Orange County Historian Ted Sly, left, videotapes the cutting of the anniverary cake

GOSHEN – Local historians from around Orange County gathered Saturday at the county Government Center in Goshen to celebrate its 325th anniversary.

Contrary to popular belief, the county was not named for the orange fruit even though the county seal bears an orange tree.

It was actually named after William III of Orange, who became the King of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1689.

Roughly a dozen or so county officials and local town historians gathered to commemorate the anniversary with County Historian Theodore Sly recording every word on a camcorder as he does with every historically significant event in the county.

“Today culminates a yearlong effort and it was fascinating watching our children learn about the rich and diverse history of our great county,” County Executive Edward Diana told those in attendance.

Orange is one of the oldest of the counties in the state. It was reestablished in 1788, and had its boundaries finally determined April 3, 1801. In 1799, Rockland was set off, and five towns from Ulster added. Newburgh and Goshen were jointly the shire villages. The county was divided at this time into the towns of Blooming Grove, Chesekook, Deer Park, Goshen, Minisink, Montgomery, New Windsor, Newburgh, Wallkill and Warwick.

The county has an area of nearly half a million square acres; fronts on both the Hudson and Delaware, and is bounded on the south and west by the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Sullivan and Ulster counties supply the west and north lines, the Hudson the east.