Orange County is a county in Indiana, United States, home to the French Lick and West Baden Springs resort area in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 19,867 at the 2020 census and covers 408.19 square miles (1,057.2 km2), of which 398.39 square miles (1,031.8 km2) is land, centred near 38°32′N 86°30′W.
Paoli is the county seat, and its postal code is 47454. The county has four incorporated towns, roughly 30 unincorporated communities, and ten civil townships. Orange County is in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 18117.
Towns & Villages in Orange County
Orange County has four incorporated towns — Paoli, Orleans, French Lick, and West Baden Springs — with a combined population of about 8,600, plus roughly 30 unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered across its ten townships. The table below marks incorporated towns as “Town” and everything else as “Unincorp.”
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paoli | Town · seat | — | 47454 |
| Orleans | Town | — | 47452 |
| French Lick | Town | — | 47432 |
| West Baden Springs | Town | — | 47469 |
| Abydel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bacon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bonds | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Braxtons Siding | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bromer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chambersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fargo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenbrier | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hindostan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leipsic | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lost River | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mahan Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newton Stewart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Orangeville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pearsontown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prospect | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pumpkin Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rego | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scarlet | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stampers Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Syria | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trotter Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turleys | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valeene | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodlawn Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Youngs Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
West Baden Springs is fully surrounded by the town of French Lick and shares its ZIP code area; the two are often described together as the French Lick & West Baden Springs resort district, anchored by the historic French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel.
Townships
Orange County is divided into ten civil townships, each responsible for local services such as fire protection, poor relief, and cemetery upkeep. Population figures below are 2020 census figures where available.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Paoli | — | Paoli (seat) |
| Orleans | — | Orleans |
| French Lick | — | French Lick, West Baden Springs |
| Greenfield | — | Rural |
| Jackson | — | Rural |
| Northeast | — | Rural |
| Northwest | — | Rural |
| Orangeville | — | Orangeville |
| Southeast | — | Rural |
| Stampers Creek | — | Stampers Creek |
ZIP Codes
- 47454 — Paoli
- 47452 — Orleans
- 47432 — French Lick
- 47469 — West Baden Springs
Orange County has four ZIP codes total, one per incorporated town; unincorporated communities use the ZIP of the nearest post office town.
Geography
Orange County sits in the hill country of south-central Indiana, where the karst terrain of the Mitchell Plateau produces sinkholes, caves, and losing streams — Lost River, which runs underground for several miles before resurfacing, crosses the county and gives its name to one of the unincorporated communities. The southern part of the county lies within the Hoosier National Forest. The county borders Lawrence County to the north, Washington County to the east, Crawford County to the south, Dubois County to the southwest, and Martin County to the northwest.
Demographics
Orange County had 19,867 residents at the 2020 census. Paoli and Orleans are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Indiana median of $69,477, consistent with the rural, low-density character of the county. With about 398 square miles of land, the county’s overall population density is roughly 50 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism and hospitality anchor the county’s economy, centred on the French Lick Resort — the restored French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, both built around the county’s mineral springs, plus the French Lick Casino and the French Lick Scenic Railway. Orange County Memorial Hospital in Paoli and county government are major local employers, alongside farming, timber, and limestone-related industry typical of the region. The county is also the birthplace of basketball legend Larry Bird, who grew up in French Lick.
History
Orange County was organized on February 1, 1816, formed from parts of Washington County. Its name most likely honors the House of Orange, though some local accounts tie it to the county’s early Quaker settlers who arrived from Orange County, North Carolina, around 1811. West Baden Springs and French Lick grew into nationally known mineral-spring resort towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing visitors that once included presidents and gangsters alike to their grand hotels; both hotels fell into decline through much of the 20th century before a major restoration reopened them in the 2000s.
Getting There
U.S. Route 150 and Indiana State Roads 37, 56, 60, 145, and 337 serve the county.
- Bedford, Indiana — 20 miles north
- Bloomington, Indiana — 45 miles north
- Jasper, Indiana — 25 miles southwest
- Louisville, Kentucky — 90 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Indianapolis International Airport, about 100 miles north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Orange County, Indiana?
It is in south-central Indiana, about 90 miles south of Indianapolis, bordering Lawrence, Washington, Crawford, Dubois, and Martin counties.
What is the population of Orange County?
19,867 at the 2020 census.
How big is Orange County?
408.19 square miles (1,057.2 km2), of which 398.39 square miles (1,031.8 km2) is land.
What is the county seat of Orange County?
Paoli is the county seat.
How many towns are in Orange County?
Four incorporated towns — Paoli, Orleans, French Lick, and West Baden Springs — plus roughly 30 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Orange County?
47454 (Paoli), 47452 (Orleans), 47432 (French Lick), and 47469 (West Baden Springs).
What is Orange County known for?
The French Lick and West Baden Springs resort hotels, built around the county’s mineral springs, and as the birthplace of Larry Bird.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Indiana.