Orange County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 The Orange County Courthouse in Paoli | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°32′N86°30′W / 38.54°N 86.5°W /38.54; -86.5 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | February 1, 1816 |
| Named after | King William of Orange (William III of England) |
| Seat | Paoli |
| Largest town | Paoli |
| Area | |
• Total | 408.19 sq mi (1,057.2 km2) |
| • Land | 398.39 sq mi (1,031.8 km2) |
| • Water | 9.80 sq mi (25.4 km2) 2.40% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,867 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 19,824 |
| • Density | 50/sq mi (19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | gov |
| Indiana county number 59 | |
Orange County is located inSouthernIndiana in theUnited States. As of 2020, its population was 19,867.[2] Thecounty seat isPaoli.[3] Thecounty has fourincorporated settlements with a total population of about 8,600,[4] as well as several small unincorporated communities. It is divided into 10 townships which provide local services.[5][6] One U.S. route and five Indiana state roads pass through or into the county.[7]
Orange County was formed from parts ofKnox County,Gibson County andWashington County by theIndiana Territorial Legislature, on December 26, 1815 (effective February 1, 1816). In 1816 the Orange County seat was designated at Paoli, which was named after Pasquale Paoli Ash, the 12-year-old son of the sitting North Carolina Governor.[8]
The early settlers were mostly Quakers fleeing the institution of slavery inOrange County, North Carolina.Jonathan Lindley brought his group ofQuakers from North Carolina to the area in 1811. They were the first to build a religious structure, the Lick Creek Meeting House in 1813. It was from this group that Orange County got its name.[9][10] (SeeList of Indiana county name etymologies). The name Orange derives from theDutch ProtestantHouse of Orange, which accessed the English throne with the accession ofKing William III in 1689, following theGlorious Revolution.
When the North Carolina Quakers came to Indiana, they brought several freed slaves. These free men were deeded 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land in the heart of a dense forest. Word of mouth soon spread the news, and this land became part of the "underground railroad" for runaway slaves. For many years, the freed slaves in this area farmed, traded, and sold their labor to others while living in this settlement. A church and cemetery were constructed.
All that remains today is the cemetery, with many lost or vandalized headstones. Several years ago, Boy Scouts restored the cemetery, replacing the stones with wooden crosses designating a grave. The name of "Little Africa" came about because of the black settlement, but it was called "Paddy's Garden" by its early users.[citation needed]
The first courthouse was a temporary log structure that was built for $25; a more permanent stone structure was completed in 1819 at a cost of $3,950.[n 1][12] In 1847, plans were made for a larger courthouse, which was completed in 1850 at a cost of $14,000.[n 2] This building is the second oldest courthouse in the state that has been continuously used since its construction. Like the oldest inOhio County, it is aGreek Revival building with two stories and a Doric portico supported by fluted columns; it has ornamental iron stairs and a clock tower. In 1970, the clock tower was damaged by fire.[13] On August 6, 2023, the clock tower was damaged by an EF-1 tornado.
Much of the south part of the county, south of Paoli and French Lick, is part of theHoosier National Forest.Patoka Lake is within the national forest; the majority of the lake lies in Orange County, with parts extending into neighboring Dubois and Crawford counties.
According to the2010 United States census, Orange County has a total area of 408.19 square miles (1,057.2 km2), of which 398.39 square miles (1,031.8 km2) (or 97.60%) is land and 9.80 square miles (25.4 km2) (or 2.40%) is water.[14]
Moffatt Hollar
Indiana State Road 37 – runs north–south through central part of county. Passes Orleans, Paoli, and Bacon.
Indiana State Road 56 – enters west line of county at 6.6 miles (10.6 km) north of SW county corner. Runs NE to intersection with US-150 north of West Baden Springs.
Indiana State Road 60 – runs NW-SE across northeastern tip of county. Enters 2 miles west of NE corner and exits 2 miles south of NE corner.
Indiana State Road 145 – enters south line of county at 3.7 miles (6.0 km) from SW county corner. Runs north to intersection with Indiana-56 at French Lick.
Indiana State Road 337 – runs SE-NW across northeastern part of county. Enters east line of county near Bromer, then runs NW to intersection with Indiana-37 at Orleans.[15]French Lick Municipal Airport (IATA: FRH, ICAO: KFRH, FAA LID: FRH) is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of French Lick, a town in Orange County, Indiana, United States.[1] Also known as French Lick Airport, it serves the French Lick and West Baden, Indiana area.[2]
French Lick Scenic Railway (French Lick West Baden and Southern Railway/ Indiana Railway Museum) Popular train rides in Indiana aboard the French Lick Scenic Railway offer 20-mile day tours through parts of the Hoosier National Forest, the 2,200-foot Burton Tunnel (Indiana's second longest tunnel), and past limestone outcroppings.
Check the daily departure schedule but know the historic French Lick Scenic Railway also hosts special events and seasonal trips throughout the year, like these famous family attractions:
Wild-West Hold-upsTasting TrainsEaster Bunny Express Dinner Trains
| Paoli, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in Paoli have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.90 inches (74 mm) in October to 5.14 inches (131 mm) in May.[16]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 5,368 | — | |
| 1830 | 7,901 | 47.2% | |
| 1840 | 9,602 | 21.5% | |
| 1850 | 10,809 | 12.6% | |
| 1860 | 12,076 | 11.7% | |
| 1870 | 13,497 | 11.8% | |
| 1880 | 14,363 | 6.4% | |
| 1890 | 14,678 | 2.2% | |
| 1900 | 16,854 | 14.8% | |
| 1910 | 17,192 | 2.0% | |
| 1920 | 16,974 | −1.3% | |
| 1930 | 17,459 | 2.9% | |
| 1940 | 17,311 | −0.8% | |
| 1950 | 16,879 | −2.5% | |
| 1960 | 16,877 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 16,968 | 0.5% | |
| 1980 | 18,677 | 10.1% | |
| 1990 | 18,409 | −1.4% | |
| 2000 | 19,306 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 19,840 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 19,867 | 0.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 19,824 | −0.2% | |
| US Decennial Census[17] 1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19] 1990-2000[20] 2010-2020[2][21] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 19,840 people, 7,872 households, and 5,416 families in the county.[22] The population density was 49.8 inhabitants per square mile (19.2/km2). There were 9,176 housing units at an average density of 23.0 per square mile (8.9/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.6% were ofEnglish ancestry, 18.8% were ofGerman ancestry and 12.4% were ofIrish ancestry.
Of the 7,872 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $45,874. Males had a median income of $35,679 versus $30,072 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,119. About 13.5% of families and 20.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.[23]
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by theConstitution of Indiana and theIndiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes and service taxes.[24][25]
A board of commissioners is the county's executive body. Commissioners are elected in staggered four-year terms. The board is charged with executing the council's decisions, with collecting revenue, and with managing the county government.[24][25]
The county maintains asmall claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state levelcircuit court.[25]
The county has several other elected offices, includingsheriff,coroner,auditor,treasurer,recorder,surveyor and circuitcourt clerk. Each serves a four-year term, and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declareparty affiliations and be residents of the county.[25]
Each township has atrustee and a three-member board, which administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.[6] The trustee and board members are elected to four-year terms.[26]
Orange County is part ofIndiana's 8th congressional district. It is part ofIndiana Senate districts 44 and 48,[27] andIndiana House of Representatives district 62.[28]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,779 | 51.67% | 1,654 | 48.04% | 10 | 0.29% |
| 1892 | 1,653 | 46.92% | 1,628 | 46.21% | 242 | 6.87% |
| 1896 | 2,044 | 52.80% | 1,797 | 46.42% | 30 | 0.77% |
| 1900 | 2,247 | 53.82% | 1,851 | 44.34% | 77 | 1.84% |
| 1904 | 2,458 | 55.25% | 1,888 | 42.44% | 103 | 2.32% |
| 1908 | 2,433 | 53.92% | 1,961 | 43.46% | 118 | 2.62% |
| 1912 | 1,521 | 35.27% | 1,830 | 42.43% | 962 | 22.30% |
| 1916 | 2,481 | 52.94% | 2,091 | 44.62% | 114 | 2.43% |
| 1920 | 4,726 | 58.86% | 3,222 | 40.13% | 81 | 1.01% |
| 1924 | 4,538 | 56.04% | 3,374 | 41.66% | 186 | 2.30% |
| 1928 | 5,086 | 61.77% | 3,112 | 37.79% | 36 | 0.44% |
| 1932 | 4,561 | 48.08% | 4,844 | 51.06% | 82 | 0.86% |
| 1936 | 5,106 | 52.68% | 4,549 | 46.94% | 37 | 0.38% |
| 1940 | 5,519 | 57.77% | 4,003 | 41.90% | 31 | 0.32% |
| 1944 | 4,784 | 60.06% | 3,130 | 39.29% | 52 | 0.65% |
| 1948 | 4,574 | 57.03% | 3,359 | 41.88% | 88 | 1.10% |
| 1952 | 5,551 | 62.38% | 3,272 | 36.77% | 75 | 0.84% |
| 1956 | 5,751 | 62.37% | 3,438 | 37.28% | 32 | 0.35% |
| 1960 | 5,589 | 59.19% | 3,818 | 40.44% | 35 | 0.37% |
| 1964 | 4,187 | 48.07% | 4,490 | 51.55% | 33 | 0.38% |
| 1968 | 4,666 | 54.82% | 2,918 | 34.28% | 928 | 10.90% |
| 1972 | 5,715 | 65.89% | 2,932 | 33.80% | 27 | 0.31% |
| 1976 | 4,399 | 51.90% | 4,031 | 47.56% | 46 | 0.54% |
| 1980 | 5,073 | 59.28% | 3,228 | 37.72% | 257 | 3.00% |
| 1984 | 5,909 | 69.40% | 2,571 | 30.19% | 35 | 0.41% |
| 1988 | 5,245 | 65.44% | 2,739 | 34.17% | 31 | 0.39% |
| 1992 | 3,738 | 46.64% | 2,948 | 36.78% | 1,329 | 16.58% |
| 1996 | 3,355 | 45.69% | 3,016 | 41.07% | 972 | 13.24% |
| 2000 | 4,687 | 62.85% | 2,601 | 34.88% | 170 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | 5,683 | 65.68% | 2,885 | 33.34% | 84 | 0.97% |
| 2008 | 4,536 | 55.94% | 3,390 | 41.81% | 182 | 2.24% |
| 2012 | 4,617 | 59.38% | 2,939 | 37.80% | 220 | 2.83% |
| 2016 | 5,803 | 70.10% | 2,048 | 24.74% | 427 | 5.16% |
| 2020 | 6,432 | 72.73% | 2,224 | 25.15% | 188 | 2.13% |
| 2024 | 6,467 | 75.24% | 1,988 | 23.13% | 140 | 1.63% |
The county is served by four school districts:[30]
Orleans Community Schools (Superintendent: Jimmy Ellis)[31] includes:
Paoli Community Schools (Superintendent:Greg Walker) includes:
Springs Valley School Corporation (Superintendent: Trevor Apple) includes:
Places adjacent to Orange County, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Indiana,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
