Orange County, New York

Orange County is a county in New York, United States, roughly 60 miles northwest of New York City in the Hudson Valley. It had a population of 401,310 at the 2020 census and covers 840 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 812 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) is water, centred near 41°24′N 74°19′W.

Goshen is the county seat, and its postal code is 10924. The county contains three cities — Middletown, Newburgh, and Port Jervis — along with 20 towns, roughly 19 incorporated villages, and a large number of unincorporated hamlets and census-designated places. Orange County sits in the Eastern time zone, and its FIPS code is 36071.

Towns & Villages in Orange County

Orange County’s population is split among its three independent cities, its incorporated villages (each nested inside one of the county’s 20 towns), and dozens of unincorporated hamlets that have no municipal government of their own. The table below carries over the legitimate place names from the county’s earlier settlement list, each marked with its type and parent town where one applies. Population and ZIP figures are shown only where the 2020 census or USPS records confirm a specific number; unconfirmed cells are marked with a dash.

Kiryas Joel, an incorporated village of Satmar Hasidic Jewish families founded in 1977, sits mostly within the Town of Monroe with a smaller piece annexed from the Town of Woodbury after a 2019 border adjustment — that annexation is the reason the village straddles both townships. West Point, home to the United States Military Academy, is a federal reservation rather than a town-governed hamlet, which is why it carries no township of its own.

Townships

Orange County is divided into 20 towns, each a general-purpose local government under New York’s town-and-village system. Populations below are 2020 census figures for towns with a confirmed count; unconfirmed towns are marked with a dash rather than estimated.

ZIP Codes

• 10924 — Goshen (also serves Hamptonburgh)
• 10940 — Middletown
• 12550 — Newburgh
• 12771 — Port Jervis
• 10918 — Chester
• 10925 — Greenwood Lake
• 10928 — Highland Falls (also serves West Point)
• 12520 — Cornwall-on-Hudson
• 10921 — Florida
• 10926 — Harriman
• 10990 — Warwick
• 10950 — Monroe (also serves Kiryas Joel)
• 10992 — Washingtonville
• 12543 — Maybrook
• 12549 — Montgomery
• 12586 — Walden
• 10963 — Otisville
• 10988 — Unionville
• 10987 — Tuxedo Park
• 12566 — Pine Bush

Smaller hamlets such as Circleville, Sugar Loaf, and Scotchtown generally share the ZIP code of the nearest post office town rather than carrying one of their own.

Geography

Orange County straddles the boundary between the Hudson Valley’s river lowlands and the Shawangunk and Hudson Highlands uplands. The Hudson River forms much of its eastern edge, the Wallkill and Neversink rivers drain its central and western sections, and Schunemunk Mountain, at 1,664 feet, is the county’s high point. The Delaware River marks part of the county’s southwestern boundary with Pennsylvania.

Orange County borders Ulster County to the north, Dutchess County to the northeast across the Hudson River, Putnam County to the east, Rockland County to the southeast, Sullivan County to the northwest, Sussex County, New Jersey and Passaic County, New Jersey to the south, and Pike County, Pennsylvania across the Delaware River to the southwest.

Demographics

Orange County had 401,310 residents at the 2020 census. Its two largest municipalities are the cities of Newburgh (28,349) and Middletown (28,086), followed by the city of Port Jervis (8,631) and the village of Goshen (5,617). Median household income figures for individual county subdivisions are not independently verified here; New York’s statewide median household income was $82,095 in the 2023 American Community Survey, and Orange County’s suburban and exurban towns generally track close to that figure. With 812 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density is roughly 494 people per square mile, though density varies sharply between its cities and its rural western towns.

Economy & Local Life

Orange County’s economy mixes agriculture, defense and higher education, logistics, and a growing share of New York City commuters. The United States Military Academy at West Point is one of the county’s largest employers and best-known institutions. Stewart International Airport in New Windsor anchors a logistics and air-cargo cluster, and the black dirt farmland around Pine Bush and Florida remains one of the country’s most productive onion-growing regions. Interstate 84 and Interstate 87 (the New York State Thruway) both cross the county, and Metro-North Railroad’s Port Jervis Line carries commuters east toward New York City.

History

Orange County was established on November 1, 1683, as one of New York’s original twelve counties, and was reorganized with its present boundaries in 1798. It is named for William III, Prince of Orange, who became King of England shortly before the county was formed. The county has deep Revolutionary War associations: West Point’s fortifications guarded the Hudson River against British naval movement, and the Continental Army’s temporary capital at New Windsor hosted George Washington in 1782-83, where he refused a suggestion that he be made king. In the 20th century, the county absorbed steady growth from New York City’s northward suburban expansion, particularly along the Interstate 87 and Route 17 corridors.

Getting There

Orange County is reached from New York City via Interstate 87 (the New York State Thruway) or Interstate 84, both of which cross the county, along with US Route 6, US Route 9W, and NY Route 17.

• New York City — about 60 miles southeast
• Poughkeepsie — about 20 miles northeast
• Kingston — about 25 miles north
• Scranton, Pennsylvania — about 65 miles west

Stewart International Airport in New Windsor is the county’s own commercial airport, with additional service available at New York’s three major airports. Metro-North Railroad’s Port Jervis Line connects several county stations to Manhattan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Orange County, New York?
It is in the Hudson Valley region of southeastern New York, about 60 miles northwest of New York City.

What is the population of Orange County?
401,310 people, according to the 2020 census.

How big is Orange County?
840 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 812 square miles is land.

What is the county seat of Orange County?
Goshen is the county seat.

How many towns and villages are in Orange County?
The county has 3 cities, 20 towns, and roughly 19 incorporated villages, plus numerous unincorporated hamlets.

What ZIP codes are in Orange County?
ZIP codes include 10924 (Goshen), 10940 (Middletown), 12550 (Newburgh), and 12771 (Port Jervis), among others listed above.

What is West Point?
West Point is the United States Military Academy, a federal reservation within the Town of Highlands on the west bank of the Hudson River.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in New York.