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Chelsea, Vermont
Town
Orange County Court House in Chelsea, Vermont
Orange County Court House in Chelsea, Vermont
Official logo of Chelsea, Vermont
Logo
Located in Orange County, Vermont
Located in Orange County, Vermont
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Country  United States
State  Vermont
County Orange
Chartered 1781 (Vermont)
Communities Chelsea
Chelsea West Hill
Area
 • Total 39.9 sq mi (103.4 km2)
 • Land 39.9 sq mi (103.4 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
840 ft (256 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,233
 • Density 31/sq mi (11.9/km2)
 • Households
495
 • Families
324
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
05038
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-13525
GNIS feature ID 1462069

Chelsea is a small and friendly town in Vermont, United States. It's special because it's the shire town of Orange County. A "shire town" is like the main town or county seat, where important government offices are located.

In 2020, about 1,233 people lived in Chelsea. It's a quiet place with a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings.

Exploring Chelsea's Geography

Chelsea is nestled in a river valley in the middle of Vermont. The First Branch of the White River flows right through the town. This river adds to the natural beauty of the area.

Right in the center of Chelsea village, you'll find two "commons." These are open, grassy areas that are shared by everyone in the community. They are great places for people to gather.

Land and Water Area

Chelsea covers about 40.1 square miles (103.4 square kilometers) in total. Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny bit, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.

Chelsea's Climate and Weather

Chelsea experiences all four seasons, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Here's a look at the average temperatures and precipitation in Chelsea:

Climate data for Chelsea 2 NW, Vermont, 1991–2020 normals: 1440ft (439m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 24.8
(−4.0)
28.0
(−2.2)
36.3
(2.4)
49.8
(9.9)
63.3
(17.4)
71.8
(22.1)
76.2
(24.6)
75.3
(24.1)
67.8
(19.9)
54.5
(12.5)
41.8
(5.4)
30.8
(−0.7)
51.7
(11.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 16.0
(−8.9)
18.3
(−7.6)
26.8
(−2.9)
39.8
(4.3)
52.4
(11.3)
61.3
(16.3)
65.7
(18.7)
64.3
(17.9)
56.9
(13.8)
44.9
(7.2)
33.8
(1.0)
22.7
(−5.2)
41.9
(5.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 7.2
(−13.8)
8.6
(−13.0)
17.2
(−8.2)
29.8
(−1.2)
41.5
(5.3)
50.7
(10.4)
55.2
(12.9)
53.3
(11.8)
46.0
(7.8)
35.3
(1.8)
25.7
(−3.5)
14.7
(−9.6)
32.1
(0.1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.55
(65)
2.21
(56)
2.78
(71)
3.24
(82)
3.65
(93)
4.68
(119)
4.59
(117)
4.25
(108)
3.66
(93)
4.42
(112)
3.10
(79)
3.31
(84)
42.44
(1,079)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 17.10
(43.4)
21.50
(54.6)
17.10
(43.4)
5.10
(13.0)
0.30
(0.76)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
1.10
(2.8)
4.00
(10.2)
22.60
(57.4)
88.8
(225.56)
Source: NOAA

Chelsea's Population Over Time

The number of people living in Chelsea has changed over many years. Here's how the population has grown and shifted since 1790:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 239
1800 897 275.3%
1810 1,327 47.9%
1820 1,462 10.2%
1830 1,958 33.9%
1840 1,959 0.1%
1850 1,958 −0.1%
1860 1,757 −10.3%
1870 1,526 −13.1%
1880 1,462 −4.2%
1890 1,230 −15.9%
1900 1,070 −13.0%
1910 1,074 0.4%
1920 1,087 1.2%
1930 1,004 −7.6%
1940 1,013 0.9%
1950 1,025 1.2%
1960 957 −6.6%
1970 983 2.7%
1980 1,091 11.0%
1990 1,166 6.9%
2000 1,250 7.2%
2010 1,238 −1.0%
2020 1,233 −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
Chelsea VT - school
Chelsea Public School
Chelsea VT - library
Chelsea Public Library

In 2010, there were 1,238 people living in Chelsea. These people lived in 541 different homes. About 117 of these homes had children under 18 living there.

Most people in Chelsea are White (96.1%). A small number of residents are African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Chelsea is about 48.3 years old. The average income for a household is $49,500 per year. Most adults (89.2%) have finished high school or have a higher level of education.

Chelsea's Interesting History

Chelsea was officially started on August 4, 1781. It was first named Turnersburgh, after an early settler named Bela Turner. But in 1788, the people of the town decided to change its name to Chelsea.

Education Through the Years

The first small schoolhouses in Chelsea were built in the early 1800s. By 1845, there were as many as 18 schools operating around the town!

In 1852, a larger school called the Chelsea Academy was built in the village. Sadly, this academy burned down in 1870. A "new" Chelsea High School building was constructed in 1913. This building is still used today as the Chelsea Public School.

Important Historic Places

In 1983, the old village center of Chelsea was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place with important historical buildings. It's known as the Chelsea Village Historic District.

Chelsea also has two other important structures listed on the National Register. These are the Congregational Church of Chelsea and the Moxley Covered Bridge.

Did you know that Figure, the very first Morgan horse, is buried in Chelsea? Morgan horses are a famous American horse breed.

Barn Quilt Trail: Art in the Countryside

In 2018, a group called The Chelsea Arts Collective started a fun project. They created a barn quilt trail in Chelsea. Barn quilts are large, colorful designs painted on pieces of wood.

These designs often look like the patchwork patterns you might see on a fabric quilt. You can find them displayed on barns and other buildings around the town. It's like an outdoor art gallery!

Famous People from Chelsea

Many interesting people have connections to Chelsea, Vermont. Here are a few of them:

  • John L. Bacon: A banker who also served as the State Treasurer of Vermont.
  • Daniel Buck: A US representative in the 4th United States Congress.
  • Daniel Azro Ashley Buck: Grew up in Chelsea and also served as a US representative for Vermont.
  • Berthold C. Coburn: A member of the Vermont House of Representatives.
  • Alban Jasper Conant: A talented portrait painter.
  • David Whitney Curtis: A member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
  • Edson S. Densmore: He was the White House Chief Usher.
  • Robert S. Hale: A US Representative from New York.
  • William Hebard: Lived in Chelsea and was a US representative for Vermont.
  • Lyman G. Hinckley: Served as the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
  • Walter L. Kennedy: Was the speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.
  • F. Ray Keyser Sr.: A Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
  • F. Ray Keyser Jr.: Born and raised in Chelsea, he became the 72nd governor of Vermont.
  • Burnham Martin: Also served as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
  • William A. Palmer: Lived in Chelsea and was a US senator and the 13th governor of Vermont.
  • William Freeman Vilas: Born in Chelsea, he became the United States Postmaster General, United States Secretary of the Interior, and a US senator from Wisconsin.
  • Stanley C. Wilson: Lived in Chelsea and was the 62nd governor of Vermont.
  • John Young: Born in Chelsea, he was a US representative and the 15th governor of New York.

See also

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

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