Orange County, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Orange County

U.S. county

The Orange County Courthouse in Orange

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Texas

Founded

January 5, 1852

Largest city

Orange

Area

• Total

380 sq mi (1,000 km²)

• Land

334 sq mi (870 km²)

• Water

46 sq mi (120 km²) 12%

Population

(2020)

• Total

84,808

• Density

220/sq mi (80/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

14th

Orange County is a county located in the very southeastern part of Texas. It shares a border with Louisiana. This area is part of what is known as the Golden Triangle of Texas.

In 2020, about 84,808 people lived here. The main city and county seat is Orange. The county is also part of the larger Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area.

History of Orange County
Geography of Orange County
- Neighboring Areas
- Protected Natural Areas
Communities in Orange County
Population and People
Government of Orange County
- United States Congress Representation
Economy of Orange County
Transportation in Orange County
- Airports
- Major Highways
Education in Orange County
See also

History of Orange County

Orange County was created in 1852. It was formed from parts of Jefferson County. The county got its name from the orange fruit. Early settlers grew these citrus fruits near the mouth of the Sabine River.

However, orange trees and citrus farms are no longer found in Orange County. This is because of cold winter weather, which can bring frosts. Citrus fruits grow in winter, making them easily damaged by cold. Because of this, citrus farming in Texas moved to the warmer Rio Grande Valley.

Something similar happened in Florida. Citrus farms moved south from places like Citrus County and Orange County. This was also due to cold winter freezes. Farmers moved their crops to areas with milder winters.

During World War II, Orange County became a major center for shipbuilding. Many ships were built here for the United States Navy and its allies. A big company called Consolidated Steel Corporation was in the town of Orange. They built many warships.

The first warship built there was the USS Aulick (DD-569) in 1942. The last one was the USS Carpenter (DD-825) in 1945–46. During the war, this shipyard employed as many as 20,000 people.

Geography of Orange County

Orange County covers a total area of about 380 square miles. About 334 square miles of this is land. The remaining 46 square miles, or 12%, is covered by water.

The Sabine River forms the eastern border of Orange County. Sabine Lake is to its southeast. The Neches River is on its northwest side.

The land in Orange County is very flat. Most of the county is only a few feet above sea level. The soil is quite sandy, which is common for areas near the Gulf of Mexico. You can find saltwater marshes in the southeastern part of the county. The Piney Woods forest area is in the northern part.

Neighboring Areas

Orange County shares borders with these counties and parishes:

Protected Natural Areas

A part of the Big Thicket National Preserve is located in Orange County. This preserve helps protect unique plants and animals.

Communities in Orange County

Orange County has several cities and towns:

Cities

Bridge City
Orange (This is the county seat)
Pine Forest
Pinehurst
Port Arthur (Most of this city is in Jefferson County)
Rose City
Vidor
West Orange

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:

Forest Heights
Little Cypress
Mauriceville

Unincorporated Communities

Orangefield

Ghost Towns

These are places where people used to live but are now abandoned:

Population and People

In 2020, Orange County had a population of 84,808 people. The population has changed over the years. For example, in 1860, there were only 1,916 people. By 1950, the population had grown to 40,567.

In 2000, there were 84,966 people living in the county. About 88% of the people were White, and about 8% were African American. About 3.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the county in 2000 was 36 years old. About 27% of the population was under 18 years old. About 13% were 65 years or older.

Government of Orange County

The Orange County Courthouse is where the county's legal matters are handled. The county is led by a five-member Commissioners' Court. The Republican County Judge John Gothia is in charge of this court.

Orange County is part of Texas House District 21. This district is represented by Republican Dade Phelan from Beaumont.

United States Congress Representation

Orange County is represented in the U.S. Congress by two Senators and one Representative.

The Senior Senator for Texas is John Cornyn, a Republican, first elected in 2002.
The Junior Senator for Texas is Ted Cruz, a Republican, first elected in 2012.
The county is in District 14 for the House of Representatives. This district is represented by Randy Weber, a Republican. He was first elected in 2012.

Economy of Orange County

The main economic activities in Orange County include refining petroleum (oil), making paper, rice farming, and shrimping.

In the past, Orange County was famous for building warships. Today, some old warships are being taken apart for their metal in nearby Jefferson County. This process, called shipbreaking, provides jobs for people in Orange County.

Local newspapers in the county include the Orange Leader. There are also weekly papers like the Penny Record and County Record from Bridge City, and the Vidor Vidorian from Vidor.