180 | 41.13% | 432 | 1.75% |
| 1896 | 14,086 | 59.52% | 8,971 | 37.91% | 610 | 2.58% |
| 1892 | 11,081 | 48.70% | 10,421 | 45.80% | 1,252 | 5.50% |
| 1888 | 11,261 | 49.49% | 10,852 | 47.69% | 640 | 2.81% |
| 1884 | 9,968 | 48.32% | 9,841 | 47.70% | 822 | 3.98% |
| 1880 | 10,088 | 50.65% | 9,672 | 48.56% | 156 | 0.78% |
| 1876 | 9,430 | 48.96% | 9,776 | 50.75% | 56 | 0.29% |
| 1872 | 8,471 | 52.23% | 7,712 | 47.55% | 36 | 0.22% |
| 1868 | 8,129 | 50.78% | 7,879 | 49.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 6,784 | 50.56% | 6,633 | 49.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 5,898 | 49.53% | 6,011 | 50.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 4,274 | 41.12% | 3,948 | 37.98% | 2,172 | 20.90% |
| 1852 | 9,968 | 50.28% | 9,841 | 49.64% | 17 | 0.09% |
| 1848 | 4,172 | 47.54% | 3,170 | 36.12% | 1,434 | 16.34% |
| 1844 | 4,626 | 46.42% | 5,303 | 53.21% | 37 | 0.37% |
| 1840 | 4,371 | 47.41% | 4,845 | 52.55% | 3 | 0.03% |
| 1836 | 2,242 | 38.77% | 3,541 | 61.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1832 | 2,884 | 40.52% | 4,234 | 59.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1828 | 2,586 | 40.54% | 3,793 | 59.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
In recent years, Orange County has emerged as a swing county, mirroring the preferences of the nation as a whole in presidential elections, voting for the winner in every election from 1996 to 2016. The streak ended in 2020, however, as Orange County narrowly voted to re-elect Donald Trump, even as Democratic nominee Joe Biden of Delaware won the election overall. Bill Clinton won Orange County 48% to 40% in 1996. George W. Bush won 50% of the Orange County vote in 2000, and 55% in 2004. Barack Obama carried the county with a 52% vote share four years later and carried the county again in 2012. However, Donald Trump won the county in 2016, thus making it one of 206 counties across the country to vote for Obama twice and then Trump. In 2020, Trump again won Orange County, this time by just 312 votes out of nearly 170,000 votes cast, a margin of about 0.2 percentage points. Despite this, it was only the fourth-closest county in the state and one of five that Trump won by less than 500 votes.
Previously, like most of the Lower Hudson, Orange County had leaned Republican. From 1884 to 1992, a Republican carried Orange County in all but one presidential election. The only time this tradition was broken was in 1964, during Democrat Lyndon Johnson's 44-state landslide. County voters have shown a willingness to sometimes elect Democrats, such as U.S. Rep. John Hall. From 2007 on, when Hall represented the 19th district, which covered most of the county, Orange's representation in Congress was exclusively Democratic, as Maurice Hinchey had represented the towns of Crawford, Montgomery, and Newburgh as well as the city of Newburgh, all of which were in what was then the 22nd district, since 1988.
In the 2010 midterms, Hall was defeated by Nan Hayworth. In 2012, after Hinchey's former 22nd district was eliminated in redistricting following his retirement and all of Orange County was included in the current 18th district. Hayworth was defeated by Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton and the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from New York. Maloney won a rematch against Hayworth in 2014; in 2016 he was again re-elected over Phil Oliva, and in 2018, despite running in the Democratic primary for New York Attorney General, he won re-election again over James O'Donnell. Maloney was re-elected in 2020, defeating the 2018 Republican nominee for US Senate Chele Farley. Due to redistricting, Maloney left the 18th District and the seat was left vacant. The Democrats nominated former Ulster County Executive and incumbent Congressman from the 19th Congressional District Pat Ryan, while the Republicans chose then-Assemblyman Colin Schmitt. While Ryan won the district as a whole, Schmitt won Orange County itself by 9,652 votes, or approximately 7.94%
At the state level, Republicans had held onto both State Senate seats until 2018, when John Bonacic retired after 26 years, the 42nd district was then won by Democrat Jen Metzger, for 1 term. In 2020 it returned to the GOP, via Mike Martucci, who chose not to run for re-election in 2022. The 39th State Senate District was held by Democrat James Skoufis from 2016 through 2022, when statewide redistricting moved Skoufis to the newly drawn 42nd district. Skoufis was re-elected to this new district, consisting of most of the county. Newburgh and Maybrook, meanwhile, remained in the new 39th District, held since 2022 by Republican Robert Rolison.
Democrats have also made significant gains in the county's State Assembly seats. The 98th district, which includes the far western part of the county as well as the Town of Warwick, is represented by Karl Brabenec, and the 101st district, which includes the Towns of Crawford and Montgomery, was until 2016 held by Claudia Tenney, both Republicans. After Tenney left her seat to run for Congress that year, Brian Miller, another Republican, was elected to replace her. He held the seat until 2022 when redistricting moved him elsewhere, and he was replaced by fellow Republican Brian Maher. Colin Schmitt represented the 99th district until 2022 when it was redrawn and he left to run for Congress. The district was won by Chris Eachus, a Democrat. The other two districts are also held by Democrats: Aileen Gunther in the 100th district (Middletown) and Jonathan Jacobson in the 104th district (Newburgh).

## Sports

Delano-Hitch Stadium in Newburgh has played host to various professional and amateur baseball teams from various leagues since opening in 1926. The stadium was home to the North Country Baseball League Newburgh Newts for the 1st and only season, 2015.

### High school sports

High schools in Orange County compete in Section 9 of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association along with schools from Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties.

### College sports

The Army Black Knights of the United States Military Academy in West Point field NCAA Division I teams in 24 different sports. Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh fields 15 teams in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Skyline Conference of NCAA Division III. Orange County Community College Colts in Middletown compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

### Motorsports

The Orange County Fair Speedway hosts weekly series racing along with the Super DIRTcar Series along with monster trucks and demolition derbies. They also have a Dirt bike track located outside Turns 3 and 4 of the Speedway. Some notable drivers to race at the track include Stewart Friesen, Brett Hearn and Max McLaughlin.

## Communities
### Cities

* Middletown
* Newburgh
* Port Jervis

### Towns

* Blooming Grove
* Chester
* Cornwall
* Crawford
* Deerpark
* Goshen
* Greenville
* Hamptonburgh
* Highlands
* Minisink
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Mount Hope
* New Windsor
* Newburgh
* Palm Tree
* Tuxedo
* Wallkill
* Warwick
* Wawayanda
* Woodbury

### Villages

* Chester
* Cornwall on Hudson
* Florida
* Goshen (county seat)
* Greenwood Lake
* Harriman
* Highland Falls
* Kiryas Joel
* Maybrook
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Otisville
* South Blooming Grove
* Tuxedo Park
* Unionville
* Walden
* Warwick
* Washingtonville
* Woodbury

### Census-designated places

* Balmville
* Beaver Dam Lake
* Firthcliffe
* Fort Montgomery
* Gardnertown
* Mechanicstown
* Mountain Lodge Park
* New Windsor
* Orange Lake
* Pine Bush
* Salisbury Mills
* Scotchtown
* Sparrow Bush
* Vails Gate
* Walton Park
* Washington Heights
* West Point

### Hamlets

* Amity
* Arden
* Bellvale
* Bullville
* Carpenter's Point
* Central Valley
* Circleville
* Cuddebackville
* Highland Mills
* Howells
* Huguenot
* Little Britain
* Michigan Corners
* Mountainville
* New Hampton
* Pine Island
* Ridgebury
* Slate Hill
* Sugar Loaf
* Thompson Ridge
* Westbrookville

## Education
### School districts

School districts include:
* Chester Union Free School District
* Cornwall Central School District
* Eldred Central School District
* Florida Union Free School District
* Goshen Central School District
* Greenwood Lake Union Free School District
* Haverstraw-Stony Point Central School District (North Rockland)
* Highland Falls Central School District
* Kiryas Joel Village Union Free School District (Palm Tree)
* Marlboro Central School District
* Enlarged City School District of Middletown
* Minisink Valley Central School District
* Monroe-Woodbury Central School District
* Newburgh Enlarged City School District
* Pine Bush Central School District
* Port Jervis City School District
* Suffern Central School District
* Tuxedo Union Free School District
* Valley Central School District (Montgomery)
* Wallkill Central School District
* Warwick Valley Central School District
* Washingtonville Central School District

### Secondary

Private secondary educational institutions:
* John S. Burke Catholic High School (Goshen)
* New York Military Academy (Cornwall-on-Hudson)
* Storm King School (Cornwall)
* United States Military Academy Preparatory School (West Point)

### Colleges

* Fei Tian College (Middletown and Dragon Springs)
* Mount Saint Mary College (Newburgh)
* SUNY Orange/Orange County Community College (Middletown)
* Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown)
* United States Military Academy (West Point)

## In popular culture

* Heavy: parts of the movie were filmed in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis
* Super Troopers: parts of the movie were filmed in the Newburgh area.
* The Sopranos parts of season 6-b, Episode 1: Warwick and Tuxedo
* Michael Clayton: Moodna Viaduct (Cornwall), South Blooming Grove, and Stewart Airport (New Windsor/Newburgh area)
* The Human Footprint: parts filmed in the Hudson Valley region; aired on National Geographic Channel in 2008
* American Chopper: Montgomery, NY & then Newburgh, NY
* Final Destination & Final Destination 2: Parts of plot takes place in Otisville, NY and Greenwood Lake, NY - Shown by patches that police officers wear and television news program that is played.
* The OA: Partially filmed in Central Valley, NY

## Media
### Newspaper

* The Chronicle, Goshen and Chester, twice weekly
* Goshen Independent, Goshen, weekly
* Monroe Photo News, Monroe, weekly
* Times Herald-Record, Middletown, daily
* Warwick Valley Dispatch, Warwick, weekly

### Radio

* WALL, classic rock, Middletown
* WGNY (AM), oldies, Newburgh
* WJGK, adult alternative music, Newburgh
* WLJP, Christian music, Monroe
* WOSR, public radio, Middletown
* WRCR, music and news/talk, Haverstraw
* WRRV, alternative rock, Middletown
* WTBQ, news and music, Warwick

## Points of interest

Points of interest in Orange County include the United States Military Academy at West Point; OC Gov. Center, a Paul Rudolph Brutalist design in Goshen, NY; Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, America's oldest (continuously functioning) winery (as it made legal "sacramental" church wines during Prohibition); the birthplace of William H. Seward in Florida; Museum Village in Monroe, an 18th Century Colonial town; the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen; Bull Stone House, a NY Historical designated structure, built in 1722 and still used as a private residence (10 generations) by the Bull family, as well as the William Bull III House, built in the 1780s. The Historical, Art Deco style Paramount Theatre (Middletown, New York), built in 1930. Thrall Library/Middletown station (Erie Railroad), built in 1896, closed in 1983, refurbished (& expanded) into a public library in 1995. The multi-acre, Salesian Seminary, in Goshen, which trained NYC novitiates for the priesthood, was sold to the Village c. 2005 and a $4.5 million state-of-the-art library built on the grounds in 2018.
Three state parks: Goosepond Mountain State Park, Harriman State Park and Sterling Forest State Park. Sugarloaf arts community, which features the Lyceum Center theatre. The Times Herald-Record newspaper, the first cold press offset daily in the country, in Middletown Commercial centers of interest include the Galleria at Crystal Run, in Wallkill; Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Monroe. The Orange County Fair in Wallkill is an annual 2 or 3 week summer event, dating back to 1808, but officially opening in 1841. Newburgh was the location of Orange County Choppers, 61,000 square foot, $12 million, custom motorcycle-shop facility featured on The Discovery Channel's reality television series American Chopper but it was closed and sold by 2020. The home and birthplace of Velveeta and Liederkranz Cheese is in Monroe (village), while Philadelphia Cream Cheese was invented in Chester.
* Goshen (Historic Trotter Track)
* Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
* Bull Stone House sits on 100 acres in Hamptonburgh, New York. Built in 1722.

## Notable residents

* Juan Rodriguez, interpreter and sailor for the Dutch West India Company in what is today Manhattan, from the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, which is today the Dominican Republic. He began working in Orange County and the surrounding area in 1612. He is considered the first person of African descent and non-Native resident of what would eventually become New York City
* J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur Chester Greycourt colonial farmer and agricultural writer Letters from an American Farmer
* Thomas Young, organizer of Boston Tea Party, born New Windsor
* Henry Wisner, Orange County delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress, (but did not sign the Declaration of Independence) and a gunpowder producer during Revolutionary War
* David Mathews, Loyalist, Mayor of New York City under the British, during the American Revolution, resided in Mathewsfield (now Blooming Grove)
* Claudius Smith, Loyalist, guerilla Tory who terrorized Monroe with Chief Joseph Brant and the Smith gang, he was hanged
* Joseph Brant, Loyalist, native American guerrilla leader during the American Revolutionary War
* Noah Webster, Lexicographer, Webster's dictionary. Founded a private school, c. 1783, catering to wealthy families in Goshen.
* George Washington, resided/stationed in Hasbrouck House in Newburgh from April 1782 until August 1783, during the waning days of the American Revolutionary War
* Benedict Arnold, revolutionary war general turned traitor
* Solomon Townsend, industrialist and State Legislator, established Augusta Forge (iron works) in Tuxedo Park
* James Varick, founder AME Zion Church and its 1st bishop, born Newburgh
* William H. Seward, U.S. Secretary of State, under Lincoln, a 2-term federal Senator and 12th governor of NY, born and raised Florida, NY.
* Albert J. Myer, born Newburgh September 20, 1829. Surgeon & US Army general (1854–1869). Known as the father of the U.S. Army Signal Corps and the U.S. Weather Bureau
* Stephen Crane, wrote part of The Red Badge of Courage in Port Jervis, ostensibly based on Orange Blossoms battle at Chancellorsville
* Zane Grey, practiced dentistry in Middletown, before his literary career
* Pierre Lorillard IV, tobacco magnate, founded Tuxedo Park in 1886
* Emily Post, author, resided in Emily Post Cottage, buried in St. Mary's, both in Tuxedo Park
* Tomás Estrada Palma, first President of Cuba, resided in a home on Route 32 in Central Valley
* David Moffat, railroad developer, Washingtonville native
* Webb Horton, (1826–1908) Narrowsburgh industrial tanner, had Webb Horton House (aka Morrison Hall) built in Middletown (1902–07). The namesake of Webb Horton (Presbyterian) Church (b. 1918 Middletown) and E. Horton Hospital (1929–2011 in Middletown)
* Satella Waterstone, author and composer, born Greenwood Lake 1875
* Willie "The Lion" Smith, jazz "stride" pianist, born Goshen 1897. A handwritten letter sent by Smith, thanking the Goshen Public Library resides amongst their permanent historical collection.
* Horace Pippin, Black artist and painter, raised and educated (in segregated schools) in Goshen
* Rose Thompson Hovick, mother of Gypsy Rose Lee and June Havoc
* Elise McAbee, US Army chemist/materials engineer, born 1920, raised in Orange county
* Jolie Gabor, mother of Gabor sisters, resided in large brick home with separate enclosed, mosaic-tiled pool, in Goshen, NY on Old Chester Road
* Geraldine Ferraro, 1984 U.S. vice-presidential candidate, U.S. Congresswoman, born Newburgh
* Benjamin Gilman, US Congressman (1973–2003), lifelong Middletown resident
* Peter Nickles (b. Sept 26, 1938 Middletown) American attorney, served as Attorney General of the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2011
* John Bonacic, 30 year OC politician, State Assembly then Senate
* Jimmy Sturr, Irish-American lifelong resident of Florida, NY, 18x Grammy winning, polka band leader
* Joel Teitelbaum, Grand Rabbi of Satmar Hasidic community, spent final years and is buried in Kiryas Joel
* Aaron Teitelbaum, current Grand Rabbi of Kiryas Joel faction of Satmar Hasidic community.
* Martin Dempsey, US Army General and 18th chairman (Pentagon) Joint Chiefs of Staff 2011–2015, 1970 J.S. Burke graduate
* General David Petraeus, 1970 Cornwall grad, retired four-star general of the U.S. Army. Former Director of the C.I.A. and commander of U.S. forces in Iraq (2007–2008) and Afghanistan (2011)
* Frank Shorter, Marathon runner: 1972 Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Olympic silver. Raised in Middletown
* Ed Banach, 1984 Olympic wrestling gold medalist, Port Jervis native
* Lou Banach, 1984 Olympic wrestling gold medalist, Port Jervis native
* Bill Bayno, 1980 J.S. Burke grad, 1990s champion UNLV college coach, astn. NBA coach
* William Moran, a retired United States Navy Admiral and Vice-Chief of Naval Operations (2016–2019).
* James Patterson, prolific (commercial) novelist, born Newburgh 1947
* Spencer Tunick, photographer of large scale nudes, born Middletown, 1967
* Armand Assante, Emmy Award winning actor, raised in and graduated Cornwall
* Johnny Brennan, Salisbury Mills resident 1980s and early 90s, comedian and voice actor The Jerky Boys, Family Guy (voices Mort Goldman)
* Nathaniel White, convicted serial killer, Town of Wallkill resident (during murders)
* Jay Westervelt, environmentalist, Village of Florida resident
* Andy Grammer, pop musician, born 1983, raised in Chester, graduated Monroe
* James Skoufis, state senator
* Mel Gibson, attended elementary school in Washingtonville the year before his family moved to Australia in the 1960s.
* Denzel Washington, actor, attended the now defunct Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor
* Tony Gilroy, writer, producer, director Washingtonville graduate
* Whoopi Goldberg, Academy Award-winning actress, owned a Tuxedo Park home
* Robert De Niro, Academy Award-winning actor, owns home in Tuxedo Park
* Emily DiDonato, fashion model, spokesmodel for Maybelline, born in Goshen, 1991
* James Mangold, screenwriter, director, Washingtonville graduate
* Cyndi Lauper, 1980s pop singer, spent summers in Tuxedo Park
* Saul Williams, musician, poet, actor and artist; was born and raised in Newburgh
* Vérité, (YouTube) pop musician, born and raised in OC
* Cage Kennylz, rapper, raised in Middletown
* Aaron Tveit, actor and singer, Broadway star, reared in Middletown
* Paul Teutul Sr., reality TV star of American Chopper, owner Orange County Choppers
* Paul Teutul Jr., reality TV star and custom motorcycle builder of Paul Jr. Designs
* James Cromwell actor 1970s-2020s, political & environmental activist, Warwick resident since 2000s
* James Emery, Warwick resident, since 2000s, jazz guitarist of String Trio of New York
* Shotsie Gorman, 1970s early tattoo artist, poet, painter, sculptor
* Stefanie Dolson, WNBA player and 2021 Olympic 3x3 Gold medalist, Minisink High graduate (descendant of 18th century, OC settler and pelt trader James Dolson)
* Nick Abruzzese, 2022 US Olympic Hockey Team, Harvard graduate, NHL Toronto Maple Leafs 2019 draftee, Slate Hill resident
* Derek Jeter, New York Yankees team 'captain' and HoFer, purchased Tiedemann Castle (b. 1915) in Warwick, where his parents resided year round, sold via auction in December 2022
* Greg Anthony, former New York Knicks NBA player
* Mike Avilés, MLB player, Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, raised Middletown
* Matt Morris, former all star pitcher St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, 1990s Valley Central graduate
* Dee Brown, former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball player.
* Jason Motte, former MLB pitcher, closer for the 2011 Champion St. Louis Cardinals, Valley Central graduate
* Dave Telgheder, former MLB pitcher for the New York Mets and the Oakland Athletics.
* Scott Pioli, NFL executive, former General Manager of the Kansas City Chiefs