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Essex County, Vermont

Coordinates: 44°44′N 71°43′W / 44.73°N 71.72°W / 44.73; -71.72
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Essex County
County
Map of Vermont highlighting Essex County
Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
Map of the United States highlighting Vermont
Vermont's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°43′15″N 71°44′42″W / 44.720894°N 71.745018°W / 44.720894; -71.745018
Country United States
State Vermont
Founded1792
Shire TownGuildhall
Largest townBrighton
Area
 • Total
674 sq mi (1,750 km2)
 • Land665 sq mi (1,720 km2)
 • Water9 sq mi (20 km2)  1.27%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
6,306
 • Density9.5/sq mi (3.66/km2)

Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England.[citation needed] Its shire town is GuildhallTemplate:GR.

Essex County is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 674 square miles (1,745.7 km2), of which 665 square miles (1,722.3 km2) is land and 9 square miles (23.3 km2) (1.27%) is water.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

History

Vermont was divided into two counties in March, 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, located about where they are now. The northern remainder was called Orange county. This latter tract nearly corresponded with the old New York county of Gloucester, organized by that province March 16, 1770, with Newbury as the shire town.[1]

On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. Vermont's border with Quebec was established at 45 degrees north latitude.[2][3]

On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans.[1] No reason is given for the county being named after the county of Essex in England.[4]

In 1999, a group of investors bought 86,212 acres (34,889 ha) from Champion International Paper for $7.5 million, covering parts of fourteen towns in the county. The state of Vermont and the Freeman Foundation purchased easements for $8.5 million to guarantee traditional uses of the land for logging and recreation. In 2008, Plum Creek Timber company announced plans to purchase this property.[5]

A murder trial was held at the county courthouse in 1923, which was the last murder trial. In 1973, a non-resident murdered another non-resident.[6] In 2008, two residents died by homicide - the first in 85 years - when police said a young woman was shot by her boyfriend and a 59-year-old man shot his mother.[7]


Government

Legislators

The Essex-Orleans Senate district includes all of Essex County, as well as parts or all of Orleans County, Franklin County and Lamoille County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Vincent Illuzzi (R) and Robert A. Starr (D).

Elections

Presidential election results[8]
Year Democrat Republican
2008 55.9% 1,733 41.4% 1,284
2004 43.5% 1,276 54.2% 1,591
2000 39.0% 1,129 54.1% 1,564

In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, Essex County was the only county in Vermont to vote for George W. Bush, by 10.7% over John Kerry, who won statewide by a 20.1% advantage.

In 2008, Essex voted for Barack Obama by a 14.5% margin over John McCain, while Obama carried the state by 37%.[9]


Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18001,479—
18103,087108.7%
18203,2846.4%
18303,98121.2%
18404,2266.2%
18504,65010.0%
18605,78624.4%
18706,81117.7%
18807,93116.4%
18909,51119.9%
19008,056−15.3%
19107,384−8.3%
19207,364−0.3%
19307,067−4.0%
19406,490−8.2%
19506,257−3.6%
19606,083−2.8%
19705,416−11.0%
19806,31316.6%
19906,4051.5%
20006,4590.8%
20106,306−2.4%
[10][11][12]

The county hit a peak of 9,511 in 1890. Except for one marked rise in the 1970s, the population has mostly fallen or held steady since.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,459 people, 2,602 households, and 1,805 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 4,762 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.56% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.1% were of French, 23.1% English, 10.5% American, 8.8% Irish and 5.7% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000. 8.87% of the population speak French at home. [2]

There were 2,602 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

An estimated 1,000 military veterans reside in the county.[13]

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $30,490, and the median income for a family was $34,984. Males had a median income of $27,929 versus $20,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,388. About 9.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

The median wage is the lowest in the state, and that status is expected to continue through 2010.[14]

Housing

In 2007, Essex was the only county in the state to have a positive Housing Affordability Index on housing; i.e., the average household can afford to buy the average house. That said, both figures are the lowest in the state.[15]

Cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated places*

There are sixteen towns, two gores and one grant in the county:

* In Vermont, gores and grants are unincorporated portions of a county which are not part on any town and have limited self-government (if any, as many are uninhabited). Villages are census divisions of towns or cities, but have no separate corporate existence from the municipality they are located in.

Media

WVTI 106.9 broadcasts from Island Pond, Vermont.[16]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Child, Hamilton. (1887). Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883-1884. Hamilton Child. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 12.
  3. ^ Parry, Clive, ed. Consolidated Treaty Series. 231 Volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York; Oceana Publications, 1969-1981. Volume 48; pp. 481; 487; 491-492.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Sutkowski, Matt (September 16, 2008). 86,212 acre land sale in works. Burlington Free Press.
  6. ^ Ring, Wilson (September 15, 2008). Slaying a novelty for county. Burlington Free Press.
  7. ^ Silverman, Adam (January 1, 2009). Vermont killings jumped. Burlington Free Press.
  8. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.
  9. ^ 2004 Presidential General Election Results - Vermont
  10. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/vt190090.txt
  11. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_QTPL&prodType=table
  12. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
  13. ^ The Chronicle, July 1, 2009, page 14, "Veterans ask for clinic closer to home," Joseph Gresser
  14. ^ "Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs" (PDF). Vermont Statewide Trends. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  15. ^ Braithwaite, Chris (December 19, 2007). Vermont law prohibits pre-payment penalties. the Chronicle.
  16. ^ VPR (October 28, 2008). VPR Classical broadcasts from I.P. the Chronicle.

44°44′N 71°43′W / 44.73°N 71.72°W / 44.73; -71.72

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