Orange Lake

History

The Native Americans called the lake "Oussuk", meaning "stony pond." The Dutch settlers called it "Binnin", meaning "water within land" or "water between other waters". In 1684, Gov. Thomas Donegan purchased the lake and surrounding territory from the Native Americans and divided this patent into numerous farms, most especially dairy farms. At the time of the Revolutionary War, a man named Capt. Thomas Machin owned and operated a saw mill, grist mill, and finally a mint in what is now the hamlet, at the very beginning of the outlet stream. An historical marker marks the site of Machin's Mill on Lakeside Road. At that time, the lake began to be called Machin's Pond. In the 1830s, a local clergyman named James R. Willson began calling the lake Orange Lake. The reasons for this name change remain obscure, but are probably related to its location in Orange County. One source claims that the fact that the lake was round like an orange was also a factor. Local legend states that many residents objected to this name change, but it did stick and remains the name of the lake and the hamlet to this day. Because the lake is above sea level,

Geography

Orange Lake is located at (41.532593, -74.096388). It is along NY 52. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (10.67%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY
  High · NEWBURGH · 3,433 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• VALLEY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · MONTGOMERY · 1,346 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• WASHINGTONVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WASHINGTONVILLE · 1,318 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · NEW WINDSOR · 1,027 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• MEADOW HILL GLOBAL EXPLORATIONS MAGNET SCHOOL
  Elementary · NEWBURGH · 1,013 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• VALLEY CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · MONTGOMERY · 982 students · 11:1 ratio
• TEMPLE HILL SCHOOL
  Elementary · NEW WINDSOR · 972 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• WASHINGTONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · WASHINGTONVILLE · 900 students · 11.7:1 ratio