Canaan, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canaan, Vermont
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Town
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Town center looking west along Gale St. (VT 114)
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Location in Essex County and the state of Vermont.
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Location of Vermont in the United States
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| 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)
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| • 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.
Contents
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.
- The first is the Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing. You can reach it using Vermont Route 141 and Quebec Route 141.
- The second is the Beecher Falls–East Hereford Border Crossing. You can get there using Vermont Route 253 and Quebec Route 253.
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 | |||
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| 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
In Spanish: Canaan (Vermont) para niños
