Orange, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orange, Massachusetts
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Looking north from South Main Street
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Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Franklin | ||
| Settled | 1746 | ||
| Incorporated | 1810 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 36.0 sq mi (93.3 km2) | ||
| • Land | 35.1 sq mi (90.9 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 732 ft (223 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,569 | ||
| • Density | 210.11/sq mi (81.13/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
01364
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| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-51265 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618173 | ||
Orange is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 7,569 people lived there. It is part of the larger Springfield area. A part of the town is also known as the census-designated place of Orange.
Contents
History of Orange
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European settlers first arrived in Orange in 1746. The land came from parts of the towns of Royalston, Warwick, and Athol. The area became known as the District of Orange in 1783. It was officially made a town in 1810. The town was named after William, Prince of Orange.
In 1790, a dam was built on the Millers River in town. This helped start industries in what was once a farming community. By 1840, Orange was known more as a mill town. Later, the New Home Sewing Machine Company became the biggest business. In 1892, it made 1.2 million sewing machines. In 1900, the Grout company, an early automobile maker, was also in Orange. It was one of the first car factories in the United States.
The town was also used as a filming location for the Hulu TV series Castle Rock. This show is based on stories by Stephen King. Some businesses in downtown Orange were changed to look like they belonged in the show.
Places to See in Orange
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Central Congregational Church
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Wheeler Mansion
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Orange Historical Society
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Wheeler Memorial Library
Massachusetts Peace Statue
The Massachusetts Peace Statue is a bronze war memorial. It is called It Shall Not Be Again. The statue was put in Memorial Park in 1934. It honors veterans who served in World War I. On February 25, 2000, the state of Massachusetts made it the official peace statue.
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Peace Statue (1934)
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Peace Statue Plaque
Geography and Climate
Orange covers about 36.0 square miles (93.3 km2) of land and water. About 35.1 square miles (90.9 km2) is land, and 0.93 square miles (2.4 km2) is water. The Millers River flows through the middle of the town. There are also several small streams, ponds, and lakes. These include Tully Pond, Lake Mattawa, and part of Lake Rohunta.
Most of the protected land is part of the Orange State Forest. Some is also part of the Warwick State Forest. The northern part of town has many swamps. Orange also has three large hills: Temple Hill, Tully Mountain, and Chestnut Hill. Chestnut Hill is the highest point in town.
Orange is the easternmost town in Franklin County. It borders Worcester County. The town center is about 18 miles (29 km) east of Greenfield. It is about 72 miles (116 km) west-northwest of Boston. Orange shares borders with Royalston to the northeast and Athol to the southeast. It also borders New Salem, Wendell, Erving, and Warwick.
Weather in Orange
Orange has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are cold and snowy. Spring and fall are usually mild. The fall season is known for its beautiful colorful leaves.
| Climate data for Orange, Massachusetts (Orange Municipal Airport), 1996–2020 normals, extremes 1996–Present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
74 (23) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
84 (29) |
76 (24) |
69 (21) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 52.8 (11.6) |
54.8 (12.7) |
65.4 (18.6) |
80.2 (26.8) |
88.3 (31.3) |
91.7 (33.2) |
92.4 (33.6) |
90.9 (32.7) |
87.2 (30.7) |
76.7 (24.8) |
66.8 (19.3) |
58.5 (14.7) |
94.6 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.5 (0.3) |
36.0 (2.2) |
44.2 (6.8) |
57.6 (14.2) |
69.2 (20.7) |
77.1 (25.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
80.8 (27.1) |
73.5 (23.1) |
60.3 (15.7) |
48.6 (9.2) |
38.1 (3.4) |
58.4 (14.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.7 (−4.6) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
34.7 (1.5) |
46.4 (8.0) |
57.9 (14.4) |
66.7 (19.3) |
72.1 (22.3) |
70.3 (21.3) |
62.2 (16.8) |
50.2 (10.1) |
39.5 (4.2) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
48.3 (9.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.0 (−10.6) |
14.8 (−9.6) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
33.1 (0.6) |
44.5 (6.9) |
53.9 (12.2) |
59.4 (15.2) |
57.8 (14.3) |
49.8 (9.9) |
38.1 (3.4) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
20.0 (−6.7) |
36.3 (2.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −9.5 (−23.1) |
−6.0 (−21.1) |
3.0 (−16.1) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
39.7 (4.3) |
48.6 (9.2) |
45.3 (7.4) |
34.1 (1.2) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
12.4 (−10.9) |
0.7 (−17.4) |
−11.6 (−24.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) |
−21 (−29) |
−13 (−25) |
8 (−13) |
25 (−4) |
33 (1) |
43 (6) |
42 (6) |
27 (−3) |
16 (−9) |
1 (−17) |
−13 (−25) |
−24 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.52 (64) |
2.74 (70) |
3.24 (82) |
3.34 (85) |
3.35 (85) |
4.47 (114) |
3.62 (92) |
3.78 (96) |
4.28 (109) |
4.57 (116) |
3.10 (79) |
3.52 (89) |
42.53 (1,081) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.9 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 13.4 | 13.0 | 12.8 | 10.8 | 11.5 | 145.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Transportation in Orange
Massachusetts Route 2 is a main road that goes through the northern part of Orange. Most of this road is a highway. It ends near the town center where Route 2A begins. Route 2A runs close to the Millers River. Orange is also where Route 78 starts and Route 122 ends. Part of U.S. Route 202 also passes through the town.
A railway line called the Springfield Terminal passes through Orange. It crosses the Millers River several times. In the past, passenger trains used to stop in Orange. Now, only freight trains use the tracks.
Two local bus routes serve the town. The Orange/Greenfield Route is run by the Franklin Regional Transit Authority. The Gardner/Orange Route is run by the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority. Both provide service along Route 2A.
The town also has the Orange Municipal Airport ((ICAO: KORE, FAA LID: ORE)). This is a small airport used for air service, flight training, and parachuting. For bigger flights, people can go to Bradley International Airport or Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Education in Orange
Orange has schools for different age groups:
- Elementary School:
- Fisher Hill School (Pre-K through 6th grade)
- High School:
- Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School (7th through 12th grade)
Population of Orange
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1840 | 1,492 | — |
| 1850 | 1,701 | +14.0% |
| 1860 | 1,622 | −4.6% |
| 1870 | 2,091 | +28.9% |
| 1880 | 3,169 | +51.6% |
| 1890 | 4,568 | +44.1% |
| 1900 | 5,520 | +20.8% |
| 1910 | 5,282 | −4.3% |
| 1920 | 5,393 | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 5,365 | −0.5% |
| 1940 | 5,611 | +4.6% |
| 1950 | 5,894 | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 6,154 | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 6,104 | −0.8% |
| 1980 | 6,844 | +12.1% |
| 1990 | 7,312 | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 7,518 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 7,839 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 7,569 | −3.4% |
| 2022 | 7,558 | −0.1% |
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, there were 7,518 people living in Orange. There were 3,045 households and 1,979 families. The population density was about 212.6 inhabitants per square mile (82.1/km2). Most people living in Orange were White (96.29%). About 1.65% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.46 people. The average family had 3.02 people. The median age in Orange was 38 years old. About 26.7% of the population was under 18. About 14.4% were 65 or older.
The median income for a household was $36,849. For a family, it was $44,128. About 7.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 7.4% of those under 18.
Events in Orange
Orange hosts some fun events:
- North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
- Annual Athol to Orange River Rat Race
Famous People from Orange
- Myrtle Bachelder: A chemist and officer who worked on the Manhattan Project.
- Charles Chapin: A U.S. Marshal for Vermont.
- Robert Dexter Conrad: A naval captain.
- Walter William Spencer Cook: An art historian and professor who studied Spanish Medieval art.
- Genevieve Gaignard: An artist.
- Whitey Witt: A former baseball player who was on the New York Yankees team that won the World Series in 1923.
See also
In Spanish: Orange (Massachusetts) para niños
