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.

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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