Orange

Orange County

Updated on: January 10, 2022
Coordinates
30 7' 48" N, 93 53' 24" W (30.13, -93.89)
State
Texas
Region
Central East
County Seat:
Orange
Year Organized:
1852
Total Square Miles:
379.53
334 square miles (870 km2) land
46 square miles (120 km2) water
Population:
85047 (2017)
Population: 84,964 est. (2016) 81,837 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
224
Orange County Website
http://www.co.orange.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Newton (N)
Hardin (NW)
Jefferson (W)
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (E)
Cameron Parish, Louisiana (SE)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
85047
25 to 64 Years of Age:
51.10%
65 Years of Age and Older:
16.11%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$3.2 B
Labor Force:
37,295
Unemployment Rate:
5.70%

County Contact

801 W Division Ave
County Courthouse
Orange, TX, 77630-6353

http://www.co.orange.tx.us/

Texas’s southernmost county, Orange, is located in the state’s southeast part. It is located in the Central Prairie region of the state. Sabine River on the east and Neches River on the west divide Louisiana into two states.  

The county seat is Orange city, which serves as the administrative headquarters. 

Orange County Geography 

Topography 

The geographic coordinates for Orange are 30°05′ north latitude and 93°44′ west longitude. Located 24 miles east of Beaumont and 288 miles southeast of Dallas, it is in the heart of the state. 

Three hundred sixty-two square miles of land make up Orange County. The Gulf plains and marshes are to the south, and the Piney Woods are to the north. The land is mainly flat from sea level to around 30 feet above sea level.  

Clayey subsoils are layered on top of the loam soil. The confluence of two rivers creates Sabine Lake, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico through Sabine Pass. 

Vegetation And Life 

 At 30 miles long, Sabine Lake is the area’s longest lake and the area’s largest reservoir. You can find seven other streams in the county. The white pelican, heron, egret, heron, wood stork, white ibis, and sandhill crane are coastal birds that consume fish found in the county.  

There are birds and terns on the shore. The upland plover, sandpiper, and dowitcher are all examples of birds that can adapt to their environment. In addition to pheasant and quail, the land is home to turkey, jack bird, and woodcock.  

Nearby residents have reported seeing anything from squirrels to opossums to beavers. Other animals they saw include a mink, ring-tailed cat, raccoon/badger, skunk, civet cat, and civet dog.  

Pine and hardwood woodlands are prominent features of the Piney Woods. With bald cypress and water tupelo, the swamplands of the Gulf prairies and marshes are substantially distinct. 

Weather And Climate 

Orange County is home to the most rain in the state and has a humid subtropical climate, making it its rainiest county. At 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., the average humidity is 89 percent and 69 percent, respectively. The year-to-date average is shown here.  

It is 68 degrees Fahrenheit at the beginning of January. During July, the average temperature is 74 degrees Celsius. During January, the average temperature is 42 degrees Fahrenheit.  

During a typical year, plants can grow for about 240 days. The earliest frost occurs in early November, and the latest occurs in mid-March. Early businesses, including shipbuilding, papermaking, and wooden items, flourished because of the abundance of lumber in the area.  

Recent years have seen a significant increase in oil and gas extracted and processed. The region’s economy also relies on salt domes, sand, and gravel as natural resources.  

Orange County Offices 

Starting the list is the District Clerk. Disputes involving family or civil rights must be brought to the District Clerk’s Office for processing. All felony criminal cases, divorce actions, civil law litigation, and delinquent tax suits are included in this category. The District Clerk is Vickie Edgerly. Through telephone, you can contact him at (409) 882-7825 or email him at [email protected] 

Another county office is the office of the county auditor. It is the job of the Auditor to make sure that all of the people who work for the county, district, or state are following the law when it comes to taking in or collecting money, funds, or other things. For inquiries, contact the office through phone at (409) 882-7020.  

For the protection of Orange County residents and visitors, the Environmental Health and Code Compliance Department enforces and enables the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Floodplain Regulations, regulates and permits retail food service establishments, and investigates environmental violations. Joel Ardoin heads it. Contact him through the official telephone line (409) 745-1463. 

Judge John Gothia holds the post of the county judge. He has an administrative assistant by the name Sharla Sorge. He is in charge of policy-making within the county and gives roles to other members of the county offices, like the Chief Budget Officer.  

Orange County Commissioners’ Court 

The County Judge and four Commissioners make up the Commissioners’ Court. “Policy-making” is a term that refers to the Commissioners’ Court’s role in making final decisions on all aspects of the county’s budget. 

This department provides and maintains county facilities and equipment, and public service. The Commissioners’ Court sets the annual budget and tax rate to keep the county’s finances in check.   

The voters elect the Commissioners and the County Judge for four-year terms. Each gubernatorial election year, voters elect a new County Judge, Commissioner for Precinct 2, and Commissioner for Precinct 4. When a new president is elected, the commissioners for Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 are chosen at large. 

The Commissioner for Precinct 1 is Johnny Trahan; (409) 746-2593, while for 2 is Theresa Beauchamp; (409) 745-2223. Robert Viator; (409) 769-6724 and Kirk Roccaforte; (409) 882-5308 are commissioners for precincts 4 and 3, respectively.  

Places To Visit 

Stark Museum Of Art 

The Stark Museum of Art is located in the heart of Orange, Texas’s historic district. American Western art is a significant focus at this Museum. Some of the painters whose work is at the Museum include Frederic Remington, John James Audubon, John Mix Stanley, and Charles Marion Russell, to name a few.  

The American West is depicted in various media, including paintings, sculptures, prints, and other rare publications. They depict the area from the 18th century to the present day. In addition, there are American Indian-made baskets, pottery, clothing, and jewelry on show. 

Shangri La Botanical Gardens And Nature Centre 

One of Orange’s breathtaking, spectacular gardens and ponds bloom all year round. Other than that, there are a plethora of beautiful birds. All of your questions will be answered immediately by courteous and helpful personnel. In addition, local schools can use a wide range of educational opportunities. In addition, it’s free. Hurricanes and flooding have taken a toll on them over the past decade, but they’ve bounced back more than ever. 

Free State Cellars 

You won’t find anything like that in Texas. For nearly 30 years, this vineyard has cultivated Muscadine grapes in a climate where most grapes cannot thrive. The previous owner’s friends and heirs recently sold it to the family that now owns it (within the last few years). A lot of progress has been achieved. The vineyard with wine tastings and entertainment is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the county.