Irasburg is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. Irasburg was established in 1781 when the land was granted to Ira Allen, Roger Enos, Jerusha Enos (wife of Roger Enos), Jerusha Enos, Jr. (wife of Ira Allen), Roger Enos, Jr. and others by the Vermont General Assembly.[3] Ira Allen later obtained the rights of the other proprietors, and he deeded the town to Jerusha Enos, Jr. as a wedding gift.[4]
The 2020 United States Census reported that there were 1,233 citizens living in Irasburg.[5] Irasburg has a total land area of 40.6 square miles (105km2), 40.5 square miles (105km2) being land and .1 square miles (0.26km2) being water. The unincorporated village of Irasburg is in the center of the town.
On average, it snows 9 out of the 12 months of the year.[6]
History
The land now known as Irasburg was granted on February 23, 1781, to Ira Allen, by the General Assembly of Vermont. The lands of Vermont were then claimed by both New Hampshire and New York. The Continental Congress ordered that the land would not be distributed until the inhabitants of New York, New Hampshire, and the land known as "Vermont" had resolved the conflict of who truly owned the land. The General assembly of Vermont ignored this order, however, and Vermont was granted to 40–70 individuals. Ira Allen, the person known to have been granted the most land, was born in Colchester in 1790 and attended Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. The Allens leased the land that they had received to settlers. Although Ira Allen was the first to be granted land, Irasburg's first settler was Caleb Leach in 1798. No land was conveyed by deed, however, until Ira H. Allen, son of Ira Allen, became town resident in 1814 and served as town clerk.[3]
Captain James Richardson settled Irasburg in 1803 and is believed to have opened the first tavern in town.[3]
The production of salts and pearl-ashes was the primary industry in Irasburg for the early 19th century. Although there was an embargo, those goods were transported to Canada. There was a large amount of smuggling of the salts and pearl-ashes by the town's residents.[3]
Mills emerged in Irasburg as early as 1810. By the 1820s, the town had begun to prosper as industrial sites began to emerge, which included a woolen mill, tannery, and factory production of stoves and plows.[3]
The Old Heerman Mill was located here.
In 1812, the legislature voted to change the shire town of Orleans County to Irasburg. Supporting buildings were completed in 1816.[7]
In 1812, Irasburg became an Orleans County shire town, as it remained until 1886.[3] In 1886, the legislature moved the shire town to Newport.[8]
The first courthouse and jail were built in 1815, by Irasburg residents at their own expense. The original courthouse was moved in 1847, however, and a new one was built on the same site. The original jail was built of timber and was replaced by one that was made of stone in 1838. It was eventually made of granite in 1862.[3] In 1862, Company E of the 9th Vermont Infantry was recruited, in part, from Irasburg.
In 1877, the town was still spelled "Irasburgh."[9]
The original county courthouse burned, with all of its records, in 1910 or 1911.[10] A new Irasburg Town Hall was built in 1911 and remodeled in 1990.[11]
The town was in the national news in 2010 when it appeared that a moose was going to be destroyed for theoretically carrying disease but mostly because "tamed" wildlife is not allowed in Vermont. The Vermont Legislature crafted a law that spared the moose's life.[12][13][14]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.6square miles (105.1km2), of which 40.5square miles (105.0km2) is land and 0.1square mile (0.2km2) (0.15%) is water.
The Black River flows through the town in a northerly direction, receiving a number of small streams. It enters east of Potters Pond. It continues northeast, then east to the village of Irasburg. Just upstream of the village, Lords Creek enters. This creek is about 10 miles (16km) long and drains a watershed that is 17 square miles (44km2). Downstream of Irasburg, the Black River continues north. It then flows into the town of Coventry.[15]
The Barton River, after leaving Orleans, flows through eastern Irasburg, and enters Coventry.
Climate
Record temperatures have never exceeded 98°F (37°C). July, the hottest month, has averaged just over 80°F (27°C). The record low occurred in December where temperatures reached −40°F (−40°C). On average it snows 9 out of the 12 months of the year. The majority of the snowfall occurs between the months of November and March. Each of these months average over 10 inches (250mm). Irasburg averages about 103 inches (2,600mm) of snow annually.
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,096 people, 452 households, and 318 families residing in Irasburg. There were 545 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 96.6% White, 1059 people, .5% black, 5 people, .1% Native American, 1 person, 0.5% Asian, 5 people, 0.5% from other races, 6 people, and 1.8% from two or more races, 20 people. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.1% of the population, 12 people.
There were 452 households, out of which 27.9%, 127 households, had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 255 households, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 43 people, 4.4% were males with no family, 20 people, and 21.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 102, and 4.4%, 20 houses had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.81.
The ages of people were found as follows. 54 people, or 4.9% of the population were from 5 to 9 years old. 74, or 6.8% were from 10 to 14 years. 70, or 6.4% were from 15 to 19 years old. 76, or 6.9% were from 20 to 24 years old. 49, or 4.5% were from 25 to 29 years old. 63 or 5.7% were from 30 to 34 years old. 62, or 5.7% were from 35 to 39 years old. 59, or 5.4% were from 40 to 44 years old. 71, or 6.5% were from 45 to 49 years old. 105, or 9.6% were from 50 to 54 years. 89, or 8.1% were from 55 to 59 years old. 86, or 7.8% were from 60 to 64 years old. 63, or 5.7%, were from 65 to 69 years old. 64, or 5.8% were from 70 to 74 years old. 45, or 4.1% were from 75 to 79 years old. 27, or 2.5%, were from 80 to 84 years old. 18, or 1.6% were 85 years and over.
At the time of the 2010 census, there were 574 males and 522 females living in Irasburg. The median age for males was 42, and the median age for females was 44.4.[17]
Government
Town
Moderator – Robert Holland
Selectman – Randy Wells,[18] Roger Gagnon (2010), Brian Fecher (2014)
Budget – $1,803,259 plus assessment for Lake Region Union High School
Number of students – 130
Special Needs students – 20%
Per student – "over $16,000"
There is only one elementary school (Irasburg Village School). The school consists of students in K through 8th grade, consisting of a total of 130 students.[19]
The school provides three seasons of intramural sports. It is located Irasburg village.[20]
The Kingdom run annual foot race takes place each summer. The racecourse is a loop that starts and finishes in the Irasburg town commons. Runners may race 5 kilometres (3.1mi), 10 kilometres (6.2mi) or 20 kilometres (12mi).[22]
The annual Irasburg Church Fair started 1952. The fair includes an auction and the sale of baked goods.[23][24]
Landmarks
Lord's Creek Covered Bridge in Irasburg
There was a round barn on Vermont Route 58 about 1.5 miles (2.4km) west of the village of Irasburg. On August 23, 2016, this historic barn was destroyed by a fire.[25][26] The Lord's Creek Covered Bridge was built in 1881. It is located on Covered Bridge Road.[27]
Orleans County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,393. Its shire town is the city of Newport. The county was created in 1792 and organized in 1799. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county. The county is an expedient way of grouping and distributing state-controlled governmental services.
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.
Caledonia County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,233. Its shire town is the town of St. Johnsbury. The county was created in 1792 and organized in 1796. It was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there.
Lyndon is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,491. Lyndon is the home of Lyndon State College. The town contains five unincorporated villages, Lyndonville just east of the geographic center of town, Lyndon Corner in the south, Lyndon Center in the center of town on the west side of Lyndonville, Little Egypt in the north, and East Lyndon in the southeast.
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Enosburgh is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, in the United States. The population was 2,810 at the 2020 census. Enosburgh includes the village of Enosburg Falls and the settlements of Bordoville, East Enosburgh, North Enosburgh, Sampsonville, West Enosburgh, and Enosburgh Center. Enosburgh was named for Roger Enos, who had been a commander of all the Vermont Forces in the American Revolution. He was also the father-in-law of Ira Allen, founder of Vermont. The spelling of Enosburgh differs from the spelling of Enosburg Falls.
Eden is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,338 at the 2020 census.
Brownington is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,042 as of the 2020 census.
Charleston is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2020 census. The town contains two unincorporated villages: East Charleston and West Charleston.
Coventry is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2020 census.
Craftsbury is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,343 at the 2020 census. The town includes the unincorporated villages of Craftsbury, Craftsbury Common, Mill Village, and East Craftsbury.
Derby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,579 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous community in Orleans County. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem, and North Derby, and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line.
Glover is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 1,114. It contains two unincorporated villages, Glover and West Glover.
Morgan is the easternmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 638 at the 2020 census. The town contains two villages: Morgan and Morgan Center.
Orleans is a village in the northwestern corner of Barton, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. With a population of 788 at the 2020 census, it is the largest village in the county.
Ira is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 368 at the 2020 census. It was named for Ira Allen, brother of Ethan Allen, who fought with the Green Mountain Boys of the Revolutionary War.
Albany is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 976 at the 2020 census. Albany contains four villages: the incorporated village of Albany, and the unincorporated villages of Albany Center, East Albany and South Albany.
Barton is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,872 at the 2020 census. The town includes two incorporated villages, Barton and Orleans. Approximately a quarter of the town's population lives in each of the villages, and approximately half lives outside the villages. Only four other towns in the state contain two incorporated villages.
Ira Allen was one of the founders of the U.S. state of Vermont and a leader of the Green Mountain Boys during the American colonial period. He was the younger brother of Ethan Allen.
The Black River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over 30 miles (48 km) long, in northern Vermont in the United States. It is one of the four major rivers in Orleans County. It is the longer but least powerful of the two rivers contained solely within the county. There are no longer any damsites.
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