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Canaan, Vermont facts for kids

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Canaan, Vermont
Town
Town center looking west along Gale St. (VT 114)
Town center looking west along Gale St. (VT 114)
Location in Essex County and the state of Vermont.
Location in Essex County and the state of Vermont.
Location of Vermont in the United States
Location of Vermont in the United States
Country United States
State Vermont
County Essex
Communities Canaan
Beecher Falls
Wallace Pond
Area
 • Total 33.4 sq mi (86.6 km2)
 • Land 33.0 sq mi (85.5 km2)
 • Water 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation
1,355 ft (413 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 896
 • Density 27/sq mi (10.5/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
05903 (Canaan)
05902 (Beecher Falls)
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-11800
GNIS feature ID 1462064

Canaan is a town in Essex County, Vermont, in the United States. In 2020, about 896 people lived there. Canaan is home to the small village of Beecher Falls. This village is where the Connecticut River and Halls Stream meet.

Many people in Canaan have family roots in Quebec, Canada. Because of this, about 26% of the people in Canaan speak French as their main language. This makes Canaan one of the "Little Canadas" in New England.

Where is Canaan Located?

Canaan is the town furthest to the northeast in Vermont. It shares a border with the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. To the east, it borders the state of New Hampshire.

Canaan is special because it's one of only two towns in Vermont that borders both another U.S. state and Canada. The other town is Alburgh.

Border Crossings

Canaan has two places where you can cross the border into Quebec. These crossings are about 3 miles (4.8 km) apart.

Canaan is also the only town in Vermont that shares a land border with New Hampshire. The Connecticut River usually forms the border between Vermont and New Hampshire. However, in Canaan's far northeastern corner, it touches the town of Pittsburg.

Land and Water

The town of Canaan covers a total area of about 86.6 square kilometers (33.4 square miles). Most of this area, about 85.5 square kilometers (33.0 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.1 square kilometers (0.4 square miles), is water.

How Many People Live in Canaan?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 19
1800 45 136.8%
1810 332 637.8%
1820 227 −31.6%
1830 373 64.3%
1840 378 1.3%
1850 471 24.6%
1860 408 −13.4%
1870 419 2.7%
1880 637 52.0%
1890 829 30.1%
1900 934 12.7%
1910 869 −7.0%
1920 982 13.0%
1930 906 −7.7%
1940 872 −3.8%
1950 969 11.1%
1960 1,094 12.9%
1970 949 −13.3%
1980 1,196 26.0%
1990 1,121 −6.3%
2000 1,078 −3.8%
2010 972 −9.8%
2020 896 −7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

Over the years, the number of people living in Canaan has changed. In 1790, only 19 people lived there. The population grew over time, reaching its highest point in 1980 with 1,196 residents. By 2020, the population was 896.

What is the Economy Like?

For a long time, logging and farming were very important jobs in Canaan. However, since the early 1900s, many of these jobs have gone away.

Today, Tourism is a big part of Canaan's economy. People visit to enjoy the natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Beecher Falls Factory

The Beecher Falls furniture factory was once a very large factory. It opened in 1895 and made furniture for Ethan Allen. It used to be one of the biggest furniture factories east of Michigan. In 2009, the main part of the factory closed.

Who are Some Famous People from Canaan?

  • Samuel Ingham was a lawyer and politician who worked in Canaan.
  • Norris Garshom Starkweather was an architect who lived in Canaan.
  • Neil Tillotson was an inventor born in Canaan.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Canaan (Vermont) para niños

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