City of Orange

Orange's origins are rich with legends. One of the most popular tales asserts that the city was named during a poker game.

When the city was established in 1871, founder Alfred B. Chapman and Andrew Glassell named it Richland. But since there was another Richland in California, post office officials told them to find a different name.

As legend has it, Chapman and Glassell discussed the matter with two other civic leaders, but they couldn't agree on a name. One wanted Orange, one Lemon, one Almond and the other Olive. So they had it out in a poker game, and Orange won.

The people of Orange love to tell this story, but there's no evidence it ever occurred this way. Regardless of what really happened, the city was officially dubbed Orange and incorporated over a century ago on April 6, 1888.

Over the past 100 years, Orange grew from a thriving agricultural center into a quaint but lively city. In 1890, two years after incorporation, Orange had just 866 residents. City planning estimates now put Orange's population at over 132,000.

Today, Orange has been expanding its population and its boundaries. Bordered by unincorporated land to the east, the city has been growing by bits and pieces every year.

In the coming years, Orange will renovate the old town area and expand eastward, annexing 7,100 acres within Orange's 60-square mile boundary.

The City of Orange City is centrally located along Hwy 17-92 between DeLand and DeBary, and is considered to be the commercial hub of West Volusia. Its land mass of 6 square miles is home to a population of almost 7,000 residents. Older stores line the Hwy 17-92 north / south corridor while newer chain based stores and restaurants are springing up along the Saxon Boulevard corridor.

Veteran's Memorial Parkway (just off Saxon) is a new roadway that has opened up a new economic development base in Orange City. Orange City has approximately six manufactured-home communities that make up much of the city's population base. Wava's Hall, a new 4,000 sq. ft. senior citizens center has just been completed to accommodate the socially active atmosphere enjoyed by the area's seniors.

Winter refuge to hundreds of West Indian manatee, Blue Springs State Park is located at the edge of Orange City on the St. Johns River. The historic Thursby House, perched atop a shell midden at the Blue Spring, was built by Louis Thursby, the earliest known permanent settler of this area.

 

demographics

Orange City, California Statistics and Demographics (US Census 2000)
Number Percent
Orange Population: 128821 100.00%
     
Sex and Age    
Male 64665 50.2%
Female 64156 49.8%
     
Under 5 years 9533 7.4%
5 to 9 years 10452 8.11%
10 to 14 years 8977 6.97%
15 to 19 years 9181 7.13%
20 to 24 years 9003 6.99%
25 to 34 years 21285 16.52%
35 to 44 years 21604 16.77%
45 to 54 years 16171 12.55%
55 to 59 years 5833 4.53%
60 to 64 years 4373 3.39%
65 to 74 years 6906 5.36%
75 to 84 years 4122 3.2%
85 years and over 1381 1.07%
     
Median age (years) 33.2
     
18 years and over 94480 73.34%
Male 46932 36.43%
Female 47548 36.91%
21 years and over 88862 68.98%
62 years and over 14872 11.54%
65 years and over 12409 9.63%
Male 5040 3.91%
Female 7369 5.72%
     
Race    
One race 123988 96.25%
White 90822 70.5%
Black or African American 2056 1.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1010 0.78%
Asian 12000 9.32%
Asian indian 1021 0.79%
Chinese 1943 1.51%
Filipino 1905 1.48%
Japanese 1136 0.88%
Korean 1343 1.04%
Vietnamese 3743 2.91%
Other Asian 909 0.71%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 296 0.23%
Native Hawaiian 98 0.08%
Guamanian or Chamorro 48 0.04%
Samoan 76 0.06%
Other Pacific Islander 74 0.06%
Some other race 17804 13.82%
Two or more races 4833 3.75%
     
Hispanic or Latino and race    
Total Population 128821 100.00%
Hispanic or Latino(of any race) 41434 32.16%
Mexican 34329 26.65%
Puerto Rican 338 0.26%
Cuban 272 0.21%
Other Hispanic or Latino 6495 5.04%
Not Hispanic or Latino 87387 67.84%
White alone 70292 54.57%
     
Relationship    
Total Population 128821 100.00%
In households 123489 95.86%
Householder 40930 31.77%
Spouse 23375 18.15%
Child 38911 30.21%
Own child under 18 years 29381 22.81%
Other relatives 10909 8.47%
Under 18 years 3273 2.54%
Nonrelatives 9364 7.27%
Unmarried partner 2043 1.59%
In group quarters 5332 4.14%
Institutionalized population 3297 2.56%
Non-Institutionalized population 2035 1.58%
     
Households by Type    
Total Households 40930 100.0 %
Family households (families) 30168 73.71%
With own children under 18 years 15181 37.09%
Married-couple family 23375 57.11%
With own children under 18 years 11778 28.78%
Female householder, no husband present 4743 11.59%
With own children under 18 years 2458 6.01%
Non Family households 10762 26.29%
Householder living alone 7964 19.46%
Householder 65 years and over 2681 6.55%
     
Households with individuals under 18 years 16711 40.83%
Households with individuals 65 years and over 8568 20.93%
     
Average Household size 3.02
Average family size 3.43
     
Housing Occupancy    
Total housing units 41904 100.00%
Occupied housing units 40930 97.68%
Vacant housing units 974 2.32%
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 89 0.21%
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) 1.1
Rental vacancy rate (percent) 2
     
Housing Tenure    
Occupied housing units 40930 100.00%
Owner-occupied housing units. 25637 62.64%
Renter-occupied housing units. 15293 37.36%
     
Average household size of owner-occupied units 2.91
Average household size of renter-occupied units 3.2