Orangeburg was the site of Camp Shanks, known as "Last Stop USA", the largest World War II Army embarkation camp. A total of 1.3 million US service personnel en route to Europe were processed at a sprawling camp that covered most of the town.[4] The hamlet also has one of the world's largest psychiatric hospitals, Rockland Psychiatric Center, formerly called Rockland State Hospital. Orangeburg pipe was once manufactured here. Before plastic pipes, it was the standard alternative to metal pipes, especially for sewer and outdoor drainage applications.
After World War II, even through it lies only 19 miles (31 km) north of New York City, Orangeburg was very rural with few residents, many of whom lived quite modestly in former soldiers' housing. That lasted until the late 1950s when developers introduced modern suburban housing to young couples who saw it as an alternative to city living. Today, Orangeburg is a suburb of New York City.
At the 2010 census,[6] there were 4,568 people, 1,531 households and 840 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,473.5 inhabitants per square mile (568.9/km2). There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 504.5 per square mile (194.8/km2). The racial makeup was 77.3% White, 4.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 13.2% Asian, 3.2% from other races and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.9% of the population.
There were 1,531 households, of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.33.
25.4% of the population were age 19 or under, 10.1% from 20 to 24, 15.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.4 males.
The median family income was an estimated $70,859 and the median family income was $128,342. Males had a median income of $50,724 and females $31,477. The average home or condo value in 2009 was $463,300. About 10.73% of families and 27.00% of the population were below the poverty line.
Landmarks and places of interest
The Orangeburg Inn as seen in 1907
Camp Shanks Museum and Monument - Independence Avenue - During World War II, over 1.3 million G.I.s were processed from Camp Shanks to Europe and North Africa. Italian and Germanprisoners of war were housed and repatriated here. The camp is located at Independence Avenue and Lowe Lane off Western Highway. The museum is located on South Greenbush Road near the intersection of Routes 303 and 340 and is open at weekends.[7]
Douglas House - a Dutch Colonial farmhouse owned by Marjorie Douglas and her late husband Henry that since 1981 has been used for several New York-based film and television productions, including Saturday Night Live and Daredevil.[8]
