Addison County, Vermont Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Addison County
U.S. county
Addison County courthouse in Middlebury
Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Vermont
Founded	1785
Named for	Joseph Addison
Shire Town	Middlebury
Largest town	Middlebury
Area
• Total	808 sq mi (2,090 km²)
• Land	766 sq mi (1,980 km²)
• Water	41 sq mi (110 km²) 5.1%%
Population (2020)
• Total	37,363
• Density	46.241/sq mi (17.854/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	At-large

Addison County is a county located in the state of Vermont. In 2020, about 37,363 people lived there. Its main town, also called the county seat, is Middlebury. The county is named after Joseph Addison, a famous English writer.

History of Addison County

Early Settlers and French Influence

Before Europeans arrived, the Iroquois people lived in this area. In 1609, Europeans began to explore the region. French settlers from Crown Point, New York, started moving across Lake Champlain. By 1730, some families had settled at Chimney Point. A year later, in 1731, Fort Frederic was built nearby.

British Arrival and American Independence

In 1759, a British general named General Amherst took control of the area. More British settlers then moved in. A very important event for American independence was the Battle of Bennington. It happened on August 16, 1777, and helped the Americans fight against the British.

Forming the County and Early Economy

Addison County was officially created on October 18, 1785. At this time, Vermont was its own republic. In 1791, Vermont joined the United States.

At first, farmers in the county mainly grew wheat. But in the 1820s, they started raising sheep instead. The Champlain Canal opened in 1823. This canal made it easier for ships to travel from the Hudson River. By 1840, Addison County was producing more wool than any other county in the United States!

Population Growth

When Vermont became part of the U.S. in 1791, about 9,267 people lived in Addison County. By 1830, the population had grown a lot, reaching 26,503 people.

Geography of Addison County

Lake Dunmore is located in Salisbury and Leicester, entirely within Addison County.

Eastern view from Vermont Route 17 in Addison of Snake Mountain (right) and Mount Abraham (center).

Addison County covers about 808 square miles. Most of this is land (766 square miles), and 41 square miles (about 5.1%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Vermont by total area.

The county is in the western part of Vermont. It is almost in the middle of the state from north to south. The main river here is Otter Creek. It flows through the county from the south to the north.

Neighboring Counties

Addison County shares borders with these other counties:

Chittenden County - to the north
Washington County - to the northeast
Orange County - to the east
Windsor County - to the southeast
Rutland County - to the south
Washington County, New York - to the southwest
Essex County, New York - to the west

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Green Mountain National Forest is located in Addison County. This is a special area protected for nature and recreation.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	6,420	—
1800	13,417	109.0%
1810	19,998	49.0%
1820	20,469	2.4%
1830	24,940	21.8%
1840	23,583	−5.4%
1850	26,549	12.6%
1860	24,010	−9.6%
1870	23,484	−2.2%
1880	24,173	2.9%
1890	22,277	−7.8%
1900	21,912	−1.6%
1910	20,010	−8.7%
1920	18,666	−6.7%
1930	17,952	−3.8%
1940	17,944	0.0%
1950	19,442	8.3%
1960	20,076	3.3%
1970	24,266	20.9%
1980	29,406	21.2%
1990	32,953	12.1%
2000	35,974	9.2%
2010	36,821	2.4%
2020	37,363	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2018

In 2010, there were 36,821 people living in Addison County. There were about 14,084 households. The average age of people in the county was 41.3 years old.

Education in Addison County

Middlebury College is located in Addison County.

Addison County has several high schools:

Vergennes Union High School in Vergennes
Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol
Middlebury Union High School in Middlebury
Middlebury Union Middle School in Middlebury

The county is also home to two colleges: Middlebury College and the Community College of Vermont. Both are located in Middlebury.

Transportation

Air Travel

The Middlebury State Airport is used for private planes in Addison County. For bigger commercial flights, people can go to Burlington International Airport to the north or Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport to the south.

Public Transportation

Public bus service in Addison County is run by Tri-Valley Transit (formerly ACTR). There are many bus routes around Middlebury. These connect to towns like Vergennes, New Haven, and Bristol. There is also seasonal service to Middlebury Snow Bowl. Commuter buses go to Burlington and Rutland.

Tri-Valley Transit also has a Dial-A-Ride System. This system helps people who might need special transportation. Volunteer drivers help provide these rides. You can find more information at www.actr-vt.org.

Train Service

Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express train stops at two stations in Addison County: Middlebury and Ferrisburgh–Vergennes. This train travels to major cities like Burlington, Rutland, Albany, and New York City. This train service started in July 2022. It is the first regular passenger train route in the county since 1953.