Orange County is a rural
area, approximately 341 square miles, with views of
the Blue Ridge Mountains and home to much history.
Orange is located in the north-central Piedmont
region of Virginia and is conveniently located to
Washington, D.C. (85 miles) and Charlottesville (25
miles).
Orange County lies on
the upper part of the Piedmont Plateau and wholly
within the Piedmont physiographic province. In
Virginia, this province lies between the Blue Ridge
province on the west and the Central Plain on the
east. Elevations range from 200 to about 500 feet,
with higher areas scattered throughout the County.
The Rapidan, North Anna, and Rivanna Rivers supply
surface drainage in the County. Within an easy drive
are Richmond and Virginia Beach. Orange County
adjoins Spotsylvania, Albemarle, Culpeper, Madison,
and Louisa counties. Orange County was ranked 63rd
in the 100 fastest growing counties with 5,000 or
more housing units in 2006.
Orange County is home
to many Civil War battlefields, trails and historic
homes. It is home to President James Madison’s
Montpelier, the birthplace of President Zachary
Taylor, and five Virginia governors (Alexander
Spotswood, James Barbour, James Lawson Kemper,
Hardin Burnley and Lindsay Almond). It is a short
drive to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and James
Monroe’s Ash Lawn. Many historical resources in
Orange have been included in the “Journey Through
Hallowed Ground” preservation effort (Waddell
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Willow Grove, Orange
County Courthouse, Ballard-Marshall House, Mayhurst,
Montpelier, and the Gordonsville Exchange Hotel).
Orange County is also
rich in Civil War history. The Exchange Hotel in
Gordonsville was converted into a Receiving Hospital
and treated over 70,000 men. Maplewood Cemetery is
the resting place for approximately 700 Confederate
soldiers. A portion of the Wilderness Civil War
Battlefield is located in Orange County as well as
Ellwood Manor, which was visited by Marquis de
Lafayette, and which served as a Confederate
Hospital and later as the Headquarters of three
Union generals. It is the burial site of the arm of
General Stonewall Jackson.
The school division
has experienced increased growth over the past
several years. With support from the Board of
Supervisors, the school system has been able to
maintain, improve and expand school facilities and
instructional programs. Orange County is committed
to providing a quality education and opportunities
for all students to ensure they will be successful
in their learning and working environments.
Orange County
Schools Fact Sheet
Orange
County Education Foundation
Orange County Demographics
Demographic
statistics from the official Orange County
Government Web Site
Orange County Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Virginia
Official county
government site
Town Of Gordonsville
Town of Orange
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