Agenda - 11-01-2022; 5-c - 2022 Orange County Transit Plan Update

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02 orange county. at �Ue s spatial • ana 1 Ys1 s Methods of organizing and s ments in assessing data and information to identify patterns and trends oe based on geographic location. This section summarizes key characteristics of the people and places in Orange County and describes their influence on transit decisions, investments, and service. 0 range County is centrally located in North Carolina's biotechnology.The establishment of Research Triangle Park Piedmont, part of the Research Triangle Region. Four (RTP) in 1959 solidified the county's place in the new global municipalities are located wholly or partially within the economy. Information and knowledge-based sectors are county-the Towns of Chapel Hill,Carrboro,and Hillsborough strongly supported byseveral research universities,a nearby and the City of Mebane. A small part of Chapel Hill extends international airport, the high quality of life, communities, into Durham County. Orange County's population is largely and an entrepreneurial spirit. concentrated within the urbanized areas of the towns and there are several rural communities like Eflond and Cedar Grove, among others. People Nearly 149,000 residents were living in Orange County at the time of the 2020 Decennial US Census, an increase of History approximately 15,000 residents since 2010. Median age Orange County was originally inhabited by the Eno, remains relatively low (35.1)though the share of population Occaneechi, and Haw tribes of Native Americans. Later aged over 65 has increased (9.4% in 2010, 14.1% in 2020). colonizers included the English, German, Scotch-Irish, and The share of residents under the age of 18 has remained Welsh.The county played a pivotal role in the lead up to the stable over the last decade (20.0% in 2010 compared to American Revolution duetothe Regulator Movement- North 19.5% in 2020) [US Census, 2020 ACS 5-year estimates]. Carolina residents who instigated armed rebellion against corrupt colonial officials. In 1789, the flagship campus of Trends indicate shifts in the racial distribution ofthe county's the University of North Carolina system was established in residents.The share of residents identifying as white (74.4% Chapel Hill. in 2010 and 66.6% in 2020) and residents identifying as Black or African American (11.2% in 2010 and 10.7% in Like many areas in the American south, the county's 20201 have both decreased. Asian residents (6.7% in 2010 development was rooted in agriculture (tobacco, cotton] and 8.5% in 2020) and residents identifying as Hispanic or and influenced bythe railroad's arrival in the mid-1800s.The Latino of any race (8.2% in 2010 and 10.6% in 2020) have railroad's connections to national and international markets both increased. andthe manufacturing advances ofthe Industrial Revolution combined to form the foundation of the Piedmont's textile Residents of Orange County tend to be highly educated. industry.The region's strong grip on textiles manufacturing Over 26% of residents hold a bachelor's degree and the continued into the mid to late 20th century buff hen began a rate of master's degree attainment is near 34.8% - both precipitous drop off, likely due to competition from overseas representing increases over the last decade for residents producers. aged 25 and older. Unemployment remains low (4.2% in 2010 and 2.5% in 2020). A strong agricultural tradition still exists in Orange County, though the county's economy has evolved and diversified to Median household income (2020) is around $7,000 higher embrace new industrial sectors such as life sciences and than the national average but over 38% of households in Orange County report earning $100,000 or more, annually.