Essex, Vermont | |
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Motto: "Crossroads of Chittenden County" [1] | |
![]() Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont. | |
Coordinates: 44°30′7″N73°5′38″W / 44.50194°N 73.09389°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Vermont |
County | Chittenden |
Incorporated | June 7, 1763 [1] |
Communities | Essex Center Butlers Corners Pages Corner |
Area | |
• Total | 39.3 sq mi (101.8 km2) |
• Land | 38.8 sq mi (100.6 km2) |
• Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
Elevation | 486 ft (148 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,094 |
• Density | 560/sq mi (220/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 05451-05452 |
Area code | 802 |
FIPS code | 50-24175 [2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1462091 [3] |
Website | www |
Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Vermont Route 289 crosses the town from east to west. The city of Essex Junction, with a population as of 2020 of 10,590, was located within the town as an incorporated village until 2022.
Town vote to merge | Revote | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
District | 2006-11-07 | 2007-01-23 | ||
Yes | No | Yes | No | |
6–1 (outside village) | 1,283 | 2,319 | 690 | 2,528 |
6–3 (outside village) | 365 | 822 | ||
6–2 (within village) | 2,728 | 1,026 | 2,009 | 362 |
Townwide totals | 4,376 | 4,167 | 2,699 | 2,890 |
Village vote to accept | No revote required, result was uncontested. | |||
2,922 | 1,085 |
The town was incorporated on June 7, 1763, [1] named after the Earl of Essex. [4]
The Village of Essex Junction was formed—within the town of Essex—on November 15, 1892. The village was formed to provide services (such as sidewalks, water, and sewers) to the villagers that the rest of the, mostly rural, town citizens did not want, and did not want to pay for.
As the town outside the village developed, they gradually added similar services for themselves, and by 1958, the first hints of merger showed up in a voter petition. Since then a series of votes (often contentious) had defeated or passed merger in each community, but never at the same time in both (which was required by the state legislature for them to sign off on the merger).
This temporarily changed on November 7, 2006, when merger passed in the town as a whole, and in the village. The town as a whole (including the village) got to vote once on the merger, and the village, separately, got to vote in a second ballot to accept the merger if it passed the townwide vote. This was confusing enough that the regional paper misreported the results as a defeat of the merger, based solely on the vote results outside the village. [5] The next day the correct results were reported in both the town's paper, [6] and as a correction in the regional paper. [7]
On December 6, 2006, a petition to reconsider the merger was submitted to the town. The petition contained signatures totaling more than 5 percent of registered voters, which is the threshold required to force a re-vote. [8] The revote was held on January 23, 2007, with a result that overturned the merger by 191 votes, rejecting the current merger proposal. [9]
If the results had stood, a multi-year merger process would have resulted in a new "Town of Essex Junction" replacing the current governments of the town of Essex and the village of Essex Junction.
On November 2, 2021, voters in the village of Essex Junction did vote to separate from the town of Essex, citing an unfair tax burden. The vote was 3,070 to 411 in favor of separation. [10] Essex Junction separated on July 1, 2022. [11]
Essex is located in central Chittenden County, bordered on the south by the Winooski River. Neighboring municipalities are Colchester to the west, Milton at the northwest corner, Westford to the north, Underhill at the northeast corner, Jericho to the east, Williston to the south, and the cities of South Burlington and Essex Junction to the southwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Essex in 2010 had a total area of 39.3 square miles (101.8 km2), of which 38.8 square miles (100.6 km2) was land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.26%, was water. [12]
The 575 acre Indian Brook Town Conservation Area and 335 acre Saxon Hill Town Forest are located within the town. [13]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 354 | — | |
1800 | 729 | 105.9% | |
1810 | 957 | 31.3% | |
1820 | 1,089 | 13.8% | |
1830 | 1,664 | 52.8% | |
1840 | 1,824 | 9.6% | |
1850 | 2,052 | 12.5% | |
1860 | 1,906 | −7.1% | |
1870 | 2,022 | 6.1% | |
1880 | 2,104 | 4.1% | |
1890 | 2,013 | −4.3% | |
1900 | 2,203 | 9.4% | |
1910 | 2,714 | 23.2% | |
1920 | 2,449 | −9.8% | |
1930 | 2,876 | 17.4% | |
1940 | 3,059 | 6.4% | |
1950 | 3,931 | 28.5% | |
1960 | 7,090 | 80.4% | |
1970 | 10,951 | 54.5% | |
1980 | 14,392 | 31.4% | |
1990 | 16,498 | 14.6% | |
2000 | 18,626 | 12.9% | |
2010 | 19,587 | 5.2% | |
2020 | 22,094 | 12.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [14] |
As of the census [2] of 2010, there were 19,587 people and 7,322 households in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 91.6% non-Hispanic White, 1.5% Black or African American, 3.2% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 1.7% of the population. The population density was 534 people per square mile (184.4/km2). There were 7,170 housing units at an average density of 183.8 per square mile (71.0/km2). There were 7,013 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,441, and the median income for a family was $65,794. Males had a median income of $45,428 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,854. About 1.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
The Harriet Farnsworth Powell Museum is located in Essex. The museum is housed in a former two-room schoolhouse, and includes a collection of costumes, school items, and local memorabilia. [1] [15]
Until 2022, Essex comprised three Vermont Legislature districts (seats) within Chittenden County: District 8–1, the central portion of the town of Essex; [16] District 8–2, the former village of Essex Junction; [17] and District 8–3, northern town of Essex and the town of Westford. [18] The town of Essex and the city of Essex Junction continued to share municipal services until July 1, 2023. [19]
The Essex Westford School District (EWSD)—unified on July 1, 2017—serves 4,500 Pre-K to grade 12 students in Essex, Essex Junction, and Westford, Vermont. [20] EWSD operates ten schools in the two towns—Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, Essex Center for Technology, Essex Elementary School, Essex High School (EHS), Essex Middle School, Founders Memorial School, Hiawatha Elementary School, Summit Street School, Thomas Fleming School, and Westford School. [21] Previously, the three communities had separate Pre-K to grade 8 school districts that fed the already unified EHS.
EWSD provides busing for students in Essex and Westford, as well as students in Essex Junction, who did not have buses prior to 2018. [22] EWSD also provides busing to students from South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero and Georgia who choose to attend EHS. [23] [ failed verification ]
The Essex Reporter is a weekly newspaper published in town, covering news in Essex and the surrounding communities in Chittenden County. [24] It has a weekly circulation of 8,800 copies. [25]
Vermont's Circumferential Highway (Vermont Route 289 or "The Circ") courses through Essex, and the section within Essex's jurisdiction has been completed. However, further construction of the highway was halted in surrounding communities by court action from environmental protesters.
Bus service is provided by Green Mountain Transit.
Amtrak, the national rail passenger system, provides daily service via its station in neighboring Essex Junction, operating the Vermonter train between St. Albans, Vermont and Washington, D.C. In 2008, a study indicated that the cheapest method for one person to get to New York City from the Burlington area was by train, at $48. It was also the longest, taking an estimated 9 hours and 25 minutes. [26] [27]
Chittenden County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, its population was 168,323. The county seat is Vermont's most populous municipality, the city of Burlington. The county has over a quarter of Vermont's population and more than twice the population of Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland. The county also has more than twice the population density of Vermont's second-most dense county, Washington. The county is named for Vermont's first governor and one of the framers of its constitution as an independent republic and later U.S. state, Thomas Chittenden.
Charlotte is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Queen Charlotte, though unlike Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlottesville, Virginia, and other cities and towns that bear her name, the town's name is pronounced with the accent on the second syllable. The population of the town was 3,912 at the 2020 census.
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Colchester was 17,524. It is the third-most populous municipality and most populous town in the state of Vermont. Colchester borders Burlington, Vermont's most populous municipality. The town is directly to Burlington's north on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, to the west of the Green Mountains. The Vermont National Guard is based in the town, and it is also home to Saint Michael's College and the Vermont campus of Southern New Hampshire University.
Essex Junction is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 10,590. It was incorporated as a village on November 15, 1892. Essex Junction became Vermont’s 10th city on July 1, 2022.
Hinesburg is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Abel Hine, town clerk. The population was 4,698 at the 2020 census.
Huntington is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,938 at the 2020 census.
Shelburne is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Located along the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne's town center lies approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of the city center of Burlington, the largest city in the state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population of Shelburne was 7,717.
South Burlington is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Along with neighboring Burlington, it is a principal city of the Burlington metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 20,292, making it the second largest city in Vermont. It is home to the headquarters of Ben & Jerry's and the state of Vermont's largest mall, the University Mall.
Underhill is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,129 at the 2020 census.
Westford is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,062 at the 2020 census.
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Originally rural and laid out with many farms, in recent decades it has developed into a thriving suburb of Burlington, the largest city in the state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population of Williston was 10,103, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2010 census. Williston is one of the fastest-growing towns in Vermont, and while becoming more populated, it has also developed as a major retail center for the Burlington area as well as much of central and northern Vermont. The town has a National Register Historic District in its unincorporated central village.
Fairfax is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,014 at the 2020 census.
Westmore is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 357 at the 2020 census, making it the least populated and least densely populated town in the county. The town contains one unincorporated village clustered around Lake Willoughby.
Jericho is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,104. The town was named after the ancient city of Jericho.
Essex High School (EHS) is a public secondary school located in Essex Junction, Vermont. The school's sports team is the Hornets, and the school's colors are blue and gold. Essex High School is the second largest high school after CVU and is the largest secondary technical school in Vermont. Enrollment in 2021 was 1,251. It is ranked #2,672 among all high schools nationwide.
The Chittenden Senate District was one of 13 Vermont Senate districts included in the redistricting and reapportionment plan developed by the Vermont General Assembly. After the 2022 Census, it was divided into three districts.
The Burlington metropolitan area is a metropolitan area consisting of the three Vermont counties of Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle. The metro area is anchored by the principal cities of Burlington, South Burlington, St. Albans, Winooski, and Essex Junction; and the towns of Colchester, Essex and Milton. According to 2020 U.S. Census, the metro area had a population of 225,562, approximately one third of Vermont's total population.
Vermont Route 128 (VT 128) is a 11.616-mile-long (18.694 km) north–south state highway in northwestern Vermont, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at VT 15 in Essex, Chittenden County. Its northern terminus is at VT 104 in Fairfax, Franklin County.
Tanya C. Vyhovsky is an American social worker and politician who has served in the Vermont Senate since January 2023. A member of the Vermont Progressive Party, she previously represented the Chittenden-8-1 district in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Westford is the primary village and a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Westford, Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census.
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