Orange County, Administrative county in North Carolina, United States
Orange County is an administrative county in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, with Hillsborough serving as its county seat. The area includes several communities and towns that together form a regional economic and educational hub.
The county was established in 1752 from portions of neighboring counties and may have been named after William of Orange or a related royal figure. The region became significant as home to the nation's first public university, founded in 1789.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill influences daily life and the character of local communities throughout the region. This presence shapes how the area looks and brings students and scholars from across the country to live here.
The area sits within the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area, offering good access to educational, medical, and employment resources spread across the region. Visitors can find accommodations and dining options easily in the various communities, especially in the larger towns.
Few visitors realize that Occoneechee Speedway near Hillsborough is one of only two original NASCAR tracks from the sport's founding year. The track opened in 1949 and marks the beginning of the nation's organized racing heritage.
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