I Grew Up In The O.C. Too

I've come across this before, in emails and Facebook postings, but saw a few additions on this list. It's about Orange County, NY where I grew up. This part of the country is beautiful; bucolic landscapes, four beautiful seasons, my childhood home.

So here are a few fun facts:

• The oldest carbon dated human settlement in North America east of the Mississippi (12,500 years old) is found in Orange County, NY.
• More Mastodon skeletons have been unearthed here than any other place on earth.
• Orange County was one of the first twelve counties established by the Province of New York in 1683.
• Orange County’s black dirt region of Pine Island is the third largest onion growing region in the United States.
• Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheesewas invented in Chester, NY in 1872.
• Velveeta cheese spread (1923) and 'Liederkranz' cheese (1882) were invented in Monroe, NY.
• The first butter factory in America was in Campbell Hall, NY in 1859.
• William H. Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and purchaser of Alaska, was born in Florida, NY in 1801.
• The oldest (since 1839) continuously operating winery in the US is The Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY.
• 19th Century Hudson River School artist Jasper Crospey lived and painted in Warwick, NY.
• The first rocket to carry U.S. Mail landed in Greenwood Lake in Orange County in 1396.
• The Tuxedo dinner jacket originated in Tuxedo Park, an enclosed community developed by Pierre Lorillard, tobacco magnate (Old Gold). The daughter of Bruce Price, the designer of Tuxedo Park NY (1880), and also a resident, was Emily Post.
• Artist Ellsworth Kelly was born in Newburgh, NY in 1923.
• George Washington lived and worked in New Windsor from April 1782 to August 1783.
• The Order of the Purple Heart was established by George Washington in Newburgh, NY in 1782.
• The first Registered National Historic Landmark (registered in 1850) is Washington’s Headquarters located on the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY.
• The largest number (220+) of discount designer outlets in the US is located at Woodbury Commons in Central Valley, NY with 12 million visitors per year.
• The world's first, oldest, and still used harness (trotting) track is the Goshen Historic Track, established in 1838, located in Goshen, NY.
• Nearly all trotters and pacers in the Unites States can trace their pedigree to the stallion “Hambletonian” of Chester, NY (circa 1849).
• Noah Webster, creator of Webster’s Dictionary, taught school in Goshen, NY.
• The highest point in Orange County is Schunemunk Mountain which reaches 1,664 feet above sea level.
• The largest living history museum in New York State is Museum Villagein Monroe, NY.
• Bear Mountain State Park has more visitors annually than does Yellowstone National Park.
• The main runway at Stewart International Airport (SWF - formerly Stewart Air Force base) is over two miles long (11, 818 feet) and is an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle.
• The United States Military Academy at West Point, NY (est. 1778) has the largest Church Organ in the world.
• Stephen Crane wrote some of his most popular novel “The Red Badge of Courage” in Port Jervis, NY.
• The Intersection of I-87 and I-84 in Newburgh, NY is known as the "Gateway of the Northeast".
• The largest sculpture park in the United States is the Storm King Art Centerin New Windsor, NY, featuring works from artists around the world.
• Author Zane Grey practiced dentistry in Middletown, NY before starting his literary career.
• The oldest (1919) continuously operating automobile racing dirt track in the United States is the Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown, NY.
• The Hudson River, the first explored and most beautiful river in the United States, passing through this area, is called “The Rhine of the Americas”.
• In 1683, the County of Orange, named for William of Orange (King William III, 1650-1702), was formed.
• Orange County today is almost a half million acres in size and is dotted with dairy and produce farms, orchards, vineyards, horse ranches and bucolic villages set amongst vast areas of woodlands, rolling hills and glacier carved valleys.
• There are three cities within the county's borders: Newburgh, on the Hudson River; Port Jervis, on the Delaware River; and Middletown, halfway between the other two.
• “American Chopper” on the Discovery Channel/TLC is filmed at Orange County Choppers in Rock Tavern, NY and Newburgh, NY.
• The County seat of Orange County, NY, is the Village of Goshen.
• Of the 10 Counties named Orange in the United States, Orange County, NY is the oldest (1683). It is 206 years older than Orange County, California (1889), 169 years older than Orange County, Texas (1852), 162 years older than Orange County, Florida (1824), 133 years older than Orange County, Indiana (1816), 98 years older than Orange County, Vermont (1781), 69 years older than Orange County, North Carolina (1752), and 51 years older than Orange County, Virginia (1734).

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1 YEAR AGO: Snowy Arrival
2 YEARS AGO: Not A Pretty Sight
3 YEARS AGO: Marking This Day In History With A Vibrant Spot Of Color
4 YEARS AGO: Lighting To Do Laundry By
5 YEARS AGO: The Benefits Of Dating A White Boy
6 YEARS AGO: Shhhhhh, You’ll Wake The Driver