Orange County is located in southern New York. It is in the proximity of the New York Metropolitan Area and within the Hudson Valley region. Orange County has a total area of approximately 839 square miles of which 97% is land and 3% water. As of the census of 2000, there were 341,367 people, 114,788 households, and 84,483 families residing Orange County, NY. Orange County is the eight most populous county in New York. Despite its rural roots, Orange County is considered to be among the fastest growing suburb regions around the New York City Metropolitan Area.