Orangevale is a fairly quiet and affordable community that is easily within commuting distance of downtown Sacramento on the one hand and Folsom, it's neighbor to the east, on the other. It is located some twenty-three miles northeast of Sacramento.

Orangevale's rolling hills were home to the Maidu Indians for many years, and the town was originally known to European settlers as "Orange Vale". This community was home to the "Orange Vale Colony" that settled in the area in the 1880s. These settlers made efficient use of water from ditches originally dug for placer gold mines to irrigate oranges, peaches, plums, apricots, and lemons.

Although the Citrus groves were wiped out by the "Big Frost" of 1930, other agriculture continued to flourish in the area. Today the growth of state government in Sacramento and military, health care, high tech, and other industries in the region has led to Orangevale's continued growth as a residential community of some 26,705 inhabitants according to the 2000 census.

Homes in Orangevale include many older homes priced to be accessible to first time buyers, and although real estate prices throughout the area are continuing to rise, Orangevale still compares favorably to Folsom and El Dorado County to the east.