County · code 51137
Orange CountyVirginia
Orange County is located in Virginia and was created in 1734 from Spotsylvania County.
- Founded1734
- County seatOrange
- Named forWilliam III of England
- Land area341 sq mi + 2.5 sq mi water
- Population36,254 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped22,841 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Orange on the map of Virginia
Virginia has 133 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Founded in 1734
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Orange County was created on January 1, 1735, from Spotsylvania County and initially extended westward to the limits of Virginia, including parts of present-day Kentucky and West Virginia. The county lost territory to the creation of Augusta and Frederick counties in 1738, followed by losses to Culpeper County in 1749 and Greene County in 1838. Orange County was named after William Iii of England.
- c. 1735Orange County created Orange created from Spotsylvania; Orange extended westward to "the utmost limits of Virginia," including all of present Kentucky and West Virginia. · Hening, 4:450-451
- 1738Lost territory Orange lost to creation of Augusta and Frederick; Augusta and Frederick not fully organized, attached to Orange. · Hening, 5:78-80; Robinson, 43, 50
- c. 1743
- c. 1745
- 1749
- 1838Lost territory Orange lost to creation of Greene. · Va. Acts 1838, ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 52-54
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Orange
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 22,841 parcels from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 19,371 in all from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Dept of Emergency Management (VDEM; VGIN moved from VITA to VDEM).
checked 14 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Orange by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Records
- Assessor and property records
Commissioner of the Revenue's Office
- Clerk of court: deeds and plats
Circuit Court
Permits
- Health department: septic and well
Environmental Services
- Permit Center
- Fireworks Permits
Zoning and code
County government
- County government
The official website of Orange County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Orange County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Orange County
- When was Orange County founded?
- Orange County was founded in 1734, and named after William III of England.
- What is the county seat of Orange County?
- The county seat of Orange County is Orange.
- Is there an online parcel map for Orange County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 22,841 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Orange County's boundary or name changed?
- Orange County was created in 1735. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Augusta County, Frederick County and Culpeper County.
- Who issues building permits in Orange County?
- The county's page on building permits: Permit Center. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Orange County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Environmental Services.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Orange County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby