More than 5.4 million Americans live in eight Orange counties across the United States, including Orange counties within the nation’s four most populous states—California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
The newest Orange counties in California, Texas, and Florida are named for the fruit, although the citrus industry in these places has long since given way to urban and suburban development.
The older Orange counties—in New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Indiana—were named for the Dutch House of Orange, which became the ruling family of England with the 1689 ascension of King William III to the British throne.
The eight Orange counties are wholly or partially within 16 congressional districts. Nine are now held by Democrats and seven by Republicans. They feature four of the most-watched midterm congressional races on the Nov. 8 ballot.
California’s and Florida’s Orange counties include Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Their combined 4.6 million population and 10 congressional districts comprise the bulk of residents of America’s Orange counties.
The other six Orange counties’ populations amount to about 800,000 people with about half of that number in New York’s “original Orange County,” as locals will correctly point out.
Congressional races in New York’s and Virginia’s Orange counties, and two in California’s Orange County, are expected to be competitive on Nov. 8. A previously purple congressional district in Florida’s Orange County is no longer likely competitive following post-2020 Census redistricting, joining slam-dunk contests in North Carolina, Vermont, Texas, and Indiana Orange counties.
