Essex County, Vermont

Prior to the arrival of colonists of European descent, the area was populated by the Abenakis. They used the Connecticut and Nulhegan rivers as primary means of travel through the area along with many subsidiary rivers and streams. The culture was mostly hunter-gatherer with a combination of agriculture, hunting and fishing. While the rivers provided good fishing the primary food animal was moose.

Vermont was divided into two counties in March 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, in approximately the modern location for those counties. 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.{{cite book |title=Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883–1884 |publisher=Hamilton Child |date=May 1887}}

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.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.Parry, Clive, ed. Consolidated Treaty Series. 231 Volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York; Oceana Publications, 1969–1981. Volume 48; pp. 481; 487; 491–492.

On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans. No reason is given for the county being named after the county of Essex in England.[http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/vermont/orleans.html Orleans County, Vermont: History and Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928212917/http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/vermont/orleans.html |date=September 28, 2011 }}. E-referencedesk.com. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.

In 1999, a group of investors bought {{convert|86212|acre}} 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.{{cite book | author=Sutkowski, Matt |title = 86,212 acre land sale in works | publisher=Burlington Free Press | date = September 16, 2008}}

The last murder trial held at the county courthouse took place in 1923. In 1973, a non-resident murdered another non-resident.{{cite book | author=Ring, Wilson |title = Slaying a novelty for county | publisher=Burlington Free Press | date = September 15, 2008}} 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.{{cite book | author=Silverman, Adam |title = Vermont killings jumped | publisher=Burlington Free Press | date = January 1, 2009}}

In 2012, a study indicated that county residents, overall, were the least healthy in the state. The rating was based on premature death, low birth weight, smoking, obesity, inactivity, excessive drinking, car crashes, sexually transmitted diseases, graduation rates, poverty, violent crime rates, air pollution, limited access to healthy food, unemployment, and the number of single parent households.{{Cite news | first=Tena | last=Starr | title=Essex is least healthy county in Vermont | newspaper=the Chronicle | location=Barton, Vermont | page= 1 | date=April 11, 2012 }}

{{US Census population

|1800= 1479

|1810= 3087

|1820= 3284

|1830= 3981

|1840= 4226

|1850= 4650

|1860= 5786

|1870= 6811

|1880= 7931

|1890= 9511

|1900= 8056

|1910= 7384

|1920= 7364

|1930= 7067

|1940= 6490

|1950= 6257

|1960= 6083

|1970= 5416

|1980= 6313

|1990= 6405

|2000= 6459

|2010= 6306

|2020= 5920

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 28, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 28, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/vt190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=June 28, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=June 28, 2015}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,306 people, 2,818 households, and 1,814 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US50009

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024009/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US50009

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|9.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 5,019 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7.6|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US50009

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162313/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US50009

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 2,818 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 47.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,734 and the median income for a family was $46,263. Males had a median income of $37,021 versus $28,710 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,040. About 13.0% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US50009

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 20, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034505/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US50009

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|675|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|664|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_50.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

In the north central portion of the county the Nulhegan Basin is a circular area roughly {{convert|10|mi|km}} in diameter. While the origin of this basin may be either an asteroid hit or ancient volcano it has not been proven as either one so far. Within the basin is a bog and the Silvio O. Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge {{Webarchive|url= |date=August 5, 2020 }} with a visitor center, hiking trails, and viewing platforms where one can wait under shelter.

The county has many mountains and waterways. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail passes through this area along the Clyde, Nulhegan, and Connecticut rivers.

• Coös County, New Hampshire – east
• Grafton County, New Hampshire – south
• Caledonia County – southwest
• Orleans County – west
• Coaticook Regional County Municipality, Quebec – north

• {{jct|state=VT|US|2}}
• {{jct|state=VT|VT|102}}
• {{jct|state=VT|VT|105}}
• {{jct|state=VT|VT|114}}

In 2011, there were about 1,000 moose in the county. State officials estimated that this was about the "correct number" for a sustainable herd, with the moose not showing signs of starvation, nor the feeding grounds showing signs of overgrazing.{{Cite news | first=Tina | last=Starr | title=Biologists keep close watch on moose herd | newspaper=the Chronicle | location=Barton, Vermont | page= 20 | date=October 19, 2011 }} In recent years the moose population has been suffering from infestations by ticks. Some moose have been found having as many as 10,000 ticks on one moose, thus causing death from anemia. Warmer winter weather in recent years has prevented the normal die-off of ticks from freezing.

• Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)

The Essex Senate district includes all of Essex County, as well as parts of Orleans County and Caledonia County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Russ Ingalls, a Republican.

The elected officials of the county as of the 2018 elections are as follows:

{{Hidden begin

|titlestyle = background:#aaaaaa

|width = 400px

|title = Justices of the Peace{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/town-meeting-local-elections.aspx |title=Town Meeting & Local Elections | Elections | Vermont Secretary of State |access-date=October 18, 2019 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707010641/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/town-meeting-local-elections.aspx |url-status=dead }}

}}

File:Essex County, VT Justices of the Peace 2018.svg

{{Hidden end}}

Essex County is a historically Republican county in presidential elections, supporting the party in all but seven elections since its founding.

In 1828, Essex County voted for National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams. Democrats would win the county in 1832 and 1836, then Whigs from 1840 to 1852, and Republicans from John C. Frémont in 1856 to Alf Landon in 1936. Since the latter election, the Democrats carried the county in 1940, 1944, 1964, 1992, 1996, 2008, and 2012. Since 1980, Essex County is a bellwether county, consistently backing the national winner except in 2020.

{{PresHead|place=Essex County|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 26, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,890|1,344|191|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,773|1,405|110|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,506|1,019|400|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,164|1,539|95|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,284|1,733|84|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,591|1,276|70|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,564|1,129|199|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|819|1,120|510|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,038|1,092|866|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,535|837|19|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,632|693|24|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,305|799|236|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,161|1,002|26|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,441|655|14|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,009|952|64|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|750|1,673|0|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,439|1,063|0|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,714|719|1|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,592|705|9|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,055|881|10|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,064|1,126|0|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,365|1,531|11|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,474|1,203|3|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1932|Republican|1,567|1,397|16|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,703|805|6|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,391|576|220|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,243|552|9|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|734|544|15|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1912|Republican|463|348|376|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|744|327|22|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|750|233|10|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|758|358|7|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|873|277|46|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|721|418|36|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|907|502|63|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|898|500|63|Vermont}}

{{PresRow|1880|Republican|853|472|5|Vermont}}

|}

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.{{cite web | title=Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs | work=Vermont Statewide Trends | url=http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Housing/ConPlan/Volume%20I/Statewide%20Trends.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Housing/ConPlan/Volume%20I/Statewide%20Trends.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live | access-date=January 5, 2007}}

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. Both figures are the lowest in the state.{{cite book | author=Braithwaite, Chris |title = Vermont law prohibits pre-payment penalties | publisher=the Chronicle | date = December 19, 2007}}

WVTI 106.9 broadcasts from Island Pond, Vermont.{{cite book | author=VPR |title = VPR Classical broadcasts from I.P. | publisher=the Chronicle | date = October 28, 2008}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Bloomfield
• Brighton
• Brunswick
• Canaan
• Concord
• East Haven
• Granby
• Guildhall (shire town)
• Lemington
• Lunenburg
• Maidstone
• Norton
• Victory

{{div col end}}

• Beecher Falls
• Canaan
• Concord
• Gilman
• Island Pond
• Lunenburg

• North Concord

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).

• Avery's Gore
• Warner's Grant
• Warren Gore

In addition, three formally chartered towns have never had sufficient population to organize. Those which are inhabited also have limited self-government.

• Averill
• Ferdinand
• Lewis

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Vermont

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/VT/Essex/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Essex Co., Vermont]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150807080356/http://www.northlandjournal.com/stories/stories2.html Philip, Abenaki Indian Chief, and Philip’s Grant (Orleans and Essex Counties)]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Essex County, Vermont

|North = Coaticook Regional County Municipality, Quebec {{flagicon|Canada}}

|Northeast =

|East = Coös County, New Hampshire

|Southeast =

|South = Grafton County, New Hampshire

|Southwest = Caledonia County

|West = Orleans County

|Northwest =

}}

{{Essex County, Vermont}}

{{Vermont}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|44.73|-71.72|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VT_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Northeast Kingdom, Vermont

Category:Berlin, New Hampshire micropolitan area

Category:1800 establishments in Vermont

Category:Populated places established in 1800