Middlebury, Vermont

Image:Main Street, Middlebury, VT.jpg

One of the New Hampshire Grants, Middlebury was chartered by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth on November 2, 1761. The name "Middlebury" came from its location between the towns of Salisbury and New Haven.{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=25172|title= Profile for Middlebury, Vermont, VT|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= June 24, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150224073629/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=25172|archive-date= February 24, 2015|url-status= dead}} It was awarded to John Evarts and 62 others. The French and Indian Wars ended in 1763; the first settlers arrived in 1766. John Chipman was the first to clear his land, Lot Seven.{{cite web|author=Glenn M. Andres| url=http://midddigital.middlebury.edu/walking_history/in_the_town/ | title=A Walking History of Middlebury}} During the Revolutionary War, much of the town was burned in Carleton's Raid on November 6, 1778. After the war concluded in 1783, settlers returned to rebuild homes, clear forests and establish farms. The principal crops were grains and hay.

File:Middlebury, Vt. (2675989344).jpg of Middlebury from 1886 by L.R. Burleigh with list of landmarks]]

Landowners vied for the lucrative honor of having the village center grow on their properties. A survey dispute with Salisbury led to the forfeiture of Gamaliel Painter's farm to that town, and his transition from farming to developing Middlebury Village near his and Abisha Washburn's mill, together with other mills that surrounded the Otter Creek falls. Industries would include a cotton factory, sawmill, gristmill, pail factory, paper mill, woolen factory, iron foundry, and marble quarry. The Rutland & Burlington Railroad first arrived on September 1, 1849. Around 1830, Middlebury was the second-largest town in Vermont.

Middlebury College, one of the United States' elite liberal arts colleges, was founded in 1800. It is a member of the NESCAC. In the summer, the town plays host to the annual Middlebury College Language Schools, as well as the college's Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the oldest surviving conference of its kind in the nation.

On January 2, 1838, a group of Patriote refugees from the Lower Canada Rebellion met in Middlebury to plan their future course of action. It was attended by two major Patriote leaders, Louis-Joseph Papineau and Robert Nelson, but they were not able to agree on a unified plan.Fernand Ouellet, [http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/papineau_louis_joseph_10E.html "Papineau, Louis-Joseph"], Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. X (1871–1880), University of Toronto / Université Laval.

On October 22, 2007, central Middlebury was evacuated for a short time because of a train derailment; the Middlebury Union Middle School served as the evacuation headquarters.

Today, as the largest town by population in Addison County, Middlebury serves as the commercial and business center for the region. Downtown hosts a three-screen movie theater, the post office, and two historic inns, as well as many shops and restaurants. There is considerable development along U.S. Route 7 heading south of town, including two supermarkets, two drugstores, most of the town's gas stations, and several fast-food spots. Of note is Middlebury's A&W, Vermont's only remaining car-hop restaurant and a popular spot with both locals and Middlebury College students.

Middlebury is located near the center of Addison County in western Vermont. The town is drained by Otter Creek, which flows from south to north along the western edge of the town, with the falls at the center of the village. The Middlebury River flows west to Otter Creek out of the mountains. Chipman Hill, a hill of glacial till, rises {{convert|450|ft}} above the village just to the northeast. Foothills of the Green Mountains border the town to the east, with the Champlain Valley to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|101.6|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|100.6|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.0|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 1.00%, is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US5000144350| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212162044/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US5000144350| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Middlebury town, Addison County, Vermont| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 29, 2013}}

Middlebury is crossed by U.S. Route 7, Vermont Route 23, Vermont Route 30, Vermont Route 116, and Vermont Route 125. It is bordered by the towns of New Haven and Bristol to the north, Ripton to the east, Cornwall and Weybridge to the west, and Salisbury to the south. A new bridge over Otter Creek connecting Cross Street to Bakery Lane opened in November 2010 to serve as a shortcut and alleviate traffic through downtown.{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39929135/|title=Middlebury Celebrates New Bridge}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The village of East Middlebury is located in the southern part of the town, east of U.S. Route 7.

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Middlebury has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=85134&cityname=Middlebury,+Vermont,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Middlebury, Vermont Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}

{{US Census population

|1790= 395

|1800= 1263

|1810= 2138

|1820= 2535

|1830= 3468

|1840= 3162

|1850= 3517

|1860= 2879

|1870= 3086

|1880= 2993

|1890= 2793

|1900= 3045

|1910= 2848

|1920= 2914

|1930= 2968

|1940= 3175

|1950= 4778

|1960= 5305

|1970= 6532

|1980= 7574

|1990= 8034

|2000= 8183

|2010= 8496

|2020= 9152

|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=May 16, 2015}}

}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,494 people, 2,860 households, and 1,642 families residing in the town. The population density was 209.7 people per square mile (80.9/km²). There were 2,805 housing units at an average density of 71.9 per square mile (27.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.3% White, 4.3% Asian, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 3.0% from two or more races, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.66% from other races, 0.2% Native American and 0.02% Pacific Islander.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/5000144350|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2016|title=Middlebury town, Addison County, Vermont}}

There were 2,657 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,723, and the median income for a family was $46,691. Males had a median income of $32,645 versus $25,994 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,926. About 5.3% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those aged 65 or over.

Image:Otter creek falls.jpg]]

• Emma Willard Memorial
• Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History
• Ilsley Public Library{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.ilsleypubliclibrary.org/|access-date=July 24, 2021|website=Ilsley Public Library|language=en-US}}
• Middlebury to Her Soldiers (sculpture)
• TAM – Trail Around Middlebury{{cite web|title=The Trail Around Middlebury & North Country National Scenic Trail|url=http://www.maltvt.org/tam.html|website=Middlebury Area Land Trust|access-date=March 25, 2015}}

File:Midd wiki 2.JPG

• Mary Hogan Elementary, grades Pre-K–5
• Middlebury Union Middle School, grades 6–8
• Middlebury Union High School, grades 9–12
• P.A. Hannaford Career Center{{Cite web|title=Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center {{!}} Middlebury, VT|url=https://www.hannafordcareercenter.org/|access-date=July 24, 2021|website=Newsite|language=en}} regional technical center serving grades 9–12 and adults

• The Aurora School (Pre-K only)
• Bridge School (elementary){{Cite web|title=Bridge School {{!}} Middlebury, Vermont|url=https://bridgeschoolvermont.org/|access-date=July 24, 2021|website=Bridge School|language=en-US}}
• St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School[http://www.saintmarysvt.org/ St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School] – closed 2016
• The Gailer School – closed 2012

• Community College of Vermont – Middlebury campus
• Middlebury College

Image:PorterHospital.jpg]]

Middlebury and the surrounding area are served by Porter Medical Center.[http://www.portermedical.org/ Porter Medical Center, Middlebury, VT]. Portermedical.org. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.

Middlebury State Airport, located east of the town, is for private aviation.

Bus service is provided by Tri-Valley Transit. Premier Coach provides an intercity bus line in a joint venture effort with Greyhound via Vermont Translines.[http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/d/story/new-vermont-bus-service-coming-soon/25356/WV93OVRBoUK9ju_ZcYIpEg New Vermont Bus Service Coming Soon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115006/http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/d/story/new-vermont-bus-service-coming-soon/25356/WV93OVRBoUK9ju_ZcYIpEg |date=October 6, 2014 }}, My Champlain Valley. Retrieved July 23, 2014.[https://www.vttranslines.com/content/schedules/schedules.asp Bus Service VT NH NY], Vermont Translines. Retrieved July 25, 2014.

• U.S. Route 7 is the primary north/south highway through the town. It is known as Court Street south of the village, and North Pleasant Street north of the village.
• Vermont Route 23 is a north/south highway known as Weybridge Street and is located on the west side of town, crossing the college campus.
• Vermont Route 30 is a north/south highway entering the town on the south town line with Cornwall and ends at Route 7. It is known as Main Street within the town.
• Vermont Route 116 is a north/south highway located on the east side of town, ending near the East Middlebury village at Route 7. It is known as Case Street in Middlebury except for a short portion known as Ossie Road within the East Middlebury village.
• Vermont Route 125 is an east/west highway entering the town on the west side through Middlebury College where it is known as College Street. East of Route 7, Route 125 is known as East Main Street up until it exits the town at the Ripton town line.

Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express serves the town's station, connecting it to Burlington to the north and New York City to the south. Service began in the town in July 2022.{{cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/07/29/back-on-track-vermonters-celebrate-the-return-of-passenger-rail-service-to-burlington/amp/|title=Back on track: Vermonters celebrate the return of passenger rail service to Burlington|website=VTDIGGER|author=Shaun Robinson|date=July 29, 2022|accessdate=July 31, 2022}}

Until 1953, the Rutland Railroad ran passenger service on the Green Mountain Flyer (New York City - Montreal) and the overnight Mount Royal, making stops in the city.American Rails, "Mount Royal," https://www.american-rails.com/mt-ryl.html

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• Julia Alvarez, author
• Robert B. Bates, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives{{cite book|last1=Educational aid society|title=American College and Private School Directory, Volume 8|date=1915|publisher=Educational aid society|page=64|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DYA-AQAAMAAJ&q=robert+b+bates+Salisbury%2C+Connecticut&pg=PA64|access-date=June 25, 2014}}
• Joseph Battell, publisher and philanthropist
• Ricardo Chávez Castañeda, author
• François Clemmons, actor and teacher
• Thomas Treadwell Davis, U.S. congressman{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Middlebury-Vermont.html|title= Middlebury, Vermont

|publisher=City-Data.com |access-date= June 25, 2014}}

• Lea Davison, professional mountain biker and two-time olympian“Lea Davison.” Team USA, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150103042604/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-cycling/athletes/Lea-Davison]. Accessed April 24, 2018.
• John Deere, inventor and manufacturer
• James Rood Doolittle, U.S. senator from Wisconsin
• Joel Doolittle, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, born in Russell{{cite book |last=Swift |first=Samuel |date=1859 |title=History of the Town of Middlebury |url=https://archive.org/details/historytownmidd00goog |location=Middlebury, VT |publisher=A. H. Copeland |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historytownmidd00goog/page/n310 278]–279 |ref={{sfnRef|History of the Town of Middlebury}}}}
• Jim Douglas, 80th governor of Vermont
• Ray Fisher, professional baseball pitcher and college coach
• Robert Frost (1874–1963), poet
• Ruth Hardy, member of the Vermont Senate{{cite news |last=Norton |first=Kit |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Democrat Ruth Hardy claims open Addison Senate seat |url=https://vtdigger.org/2018/11/06/democrat-ruth-hardy-claims-open-addison-senate-seat/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Democrat Ruth Hardy claims open Addison Senate seat"}}}}
• Peter J. Hincks, Vermont State Treasurer{{cite news |agency=United Press International |date=July 8, 1968 |title=Peter Hincks, State Treasurer, Dies at 85 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/63016916/ |newspaper=Bennington Banner |location=Bennington, VT |page=14 |url-access=subscription }}
• Ronald D. Liebowitz, former president of Middlebury College
• Charles Linsley, Vermont attorney and politician{{cite web |url=https://vermonthistory.org/documents/findaid/linsley.pdf |title=Biographical Sketch, Charles Linsley |last=Ellingson |first=Barbara |date=1997|website=Charles and Emmeline Linsley Papers, 1827-1892 |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=July 3, 2018 |page=1 |ref={{sfnRef|"Biographical Sketch, Charles Linsley"}}}}
• Gabriel Mann, actor and former model
• Samuel Mattocks, Vermont State Treasurer and father of Governor John Mattocks
• John M. McCardell, Jr., president emeritus and professor at Middlebury College
• Bill McKibben, author and environmentalist
• James Meacham, U.S. congressman
• Gamaliel Painter, local politician and town leader
• Edward John Phelps, lawyer and diplomat
• Samuel S. Phelps, U.S. senator
• William H. Porter, banker
• Steven C. Rockefeller, religion professor and son of Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
• Patricia Ross, cross country skier
• Jarrod Sammis, Vermont state representative{{Cite web |title=Representative Jarrod Sammis |url=https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2024/37402 |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Vermont General Assembly}}
• Horatio Seymour, U.S. senator
• Patty Sheehan, golfer
• William Slade, U.S. congressman and 17th governor of Vermont
• David Allen Smalley, judge
• John Wolcott Stewart, U.S. senator and congressman
• Allen R. Sturtevant, Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court{{cite book |last=Marquis |first=Albert N. |date=1938 |title=Who's Who in New England |volume=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDCfwb9RegEC&q=%22sturtevant,+allen+r%22 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=A. N. Marquis Company |page=1222 |ref={{sfnRef|Who's Who in New England}}}}
• Charles M. Swift, lawyer, businessman, founder of Meralco and several railroads{{cite web|last1=Albers|first1=Jan|title=Museum Offers a Look into the Life of local Jewel, Jessica Swift|url=http://henrysheldonmuseum.org/museum-offers-a-look-into-the-life-of-local-jewel-jessica-swift/|website=Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History|access-date=November 18, 2015}}
• John P. Townsend, financier of the Gilded Age
• Arthur Trudeau, Army general and Ufologist{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Middlebury-Vermont.html|title= Middlebury, Vermont|publisher=City-Data.com |access-date= June 25, 2014}}
• Steve Vaillancourt, New Hampshire state legislator{{cite web|url=http://www.pollvault.com/polls/candidate/82357|title=Steve Vaillancourt for State House District 60|website=www.pollvault.com}}
• James M. Warner, manufacturer and general
• Emma Willard, women's rights advocate and school founder{{cite book |last=Jefferson |first=Thomas |editor-last=Oberg |editor-first=Barbara B. |date=2013 |title=The Papers of Thomas Jefferson |volume=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yuo9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA32 |location=Princeton, NJ |publisher=Princeton University Press |pages=31–32 |isbn=978-0-691-16037-5 |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|The Papers of Thomas Jefferson}}}}
• John Willard, U.S. Marshal for Vermont, husband of Emma Willard
• Isaac Wilson, U.S. congressman

{{div col end}}

• A shot of Middlebury appears as stock footage, standing in for a fictional Pennsylvania town, in the 30 Rock episode "Episode 210".
• The bridge over the waterfall appears in the film Me, Myself & Irene.
• A shot of the Waybury Inn in East Middlebury was used in the opening of the TV series Newhart. Scenes of the town are also occasionally shown in the series.
• G. Stone Motors, a new and used car dealership in Middlebury, was the subject of Game Show Network's television series Family Trade in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.addisonindependent.com/201208penchant-bartering-lands-car-dealership-tv|title=A Penchant for Bartering Lands Car Dealership on TV|last=Flowers|first=John|work=Addison County Independent|date=August 30, 2012|access-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150300/http://www.addisonindependent.com/201208penchant-bartering-lands-car-dealership-tv|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&dq=coolidge+mansfield+history+description+new+england+1859&pg=PA843 A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England; Boston, Massachusetts 1859]
• [https://archive.org/details/historytownmidd00goog Samuel Swift, History of the Town of Middlebury, Vermont; A. H. Copeland, Middlebury, Vermont 1859]

• {{Official website|http://www.townofmiddlebury.org/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070627142042/http://maozi.middlebury.edu/SharingVTHistory/MapsAtlases/index.htm Early Vermont Maps and Atlases] – Maps of Middlebury and the region from the 18th and 19th centuries (hosted by Middlebury College)

{{Addison County, Vermont}}

{{Vermont}}

{{Vermont county seats}}

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Category:County seats in Vermont

Category:Populated places established in 1761

Category:Towns in Addison County, Vermont

Category:Towns in Vermont