Orange, Connecticut
Town
Town of Orange
Orange Town Hall
Orange Town Hall
Flag of Orange, Connecticut
Flag
Official seal of Orange, Connecticut
Seal
Orange's location within New Haven County and Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°16′46″N 73°01′31″W / 41.27944°N 73.02528°W / 41.27944; -73.02528
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew Haven
RegionSouth Central CT
Incorporated1822
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanJames M. Zeoli (R)
 • SelectmenRalph Okenquist (R)
John Carangelo (R)
Judy W. Williams (R)
Connor Deane (D)
Mitchell R. Goldblatt (D)
Area
 • Total17.4 sq mi (45.1 km2)
 • Land17.2 sq mi (44.5 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation
213 ft (65 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,280
 • Density820/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06477
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-57600
GNIS feature ID0213485
Websitewww.orange-ct.gov

Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 14,280 at the 2020 census.[1] The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.

History

The Paugusset and Algonquian people previously inhabited the region that is now Orange. In 1639, Rev. Peter Prudden purchased the land from the Native Americans for six coats, ten blankets, one kettle, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives and a dozen small mirrors.[2] When originally settled by English colonists, Orange was the northern and eastern district of the now neighboring city of Milford; however, by 1822, the population of the area had grown to the point where residents desired to form their own separate community, thus forming the town of Orange.

The town is named after William III of England, who was Prince of Orange from birth.[3] William is remembered for succeeding James II, deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. James II had been considered a despot in Connecticut; he had famously and unsuccessfully commissioned Edmund Andros to seize Connecticut's Charter.[4]

The town continued to grow throughout the 19th century. As early as 1848, a separation of Orange and West Haven was considered. It was not until 1921 that the two were officially separated by act of the Connecticut General Assembly and the new city of West Haven was formed out of the southeastern portion of Orange.[4] This left Orange a largely rural town, as the bulk of the urbanized population was ceded to West Haven. In the post-war years, however, Orange began suburbanizing at a rapid pace.

Early roads through the area included the Boston Post Road (now U.S. Route 1) and the Derby Turnpike (now Connecticut Route 34). The turnpike was originally an Indian path. A toll road through Orange, from New Haven to Derby, was built starting in 1800. The toll house was located in Orange; tolls ended in 1887.[5] The New Haven and Derby Railroad ran through Orange starting in 1871, with a station in Orange. At its peak, there were eleven trains per day in each direction along with one freight train. The advent of a trolley from New Haven to Derby (starting in 1904 and running until 1937) hastened the end to rail service (in 1925).[5] Later, the construction of the Wilbur Cross Parkway and Interstate 95 brought highways through the area.

Orange station is a planned stop on Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. Construction has been on hold since late 2017.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km2), of which 17.2 square miles (44.5 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2), or 1.38%, is water. It is bordered on the south by Milford, on the east by West Haven, on the north by New Haven, Woodbridge and Derby and on the west by the Housatonic River and Shelton. The town limits include Wooster Island in the Housatonic River. The Wepawaug, Indian and Oyster rivers flow through the town.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1830 1,341—    
1840 1,329−0.9%
1850 1,476+11.1%
1860 1,974+33.7%
1870 2,634+33.4%
1880 3,341+26.8%
1890 4,537+35.8%
1900 6,995+54.2%
1910 11,272+61.1%
1920 16,614+47.4%
1930[6] 1,530−90.8%
1940 2,009+31.3%
1950 3,032+50.9%
1960 8,547+181.9%
1970 13,524+58.2%
1980 13,237−2.1%
1990 12,830−3.1%
2000 13,233+3.1%
2010 13,956+5.5%
2020 14,280+2.3%

As of the census of 2000,[7] there were 13,233 people, 4,739 households, and 3,895 families residing in the town. The population density was 770.0 inhabitants per square mile (297.3/km2). There were 4,870 housing units at an average density of 283.4 per square mile (109.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.08% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.84% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 4,739 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $79,365, and the median income for a family was $88,583. Males had a median income of $58,946 versus $41,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $36,471. About 2.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[8]

Registration and party enrollment statistics as of October 26, 2010[9]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters
Republican 2,455 21 2,476
Democratic 2,502 22 2,524
Unaffiliated 5,172 44 5,216
Minor parties 23 1 24
Total 10,152 88 10,240

Economy

Orange is the home of the North American headquarters of Pez candies.[10][11] It is also the home of the headquarters of Avangrid and its subsidiaries Southern Connecticut Gas[12] and The United Illuminating Company.[13]

Tangoe, Inc., a provider of telecommunications management software, was formerly headquartered in Orange.[14] Orange was the home of the US headquarters of Saab-Scania from 1972 until 1992 when the company relocated to Norcross, Georgia.[15] From 1973–2010, Hubbell, a manufacturer of electrical products, was headquartered in Orange.[16] In 2013, the University of New Haven purchased the former Hubbell headquarters buildings to redevelop as a graduate school campus.[17] Yale's West Campus is located on the Orange-West Haven town line, on a 136-acre property that was formerly occupied by Bayer. In 2013, the Yale School of Nursing relocated to a building on the Yale West Campus that is mostly on the Orange side of the town border.[18]

About three percent of the 17 square miles in the town is farmed.[19] Field View Farm, one of the oldest businesses in the United States, has been operated by the Hine family since 1639.[20][21] Orange was also formerly home to the Everett B. Clark Seed Company which eventually joined forces with other local seed growers to form Asgrow, now a division of Bayer.[22]

The town has extensive retail development along the Boston Post Road corridor.[19]

During the Cold War, Orange was a location for the permanent deployment of Nike missiles for the defense of Greater New Haven. The former site of the Nike missiles has since (from the late 1950s onward) been the home of the 103rd Air Control and Warning Squadron, later to become the 103rd Tactical Control Squadron and as it remains today the 103rd Air Control Squadron, a part of the Connecticut Air National Guard.[23][24]

Arts and culture

Events

Orange exhibits its rural roots at the annual Orange Country Fair. This event originally ran from 1898 to 1912 and was revived in 1975. It has continued since then featuring horse, oxen and tractor pulls as well as exhibits of animals, flowers, fruits, vegetables and baked goods.[25] In early August, the town also promotes the Orange Volunteer Fireman's Carnival, which raises funds to support the volunteer fire department. Both events are held at the fairgrounds at High Plains Community Center near the center of town.

Orange was the site of one of the earliest computer camps,[26][27] held at the local Amity Jr. High School in 1977.

In the early nineteenth century, settlers from Orange founded Orange, Ohio, then part of Connecticut's Western Reserve.

On March 15–17, 2009, Orange hosted the 2009 ConnJam, a Boy Scout event in which over 3,000 Boy Scouts from the Connecticut Yankee Council attended events and camped over the weekend.[28][29]

On the National Register of Historic Places

The Academy
Case Memorial Library
  • Col. Asa Platt House – 2 Tyler City Road (added 2002). Federal style. Built in 1810, it is thought to have been built by David Hoadley, who built the Orange Congregational Church. The nomination to the register, by Jan Cunningham, refers to "the elegant refinement of the interior", repeated elliptical forms in "the sunbursts of the mantelpieces; in the recessed panels below the parlor windows; in the capitals of the arches; and, in a wholly unexpected manner, in the high relief of the egg form that embellishes the simple mantel frieze in a second-floor chamber."[30]
  • Henry F. Miller House – 30 Derby Ave. (added May 25, 2001). This international style house was completed in 1949 and featured at the time in the New Haven Register as "The House of Tomorrow".
  • Orange Center Historic District – Roughly Orange Center Road from Orange Cemetery to Nan Drive (added August 10, 1989). The district was originally established by the town January 13, 1978.[31] The Orange Congregational Church, designed by David Hoadley and built in 1810 on the town green, is a centerpiece of the district. This Federal style church features a Palladian window, domed belfry and a painted black oval "window" on the front tower.[32] The district also includes the Stone-Otis House (Federal with Greek revival portico), built circa 1830 (now a museum) and The Academy, a schoolhouse built in 1878 with Stick style elements, including an elaborate gable screen, also now a museum.[32]
  • William Andrew House (also known as Bryan-Andrew House) – 131 Old Tavern Road (added 2002). Built about 1750 for the Bryan family, early settlers in North Milford. This area was known as "Bryan's Farms". The house includes a finely detailed front cornice, feather-edged sheathing and hand-split lath laboriously installed without nails. The house later served as housing for dairy farm employees and was ultimately bought by the Town of Orange in 2000 to be restored for use as a museum.[30]

Library

  • Case Memorial Library[19]

Sports

On August 18, 2005 the Orange Little League Girls softball team lost the championship game of the Little League Softball World Series to a team from McLean, Virginia.[33][34]

Education

Orange is served by the regional Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge.[35] Schools include:

  • Mary L. Tracy, for kindergarten and pre-school
  • Peck Place, first to sixth grades
  • Turkey Hill, first to sixth grades
  • Racebrook, first to sixth grades
  • Amity Middle School, seven to eighth grades (Orange campus)

Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy (formerly New Haven Hebrew Day School) is located here.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Orange town, New Haven County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to the Town of Orange". www.orange-ct.gov. Archived from the original on October 21, 2003.
  3. ↑ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 334.
  4. 1 2 History of Orange Archived September 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 "The Derby Turnpike, Priscilla Searles, Business New Haven, Jan 27, 1997". Conntact.com. January 27, 1997. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  6. ↑ The more densely settled eastern part of Orange was split off as the town of West Haven in 1921, leading to the drop in population.
  7. ↑ United States Census Data: General
  8. ↑ United States Census Data: Economic
  9. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2010" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2006.
  10. ↑ About us, Pez Candy, Inc.
  11. ↑ Albert, Bridget (March 2, 2012). "Candy Land: PEZ draws fans to Orange headquarters for tours". The New Haven Register. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Southern Connecticut Gas - Contact Us". Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ Albert, Bridget (April 27, 2012). "Orange businesses happy with UI move". The New Haven Register. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Tangoe, Inc. - Orange, CT - Corporate Headquarters". Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "SAAB-SCANIA of America – 60 Marsh Hill Rd, Orange, CT". Saab History. October 24, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  16. ↑ Prevost, Lisa (May 7, 2010). "Hubbell Plans Housing for Its Orange Site". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  17. ↑ Misur, Susan (February 7, 2013). "University of New Haven looking to buy Hubbell property in Orange". The New Haven Register. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  18. ↑ Shelton, Jim (June 22, 2013). "Move-in day nears for Yale's new nursing school, campus on Orange-West Haven line bustling". The New Haven Register. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  19. 1 2 3 Hughes, C.J. (September 30, 2011). "For Nature Lovers Who Also Shop-Hop". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  20. ↑ "350-Year-Old Farm Survives the Odds". New York Times. March 13, 1989. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  21. ↑ "7 Companies Older Than America". Inc. July 3, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Orange Seeds Yield Corn, Alfafa, Soy, and More". Connecticuthistory.org. August 6, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  23. ↑ "103rd Airlift Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard - Proud Heritage". The Official Web Site of 103rd Airlift Wing. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  24. ↑ "103rd Air Control Squadron". Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Orange Country Fair, Library of Congress Local Legacies". Lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  26. ↑ Harvey, Helen (June 9, 2002). "Computer pioneer made a lot of campers happy". The New Haven Register. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  27. ↑ Humphrey, Mary (June 1982). "Learning With Computers". Compute! Magazine. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Scout Jamboree in Orange". WTNH. LIN Television Corporation. May 16, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Connecticut Yankee Council, BSA". Connecticut Yankee Council. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  30. 1 2 "CT Trust for Historic Preservation". Cttrust.org. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  31. ↑ Orange Connecticut Historic District
  32. 1 2 Liz Deluca, "The Historic District, A Walking Tour", Our Town Newspaper, June 10, 1997, pages 9-11.
  33. ↑ "SOUR ENDING Orange's bid for crown, perfection denied". New Haven Register. Journal Register Company. August 19, 2005. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Virginia beats Connecticut to win title". Associated Press. August 19, 2005. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Amity High School". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
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