Orange
About Orange
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Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,572 as of July 2003. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen and an annual town meeting. Orange has a blend of rural and suburban development, and features a traditional town green within the historic district and a highly commercialized strip of businesses along the Boston Post Road, just north of Interstate 95. The town currently faces continuing political issues regarding ongoing urbanization and commercial development.
Orange maintains its rural roots through the Orange Country Fair every September, which serves as a miniature homage to many typical American State Fairs. In early August, the town also promotes the Orange Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival, which raises funds to support the town’s continuing all-volunteer fire department. Both events are held at the fairgrounds at High Plains Community Center near the center of town.
Orange was the home of the first computer camp, held at the local Amity Jr. High School in 1978. Orange is also host to one of the primary manufacturing plants of PEZ candies.
During the Cold War, Orange served as a location for the permanent deployment of Nike missiles for the defense of Greater New Haven. The former site of the Nike missiles has since served (from the late 1950s onward) as the home of the 103rd Air Control and Warning Squadron, later to become the 103rd Tactical Control Squadron and as it remains today the 103rd Air Control Squadron, a part of the Connecticut Air National Guard.