Orange County is named for William of Orange, who was the Prince of Orange.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Washington County and Caledonia County
E – Grafton County, New Hampshire
S – Windsor County
W – Addison County and Washington County
Created: Febrauary 2, 1781
County Seat:
Chelsea 1781 – present
County Courthouse – Chelsea
Location: 5 Court Street / Highland Avenue
Built: 1847 – 1848
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Horace Carpenter of Clelsea
Contractor: Horace Carpenter of Chelsea and Lafavor Waters of Randolph
Description: The building faces west and is a two story white colored structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Chelsea. The building has a high white colored wood bell tower with gilded copper dome. The west front has a central entrance on the first story. At the roof line is a pediment. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the County Superior Court courtroom is located on the second story. The building was extended on the east side in 1879. The building was again extended in 1997. The architect was The Burley Partnership.
Note: The bell was cast in 1714 and installed in the Parish Church in Essex County and later installed in the courthouse in 1847. The bell is rung when a jury comes to a decisiion.
History: The county was created in 1781 and Chelsea was designed as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in 1785. The second courthouse was built by Oliver Terry in 1801. The courthouse was dismantled and the third and present courthouse was constructed in 1847 to 1848 at a cost of $4,228.

County Courthouse – Chelsea






County Superior Court courtroom



Photos taken 2014