Orange County Was Formed in 1852 Along the Sabine River

Orange County was created on January 5, 1852, from part of Jefferson County. The county seat had two earlier names — Green's Bluff, then Madison — before it became the city of Orange. The name Orange reportedly came from an orange grove planted by early settlers near the mouth of the Sabine River.

The Sabine River on the eastern border shaped the county from the start. It served as a trade route, a shipping lane, a wartime supply line, and a place to fish and recreate. People lived in this area as far back as 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The Atakapan Indians lived here before European contact. The Handbook of Texas covers the full county history.