California

Orange

3,186,989
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Orange

Orange, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 13,589. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,186,989.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Kearny's March — San Diego to Los Angeles, and 135 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,186,989
20103,010,232
20002,846,289
19902,410,556
19801,932,709
19701,420,386
1960703,925
1950216,224
1940130,760
1930118,674
192061,375
191034,436
190019,696
189013,589
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Orange

Military engagements that took place in Orange, California.

Kearny's March — San Diego to Los Angeles
1847

Historic places in Orange

National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange, California.

Greystone Villa-Cabin 18
Cleveland National Forest
Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano
Bradford, A. S., House
Placentia
St. John's Lutheran Church
Orange
St. Isidore Catholic Church
Los Alamitos
Spurgeon Block
Santa Ana
Lovell Beach House
Newport Beach
Culver, C. Z., House
Orange
Modjeska House
Modjeska
Helme-Worthy Store and Residence
Huntington Beach
Serrano, Jose, Adobe
El Toro
Esslinger Building
San Juan Capistrano
Key, George, Ranch
Placentia
Yost Theater-Ritz Hotel
Santa Ana
Carnegie Library
Anaheim
Hetebrink House
Fullerton
Cypress Street Schoolhouse
Orange
Pacific Electric Railway Company Depot
Yorba Linda
Old Towne Orange Historic District
Orange
Masonic Temple
Fullerton
Fullerton Union High School Auditorium (Additional Documentation)
Fullerton
Goldschmidt House
San Clemente
Fullerton Odd Fellows Temple
Fullerton
Newland House
Huntington Beach
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

MonoMontereyNapaNevadaPlacerPlumasRiversideSacramentoSan BenitoSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta CruzShastaSierra
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Orange County, California

This page charts the census history of Orange County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Orange

When does Orange first appear in the US census?
Orange, California first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 13,589.
What is the population of Orange?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Orange had a recorded population of 3,186,989.
Were any battles fought in Orange?
1 documented military engagement took place in Orange, including Kearny's March — San Diego to Los Angeles.
How many historic places are in Orange?
135 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange, California.
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