Orange City

Seat of Sioux County, northwestern Iowa, USA, on the West Branch tributary of the Floyd River, 64 km/40 mi northeast of Sioux City; population (1996 est) 5,400. Founded by Dutch settlers in 1869, the heritage is celebrated with an annual Tulip Festival. The biggest employer is a promotional merchandise company.

Orange City engaged in rivalry with the town of Calliope to become county seat of Sioux County. Calliope had the position from 1869 but in 1872 a winter raid, by sled, from Orange City saw a hole cut in the courthouse in Calliope and the records removed to Orange City. Later that year Orange City was declared the county seat. However, no courthouse was started there until 1902. It was not finished until 1904. In 1907 it was damaged by lightning. This Romanesque Revival building is on the national register of historic places. Northwestern College (1882) is situated in Maurice, 3 km/2mi to the south.