Washington County, Vermont

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Washington County

| state = Vermont

| type = County

| seal =

| founded = 1811

| seat = Montpelier

| largest city = Barre

| area_total_sq_mi = 695

| area_land_sq_mi = 687

| area_water_sq_mi = 8.2

| area percentage = 1.2%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 59807 {{increase}}

| pop_est_as_of = 2021

| population_est =

| density_sq_mi = 86

| web =

| time zone = Eastern

| ex image = Montpelier courthouse 6.JPG

| ex image cap = Washington County Courthouse

| district = At-large

| named for = George Washington

}}

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. Named after George Washington, its shire town (county seat) is the city of Montpelier (the least populous state capital in the United States) and the most populous municipality is the city of Barre.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,807,{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rutlandcountyvermont/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 28, 2021}} making it the third-most populous county in Vermont, but the third-least populous capital county in the United States after Hughes County, South Dakota and Franklin County, Kentucky; in 2023, the estimated population was 60,142. Washington County comprises the Barre, Vermont micropolitan statistical area. In 2010, the center of population of Vermont was located in Washington County, in the town of Warren.{{cite web|title=Centers of Population by State: 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 6, 2014}}

History

Washington County is one of several Vermont counties created from land ceded by the state of New York on January 15, 1777, when Vermont declared itself to be a distinct state from New York.Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. P. 70-73.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. 64.Williamson, Chilton. Vermont in Quandary: 1763-1825. Growth of Vermont series, Number 4. Montpelier: Vermont Historical Series, 1949. PP. 82-84; map facing 95, 100-102, 112-113. The land originally was contested by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Netherland, but it remained undelineated until July 20, 1764, when King George III established the boundary between New Hampshire and New York along the west bank of the Connecticut River, north of Massachusetts and south of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude. New York assigned the land gained to Albany County.Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. pp.13-19.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. 63. On March 12, 1772, Albany County was partitioned to create Charlotte County,New York Colonial Laws, Chapter 1534; Section 5; Paragraph 321) and this situation remained until Vermont's independence from New York and Britain.

Washington County was originally established as Jefferson County in 1810 from parts of Caledonia County, Chittenden County, and Orange County and organized the following year.{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/VT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Vermont: Individual County Chronologies|website=Vermont Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2008|access-date=June 30, 2015}}

In 1814 it was renamed to Washington County. The name change occurred after the Federalists took control of the Vermont Legislature from the Jeffersonians. Vermont which conducted significant trade with British Canada had suffered particularly by passage of the Embargo Act of 1807 during the Jefferson administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.centralvt.com/towns/history/HstACV.htm|website=Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce|publisher=Central Vermont Magazine|title=And They Called The County Washington|date=Summer 1988|access-date=October 10, 2016}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|695|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|687|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.2|sqmi}} (1.2%) 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 29, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

20px Interstate 89

=Adjacent counties=

Lamoille County – north
Caledonia County – northeast
Orange County – southeast
Addison County – southwest
Chittenden County – northwest

=National protected area=

Green Mountain National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1820= 14113

|1830= 21378

|1840= 23506

|1850= 24654

|1860= 27612

|1870= 26520

|1880= 25404

|1890= 29606

|1900= 36607

|1910= 41702

|1920= 38921

|1930= 41733

|1940= 41546

|1950= 42870

|1960= 42860

|1970= 47659

|1980= 52393

|1990= 54928

|2000= 58039

|2010= 59534

|2020= 59807

|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 29, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 29, 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 29, 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 29, 2015}} 2010–2018

}}

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,534 people, 25,027 households, and 15,410 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US50023

|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/20200213031846/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US50023

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|86.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 29,941 housing units at an average density of {{convert|43.6|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US50023

|access-date=January 20, 2016

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

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161749/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US50023

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 25,027 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 42.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,313 and the median income for a family was $66,968. Males had a median income of $45,579 versus $38,052 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,337. About 5.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US50023

|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/20200213014244/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US50023

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Elections

In 1828, Washington County was won by National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams.

In 1832, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent president Andrew Jackson. Democratic Martin Van Buren was also able to win the county in 1836.

In 1840, the county was won by Whig Party candidate William Henry Harrison.

In 1844, the county was won by Democratic candidate James K. Polk. Democratic candidate Lewis Cass was also able to win the county in 1848.

In 1852, Whig Party candidate Winfield Scott won the county.

From John C. Frémont in 1856 to Richard Nixon in 1960, the Republican Party would have a 104-year winning streak within Washington County.

In 1964, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Following the Democrats' victory in 1964, the county went back to voting for Republican candidates for another 20 year winning streak starting with Richard Nixon in 1968 and ending with George H. W. Bush in 1988, who became the last Republican presidential candidate to win the county.

In 1992, the county was won by Bill Clinton and has been won by Democratic candidates ever since.

{{PresHead|place=Washington County, Vermont|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}}}}

Communities

=Cities=

Barre
Montpelier (shire town)

=Towns=

=Village=

Marshfield

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated communities=

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st50_vt/schooldistrict_maps/c50023_washington/DC20SD_C50023.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st50_vt/schooldistrict_maps/c50023_washington/DC20SD_C50023.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washington County, VT|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st50_vt/schooldistrict_maps/c50023_washington/DC20SD_C50023_SD2MS.txt Text list]

References

External links

[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/VT/Washington/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Washington Co., Vermont]
[http://video.vpt.org/video/1432824970/ Life in Washington County] Documentary produced by Vermont Public Television

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Washington County, Vermont

|North = Lamoille County

|Northeast = Caledonia County

|East =

|Southeast = Orange County

|South =

|Southwest = Addison County

|West =

|Northwest = Chittenden County

}}

{{coord|44.27|-72.62|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VT_source:UScensus1990}}