| ORANGE COUNTY |
|
| LOCATION |
| Orange
County is situated in the north-central Piedmont region of Virginia,
not far from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county
lies between the headwaters of the York and Rappahannock Rivers
with the Rapidan River defining the northern boundary and the
North Anna River making up the southern boundary. Orange County
is essentially rural in character, with most commercial and industrial
activity concentrated around the towns of Orange and Gordonsville.
Orange County is located about 72 miles northwest of Richmond;
85 miles southwest of Washington, DC; and 160 miles northwest
of Norfolk. |
| DEMOGRAPHICS |
· Projected Population
for 2010: 29,801
· Per Capita Personal
Income: $ 23,808 (2000)
· Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
(August 2002)
· Percentage of population
25 years and older who are high school graduates - 75.2%
· Percentage of population
25 years and older who have earned a Bachelor's Degree or higher
- 18.5% |
| GOVERNMENT |
| Orange County has a County Administrator and a five-member Board
of Supervisors. The county has a comprehensive plan and zoning
and subdivision ordinances. Orange is the county seat. Gordonsville
is another incorporated town. |
| UTILITIES |
| Electric: |
Dominion
Virginia Power, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock
Electric Cooperative |
| Natural Gas: |
Columbia Gas of Virginia |
| Telecommunications: |
Verizon Communications (Local
Service) |
| Water: |
Town of Orange, Rapidan Service
Authority |
| Waste Water Treatment: |
Town of Orange, Rapidan Service
Authority |
| Solid Waste Disposal: |
Orange
County Landfill |
|
|
|
| MAJOR EMPLOYERS |
| Name |
Type of Business |
Employees |
| Manufacturing |
|
|
| American
Press, Inc. |
Commercial printing |
100 - 299 |
| American Woodmark Corp. |
Kitchen
cabinets |
100 - 299 |
| ELCOTEL Inc. |
Pay telephone equipment |
100 - 299 |
| General Shale Products Corp. |
Brick |
50 - 99 |
| RIGID Products |
Industrial machinery |
100 - 299 |
| Non-manufacturing |
|
|
| Battlefield Farms |
Bedding/holiday
plants |
50 - 99 |
| Germanna Community College |
Higher
education |
300 - 599 |
| Von Holtzbrinck Publishing Services |
Publishing |
100 - 299 |
|
|
|
| TRANSPORTATION |
| Interstates: I-64 (10 miles south), !-95
(15 miles east) |
| Highways: US #15 (north-south), US #522
(north-south), US #33 (east-west) |
| Motor Carriers: 23 trucking firms serve
the area |
| Commercial Air Service: Charlottesville/Albemarle
Airport (31 miles) |
| General Aviation Service: Orange County
Airport, Gordonsville Municipal Airport |
| Freight Rail Service: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Corporation
|
| Port: Richmond (72 miles), Norfolk (160
miles) |
| Overnight Package Delivery: Federal Express,
Airborne and US Mail Express serve this area. |
|
|
|
| FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS |
| First Virginia
Bank-Blue Ridge: 524.7 million (1999 assets) |
| Second
Bank & Trust: 255.0 million (1999 assets) |
| Virginia
Community Bank: 117.2 million (1999 assets) |
| Bank
of America, NA: Headquarters outside Virginia |
| SunTrust
Bank.: Headquarters outside Virginia |
| Wachovia
Bank, NA: Headquarters outside Virginia |
|
|
|
| EDUCATION |
Fall
2000 - Number Enrollment |
| 5 Elementary Schools |
2,037 |
| 1 Middle School |
720 |
| 1 High School |
1,198 |
| |
Student
Teacher Ratio (1998-99) |
| Elementary |
12:01 |
| Secondary |
13:01 |
| Per pupil expenditure
(1999-00) |
$6,775 |
| 1996-97 ninth
grade membership graduating |
(1999-00)
- 78.7% |
| High school
graduates continuing education |
(1999-00) - 52.3% |
| |
|
| Private Schools |
School
Grades |
| Grimes Memorial School
|
PK-8 |
| |
|
| Vocational Training Facilities |
|
| Orange County High
School |
|
| Piedmont Technical Education Center |
|
| |
|
| Higher Education Facilities |
Fall
2000 Enrollment |
| University of Virginia |
22,411 |
| Piedmont Virginia
Community College |
4,277 |
| Germanna Community College |
3,856 |
| Institute of Textile
Technology |
21 |
|
|
|
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES |
Orange
County citizens can take advantage of excellent hospital and medical
care within the region. The University of Virginia Hospital, with
693 beds, is only 32 miles west in
Charlottesville.
This is a major research and teaching facility offering the latest
in technology, equipment, and services. Emergency
helicopter ambulance service is available to transport patients
to the University of Virginia Hospital Emergency Room.
Martha Jefferson Hospital is also in Charlottesville and provides
221 beds along with full medical and emergency care.
Additional hospital facilities in Culpeper and Fredericksburg
are also convenient to Orange County.
The Orange County Health Department
maintains a clinic and offers a variety of health care services
such as, blood pressure screenings, immunizations, maternity,
family planning, pediatric, and dental care.
A private medical clinic is also operational. Sixteen physicians and seven dentists practice in the county.
Numerous additional doctors representing a variety of specialties
are available in the adjoining Charlottesville, Culpeper, and
Fredericksburg areas.
The Orange County Nursing Home is operated on a nonprofit basis
by the county. This facility provides intermediate care for 134
patients and can accept additional 34
residents not requiring nursing care. Two other homes for
adults are located in the community and can accommodate a total
of 108 residents.
Approximately 68 churches can be found in Orange County consisting
of many Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic faith.
Jewish synagogues are located in both Charlottesville and
Fredericksburg.
Library service is provided by the Orange County Public Library.
This facility houses a collection of 85,000 volumes supporting
a circulation of over 120,000, and offers Internet access and
encyclopedias on CD-ROM.
Four shopping centers, located in Gordonsville, Orange, and Lake
of the Woods provide for most immediate needs of area residents.
Grocery stores, drug stores, florists, hardware, clothing, and
general merchandise are all located locally. Both towns' downtown
business districts include a number of clothing shops, specialty
items, and personal and professional services. Nearby shopping
centers in Culpeper, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg provide
numerous retail options for area consumers. |
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