Canaan, Vermont | |
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Town | |
Town center looking west along Gale St. (VT 114) | |
![]() Location in Essex County and the state of Vermont. | |
![]() Location of Vermont in the United States | |
Coordinates: 44°59′N71°33′W / 44.983°N 71.550°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Vermont |
County | Essex |
Communities | Canaan Beecher Falls Wallace Pond |
Area | |
• Total | 33.4 sq mi (86.6 km2) |
• Land | 33.0 sq mi (85.5 km2) |
• Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2) |
Elevation | 1,355 ft (413 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 896 |
• Density | 27/sq mi (10.5/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 05902, 05903 |
Area code | 802 |
FIPS code | 50-11800 [1] |
GNIS feature ID | 1462064 [2] |
Website | www |
Canaan is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 896 at the 2020 census. [3] Canaan contains the village of Beecher Falls, located at the confluence of the Connecticut River and Halls Stream. It is part of the Berlin, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Due to Québécois ancestry, 26% of Canaan residents speak French as their primary language, making the town one of New England's "Little Canadas." [4] [5] This is a decrease from 1982, when nearly 44% spoke French as their native language. [6]
Canaan is the northeasternmost town in Vermont, bordered by the Canadian province of Quebec to the north and the U.S. state of New Hampshire to the east. It is one of two towns in Vermont to share a border with both another state and Canada, the other such town being Alburgh in the northwestern corner. Canaan has two border crossings with Quebec, each approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) apart. The border crossings are, from west to east, Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing, accessed by Vermont Route 141 and Quebec Route 141, and Beecher Falls–East Hereford Border Crossing, accessed by Vermont Route 253 and Quebec Route 253. Canaan is also the only town in Vermont to share a land border with New Hampshire—the town's far northeastern corner touches the southwestern corner of the town of Pittsburg—as the Connecticut River defines the state line from Canaan southward.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.4 square miles (86.6 km2), of which 33.0 square miles (85.5 km2) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2), or 1.24%, is water. [7]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 19 | — | |
1800 | 45 | 136.8% | |
1810 | 332 | 637.8% | |
1820 | 227 | −31.6% | |
1830 | 373 | 64.3% | |
1840 | 378 | 1.3% | |
1850 | 471 | 24.6% | |
1860 | 408 | −13.4% | |
1870 | 419 | 2.7% | |
1880 | 637 | 52.0% | |
1890 | 829 | 30.1% | |
1900 | 934 | 12.7% | |
1910 | 869 | −7.0% | |
1920 | 982 | 13.0% | |
1930 | 906 | −7.7% | |
1940 | 872 | −3.8% | |
1950 | 969 | 11.1% | |
1960 | 1,094 | 12.9% | |
1970 | 949 | −13.3% | |
1980 | 1,196 | 26.0% | |
1990 | 1,121 | −6.3% | |
2000 | 1,078 | −3.8% | |
2010 | 972 | −9.8% | |
2020 | 896 | −7.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] |
As of the census [1] of 2000, there were 1,078 people, 441 households, and 306 families living in the town. The population density was 32.5 inhabitants per square mile (12.5/km2). There were 650 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.83% White, 0.19% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 3.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 441 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,574, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $28,913 versus $21,544 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,131. About 10.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Social services are provided in part by the Northeast Kingdom Community Action, located here and in other Northeast Kingdom sites.[ citation needed ]
Northeast Kingdom Learning Services[ clarification needed ] provides Adult Education and Literacy and High School Completion services to Canaan at no charge.[ citation needed ]
Canaan, Vermont holds a town meeting on town meeting day, held in the school's gymnasium.
Since the start of the 20th century, Canaan has lost many logging jobs and most family farms. Tourism is now an important part of the local economy. [9]
The Beecher Falls furniture factory, a division of Ethan Allen, closed its manufacturing unit in August 2009, laying off 238 workers and leaving only the rough mill open. [10] The plant opened in 1895 and was once the largest furniture factory east of Michigan. [9]
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,920, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England. Its shire town is the municipality of Guildhall. The county was created in 1792 and organized in 1800. Bordered by the Connecticut River next to New Hampshire, Essex County is south of the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the county with the lowest household-income in Vermont.
North Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,211 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The town center is still called "Canaan", being the main town center of the old town of Canaan prior to North Canaan splitting off as its own town.
Clarksville is a town in northern Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 294 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Stewartstown is a town in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 813 at the 2020 census, down from 1,004 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of West Stewartstown and is part of the Berlin, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Chesterfield is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,445 at the 2010 census. The name possibly is from a location in New England.
Wilmington is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,253 at the 2010 census. The town is named after the nearby town of Wilmington, Vermont.
Averill is an unincorporated town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Samuel Averill, a landholder. The town was never formally incorporated, having never gained a large enough permanent population. The population was 21 at the 2020 census. The town's affairs are handled by the Unified Towns & Gores of Essex County. It is part of the Berlin, New Hampshire Vermont Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Bloomfield is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 217 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Berlin, New Hampshire-Vermont Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Brighton is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,157 at the 2020 census. The town was named "Gilead" in its original grant in 1780. The town was sold to a group consisting primarily of soldiers commanded by Colonel Joseph Nightingale and subsequently named "Random". The town's name was finally changed by the legislature to "Brighton" in 1832. The Brighton village of Island Pond gets its name from the Abenaki word Menanbawk, which literally means island pond.
Concord is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Ferdinand is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. It was named after German Prince Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand of Brunswick-Lunenburg. Although incorporated, it was never formally organized since it never gained a sufficiently large permanent population. Its population was 16 at the 2020 census and was highest in 1910, with 213. It is managed by the Unified Towns & Gores of Essex County. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Lemington is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 87 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Lunenburg is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,246 at the 2020 census, the most populous in Essex County. Lunenburg contains the villages of Lunenburg and Gilman and hamlets of West Lunenburg, South Lunenburg, and Mill Village, and is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Maidstone is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 211. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area. There is no town center or gas station, but there is a town office building in the southern part of the town.
Norton is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 153 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is located on the Canada–US border, immediately south of Stanhope, Quebec.
Enosburg Falls is a village in the town of Enosburgh in Franklin County, Vermont, in the United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2020 census.
Highgate is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,472 at the 2020 census. The town is on the Canada–US border and is a border town with Philipsburg, Quebec.
Richford is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States, located along the Canada–United States border. The population was 2,346 at the 2020 census.
West Stewartstown is a census-designated place in the town of Stewartstown in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. It had a population of 263 at the 2020 census, down from 386 at the 2010 census.
Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2020 census, down from 1,234 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The town of Canaan is often referred to locally by the name of its principal settlement, Falls Village.