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Orange County
The Wider Region
THE LOCALE
What it's like to live in Orange County
Orange County is the Hudson Valley at its most varied. It is the only county in New York State that sits between two rivers — the Hudson on the east and the Delaware on the west — and within about 50 miles of Manhattan it manages to contain working farms, walkable historic villages, riverfront cities and serious mountain terrain.
That variety is the point. The same county holds the black-dirt farmland of Pine Island, the county-seat civics of Goshen, the orchards and Main Street of Warwick, and the commuter convenience of Chester. Whatever balance of land, walkability and commute you are after, there is a town here that hits it.
It is also home to some of New York's best-known destinations: the United States Military Academy at West Point, Storm King Art Center (the largest outdoor sculpture park in the country), LEGOLAND New York, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, and Brotherhood Winery, the oldest winery in America.
AT A GLANCE
Quick Facts
GEOGRAPHY
Between 2 rivers
The only NY county between the Hudson and Delaware
COUNTY SEAT
Goshen
Since 1727
DISTANCE TO NYC
~50 miles
One of the closest Hudson Valley counties
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chester UFSD
Chester Elementary & Chester Academy
MAJOR HUBS
Middletown, Newburgh
Plus the villages we cover
VIBE
Varied
Village, farm, riverfront and mountain
CHOOSE YOUR TOWN
The communities
we cover
Each has its own full guide — schools, commute, amenities and a moving-in checklist.
Warwick
Village charm, orchards & a real main street
Goshen
The historic county seat, central to everything.
Chester
Black-dirt country, farmland & open sky
Pine Island
Commuter friendly, with sugar loaf attached.
GETTING AROUND
The commute & connections
Commute times vary a great deal by town, which is one of the main things to weigh when choosing where in the county to land.
To NYC by car
Depending heavily on which town you choose.
60'-90'
Short Line Coaches
Commuter service to Port Authority from across the county.
Bus
Metro-North & NJ Transit
Port Jervis line stations serve the eastern and southern county.
Rail
The Thruway
Plus Route 17, I-84 and Route 9W running through the county.
I-87
AROUND THE COUNTY
What's here
Some of New York State's best-known destinations are inside this county line.
West Point
The oldest military academy in the country, on the Hudson.
Woodbury Common
Over 250 outlet stores, plus Middletown and Newburgh retail.
Craft beverage
Equilibrium in Middletown, Newburgh Brewing, and 24+ producers.
Appalachian Trail
Miles of it cross the county, along with Storm King Mountain.
Farms & cideries
Angry Orchard, Brotherhood Winery, and orchards county-wide.
Storm King Art Center
The largest outdoor sculpture park in the United States.
VIKKI'S PICKS
Regional Highlights
Worth the drive, whichever town you land in.
THE MOVING IN GUIDE
Landing in
Orange County
1
1
Choose the town first
The county is big and the towns differ enormously. Start with how you want to live, then narrow.
2
Test the commute
Drive it at the actual hour you would drive it. Route 17 at 7am is a different road.
3
Register locally
Each town handles its own registration, utilities and refuse. Vikki will point you to the right desk.
