Orange, Texas | |
|---|---|
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| Nicknames: Gateway City, Gatecity, Fruit City | |
| Motto: Small town charm, world class culture | |
 Location of Orange, Texas | |
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| Coordinates:30°07′10″N93°46′20″W / 30.11944°N 93.77222°W /30.11944; -93.77222 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Orange |
| Community | 1830 as Green's Bluff[1] |
| Renamed | 1840 as Madison[1] |
| County seat | 1852[1] |
| Incorporated | 1858 as Orange[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.456 sq mi (55.571 km2) |
| • Land | 21.352 sq mi (55.301 km2) |
| • Water | 2.104 sq mi (5.450 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 19,324 |
• Estimate (2022)[5] | 19,081 |
| • Density | 890/sq mi (345/km2) |
| Demonym | Orangite |
| Time zone | UTC–7 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–6 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 77630, 77631, 77632 |
| Area code | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-54132 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411326[3] |
| Website | orangetexas.gov |
Orange is a city in and thecounty seat ofOrange County, Texas, United States.[6] The population was 19,324 at the2020 census.[4] It is the easternmost city in Texas, located on theSabine River at the border withLouisiana, and is 113 miles (182 km) fromHouston. Orange is part of theBeaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area. Founded in 1836, it is a deep-water port to theGulf of Mexico.
This community was originally calledGreens Bluff after a man named Resin Green, a Sabine River boatman, who arrived at this location sometime before 1830. A short time later, in 1840, the town was renamedMadison in honor of PresidentJames Madison.[7]To resolve the frequent post-office confusion with another Texas community calledMadisonville, the town was renamed "Orange" in 1858. The area experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century due to 17 sawmills within the city limits, making Orange the center of the Texaslumber industry.[8] Orange's growth led to the arrival of many immigrants in the late 19th century, including a moderately sized Jewish population by 1896.[9] In 1898, the county built a courthouse in the city, which later burned down and was replaced by theOrange County Courthouse.
The harbor leading into the Port of Orange was dredged in 1914 to accommodate large ships. Ship building duringWorld War I contributed to the growth in population and economy. TheGreat Depression, not surprisingly, affected the city negatively, and the local economy was not boosted again untilWorld War II. A U.S. Naval Station was installed and additional housing was provided for thousands of defense workers and servicemen and their families. The population increased to just over 60,000 residents.USS Aulick was the first of 300 ships of various types built in Orange during the war.[10]
After the war, the peace-time population decreased to about 35,000. At this[11] time, the Navy Department announced it had selected Orange as one of eight locations where it would store reserve vessels. The area of the shipyards provided a favorable location, as the Sabine River furnished an abundant supply of fresh water to preventsaltwatercorrosion.[12]Also during this period, the local chemical plants expanded, which boosted the economy. The chemical industry continues today as a leading source of revenue to the area. The U.S. Naval Station became aNaval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in December 1975, retained 18.5 acres as a Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center, but decommissioned the center completely in September 2008.[13]
The Port of Orange became the home to theUSS Orleck, one of the few naval ships remaining that was built at the Orange shipyards during World War II. The city of Orange sustained a direct hit fromHurricane Rita in 2005, causing damage to the ship. The city decreed that the ship be moved and a new location was sought, including one inArkansas andLake Charles, Louisiana, for a new home. On May 6, 2009, the Lake Charles city council voted in favor of an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a "Cooperative Endeavor Agreement" with USSOrleck. On May 20, 2010, the ship was moved to Lake Charles. The grand opening was on April 10, 2011.[14]
Orange was heavily damaged byHurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.[15] Damage was widespread and severe across Orange County. The 22-foot (6.7 m) storm surge breached the city's levees, caused catastrophic flooding and damage throughout the city. The storm surge traveled up theNeches River to also floodRose City.
Orange received winds at hurricane force. Nearly the entire city of 19,000 people was flooded, from 6 in (15 cm) to 15 ft (4.5 m).[16] The mayor of the city said about 375 people, of those who stayed behind during the storm, began to emerge, some needing food, water, and medical care.[16] Many dead fish littered streets and properties.[17] Three people were found dead in Orange County on September 29.[18]
Orange once again fell victim to widespread flooding whenHurricane Harvey hit the city on August 29, 2017. The flood waters were mostly caused by the rising of the nearby Sabine River,[11] which forms the border between Texas and Louisiana, and its many tributaries. The flooding from Harvey was due to extreme rainfall (50" to 60" in 48 hours) that fell after the storm's landfall, leaving 65% of the county under water. The Sabine did not rise until three days after the storm, when the flood gates of the Toledo Bend Reservoir were opened.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.456 square miles (55.57 km2), of which 21.352 square miles (55.30 km2) are land and 2.104 square miles (5.45 km2), is water.[2]
Orange has ahumid subtropical climate. Winters are mild and rainy, while summers are hot, humid, and wet. The climate is similar to nearbyVinton, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas. The record high in Orange is 111 °F (43.9 °C) recorded August 11, 2019. The record low is 10 °F (−12.2 °C) recorded January 22, 2025.
| Climate data for Orange, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) | 86 (30) | 87 (31) | 93 (34) | 98 (37) | 101 (38) | 104 (40) | 111 (44) | 107 (42) | 99 (37) | 89 (32) | 82 (28) | 111 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.7 (24.3) | 77.9 (25.5) | 82.0 (27.8) | 85.8 (29.9) | 90.8 (32.7) | 94.3 (34.6) | 96.0 (35.6) | 97.0 (36.1) | 94.3 (34.6) | 89.6 (32.0) | 82.5 (28.1) | 77.6 (25.3) | 98.0 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 60.7 (15.9) | 63.9 (17.7) | 70.4 (21.3) | 76.1 (24.5) | 82.6 (28.1) | 88.0 (31.1) | 89.9 (32.2) | 90.3 (32.4) | 86.6 (30.3) | 79.3 (26.3) | 69.3 (20.7) | 62.4 (16.9) | 76.6 (24.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 50.5 (10.3) | 54.0 (12.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 66.0 (18.9) | 73.5 (23.1) | 79.3 (26.3) | 81.3 (27.4) | 81.3 (27.4) | 77.0 (25.0) | 68.1 (20.1) | 58.3 (14.6) | 52.2 (11.2) | 66.8 (19.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 40.3 (4.6) | 44.0 (6.7) | 50.2 (10.1) | 55.8 (13.2) | 64.3 (17.9) | 70.5 (21.4) | 72.6 (22.6) | 72.2 (22.3) | 67.4 (19.7) | 57.0 (13.9) | 47.2 (8.4) | 41.9 (5.5) | 57.0 (13.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 34.0 (1.1) | 41.1 (5.1) | 49.9 (9.9) | 63.1 (17.3) | 67.9 (19.9) | 67.0 (19.4) | 55.1 (12.8) | 40.7 (4.8) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 24.1 (−4.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 10 (−12) | 13 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 28 (−2) | 41 (5) | 52 (11) | 57 (14) | 58 (14) | 42 (6) | 29 (−2) | 23 (−5) | 10 (−12) | 10 (−12) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.65 (144) | 4.18 (106) | 3.52 (89) | 4.18 (106) | 5.14 (131) | 6.84 (174) | 5.82 (148) | 6.71 (170) | 6.44 (164) | 5.96 (151) | 4.71 (120) | 5.26 (134) | 64.41 (1,637) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 11.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 13.0 | 10.5 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 11.1 | 126.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA[19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 936 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,173 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,835 | 20.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,527 | 44.1% | |
| 1920 | 9,212 | 66.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,913 | −14.1% | |
| 1940 | 7,472 | −5.6% | |
| 1950 | 21,174 | 183.4% | |
| 1960 | 25,605 | 20.9% | |
| 1970 | 24,457 | −4.5% | |
| 1980 | 23,628 | −3.4% | |
| 1990 | 19,381 | −18.0% | |
| 2000 | 18,643 | −3.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,595 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 19,324 | 3.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 19,081 | [5] | −1.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[21] 2020 Census[4] | |||
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 9,502 | 49.17% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 6,795 | 35.16% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 58 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 340 | 1.76% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 8 | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 58 | 0.3% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 720 | 3.73% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,843 | 9.54% |
| Total | 19,324 | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 19,324 people, 7,870 households, and 4,966 families residing in the city.[25] Thepopulation density was 904.9 inhabitants per square mile (349.4/km2). There were 9,239 housing units.
As of the2010 census, there were 18,595 people, 7,585 households, and 5,021 families resided in the city. The population density was 872.7 inhabitants per square mile (337.0/km2). There were 8,868 housing units averaged 441.7 per square mile (170.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 60.9% White, 33.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 1.08% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.2% of the population. The average household size was 2.41.
In Orange, the population is distributed as 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,519, and for a family was $37,473. Males had a median income of $37,238 versus $21,445 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,535. About 20.5% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over' 20.3% of the population was below thepoverty line, compared to 15.1% of the national population.
TheTexas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Orange District Parole Office in Orange.[26]
The City of Orange hosts several cultural attractions. TheStark Museum of Art houses one of the finest collections of 19th- and 20th-century Western American art and artifacts in the country. The collection focuses on the land, people, and wildlife of the American West. The museum also holds a significant collection of American Indian art, as well as collections of glass and porcelain, and rare books and manuscripts. The museum features the work of artists such as artist/naturalistJohn James Audubon,Paul Kane,Albert Bierstadt,Thomas Moran, andJohn Mix Stanley.[27]
TheW. H. Stark House is a careful restoration of an 1894 Victorian home, typical of a wealthy Southeast Texas family. The 15-room, three-storied structure with its many gables, galleries, and distinctive windowed turret, shows the influence of several architectural styles.
The First Presbyterian Church on Green Avenue is a strong example of the classic Greek Revival architecture. Completed in 1912, it was the first air-conditioned public building west of the Mississippi River and its dome is the only opalescent glass dome in the United States.
TheConfederate Memorial of the Wind is being built on private land at the intersection ofInterstate 10 and Martin Luther King Jr Drive.[28]
The city operates under thecouncil-manager form of government.
The City of Orange is served by, in different portions,Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District, theWest Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, theOrangefield Independent School District, and theBridge City Independent School District.[29]
Lamar State College–Orange is a community college and part of theTexas State University System.
As of 2024[update] the Texas Education Code does not specify which community college system Orange is in.[30]
The Orange Leader is a semi-weekly newspaper.
Orange is served byInterstate 10, as well as a deep-waterseaport. Commercial aviation service is located at nearbySoutheast Texas Regional Airport, and general aviation service is provided byOrange County Airport.
Orange has the distinction of having exit 880 on Interstate 10 within its city limits, which is the highest numberedexit andmile marker on an interstate highway or freeway inNorth America. Orange is also home to the famed highway sign on westbound Interstate 10 that shows it being 23 miles fromBeaumont, but 857 miles fromEl Paso, reminding drivers of how far they have to follow Interstate 10 before they can leave Texas.
Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Other community | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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