North Carolina

Orange

148,696
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Orange

Orange, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 12,216. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 148,696.

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

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Raid on Hillsborough, Battle of Fort Anderson (Hillsborough NC), Battle of Portevent's Mill, and 57 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020148,696
2010133,801
2000118,227
199093,851
198077,055
197057,707
196042,970
195034,435
194023,072
193021,171
192017,895
191015,064
190014,690
189014,948
188023,698
187017,507
186016,947
185017,055
184024,356
183023,908
182023,492
181020,135
180016,362
179012,216
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, North Carolina.

Raid on Hillsborough
1781
Battle of Fort Anderson (Hillsborough NC)
1781
Battle of Portevent's Mill
1781
Battle of Hart's Mill
1781
Stoneman's Raid — Chapel Hill NC
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Hillsborough NC
1865
Confederate Surrender — Johnston to Sherman
1865

Historic places in Orange

National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange, North Carolina.

Hazel-Nash House
Hillsborough
Rocky Ridge Farm Historic District
Chapel Hill
Chapel of the Cross
Chapel Hill
Ruffin-Roulhac House
Hillsborough
Old Orange County Courthouse
Hillsborough
Carolina Inn
Chapel Hill
Commandant's House
Hillsborough
West Chapel Hill Historic District
Chapel Hill
Sans Souci
Hillsborough
Hillsborough Historic District
Hillsborough
Eagle Lodge
Hillsborough
Eno Cotton Mill
Hillsborough
Jordan, Dr. Arch, House
Caldwell
Moorefields
Hillsborough
Faucette, David, House
Efland
Carrboro Commercial Historic District
Carrboro
Ayr Mount
Hillsborough
Heartsease
Hillsborough
Lloyd, Thomas F., Historic District
Carrboro
Cedar Grove Rural Crossroads Historic District
Cedar Grove
Nash, Arthur C. and Mary S.A., House
Chapel Hill
Old Chapel Hill Cemetery
Chapel Hill
Nash Law Office
Hillsborough
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Hillsborough
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

TransylvaniaTyrrellUnionVanceWakeWaltonWarrenWashingtonWataugaWayneWilkesWilsonYadkinYanceyAlamanceAlexanderAlleghanyAnsonAsheAvery
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Everything a full report reveals about Orange County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Orange County, North Carolina. 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, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 12,216.
What is the population of Orange?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Orange had a recorded population of 148,696.
Were any battles fought in Orange?
7 documented military engagements took place in Orange, including Raid on Hillsborough, Battle of Fort Anderson (Hillsborough NC), Battle of Portevent's Mill.
How many historic places are in Orange?
57 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange, North Carolina.
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