Orange County was one of the first twelve counties established by the
Province of New York in 1683.
The oldest
carbon dated human settlement in North America east of the Mississippi
is found in Orange County.
More Mastodon
skeletons have been unearthed in Orange County than any other place
on earth.
Orange County's
black dirt region near Pine Island is the third largest Onion growing
region in the U.S.
The first
butter factory in America opened in Campbell Hall, NY in 1859.
The largest
Outlet Mall in the US is Woodbury Commons in Central Valley, NY. 12
million visitors from around the world come each year to visit its 220+
stores.
William H.
Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and purchaser of Alaska,
was born in Florida, NY in 1801.
The United
States Military Academy at West Point, NY was established in 1778.
The largest
sculpture park in the US is the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville,
NY.
Orange County
Choppers, the motorcycle shop featured on the Discovery Channel television
series "American Chopper" is in Montgomery in Orange County,
NY, not Orange County, California.
The world's
first trotting track was built in 1838 in Goshen, NY and is still in
use.
The oldest
continuously operating automobile racing dirt track in the US is the
Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY, in use since 1919.
19th Century
Hudson River School artist Jasper Cropsey lived and painted in Warwick,
NY.
'Philadelphia
Brand Cream Cheese' was invented in Chester, NY in 1872.
'Liederkranz'
cheese and 'Velveeta' cheese spread were invented in Monroe, NY (in
1882 and 1923 respectively).
Artist Ellsworth
Kelly was born in Newburgh, NY in 1923
George Washington
lived and worked in New Windsor from April 1782 to August 1783.
The first
rocket to carry U.S. Mail landed in Greenwood Lake in Orange County
in 1936.
The Tuxedo
dinner jacket originated in Tuxedo Park, a gated community founded and
devloped by tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard in 1886.
The oldest
(since 1839) continuously operating winery in the US is The Brotherhood
Winery in Washingtonville, NY.
The main runway
at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor is over two miles long
(11, 818 feet) and is an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle.
The Order
of the Purple Heart was established by George Washington in Newburgh,
NY in 1782.
The first
Registered National Historic Landmark (registered in 1850) is Washington's
Headquarters in Newburgh, NY
Nearly all
trotters and pacers in the US can trace their pedigree to the stallion
' Hambletonian' of Chester, NY (circa 1849).
Bear Mountain
State Park has more visitors annually than does Yellowstone National
Park.
Noah Webster,
creator of Webster's Dictionary, taught school in Goshen, NY
The highest
point in Orange County is Schunemunk Mountain which reaches 1,664 feet
above sea level
The largest
Church Organ in the world is at the USMA at West Point.
Author Stephen
Crane wrote some of his most popular novel "The Red Badge of Courage"
in Port Jervis, NY .
Author Zane
Grey practiced dentistry in Middletown before starting his literary
career.
Of the 10
Counties named Orange in the US, Orange County NY (named for William
of Orange - King William III, 1650-1702) is the oldest, having been
founded in 1683. It is 206 years older than Orange County, California
(1889); 169 years older than Orange County, Texas (1852); 162 years
older than Orange County, Florida (1824); 133 years older than Orange
County, Indiana (1816); 98 years older than Orange County, Vermont (1781);
69 years older than Orange County, North Carolina (1752); and 51 years
older than Orange County, Virginia (1734).
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