Chester, Vermont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chester, Vermont
Town
Shops along Main Street (Vermont Route 11)
Location in Windsor County and the state of Vermont.
Chester, Vermont Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Windsor
Communities	Chester Baileys Mills Gassetts North Chester Reedville
Area
• Total	55.9 sq mi (144.9 km2)
• Land	55.7 sq mi (144.2 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	823 ft (251 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,005
• Density	53.712/sq mi (20.738/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	05143
Area code(s)	802
FIPS code	50-13675
GNIS feature ID	1462070

Chester is a charming town located in Windsor County, Vermont, in the United States. According to the 2020 census, about 3,005 people call Chester home.

History of Chester

Chester was first given permission to become a town in 1754. This permission, called a "charter," was given by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth. The town was first named Flamstead. However, the original plans for the town were not fully carried out.

So, in 1761, the town received a new charter and was renamed New Flamstead. A few years later, in 1766, New York issued another document. This document changed the town's name to Chester. It was named after George Augustus Frederick, who was the Earl of Chester. He was also the oldest son of King George III.

Later, the government of Chester decided to go back to the rules of the 1761 charter. But they kept the name "Chester." This means that 2011 was a special year for the town, marking its 250th anniversary!

Geography of Chester

Chester covers a total area of about 144.9 square kilometers (about 55.9 square miles). Most of this area, 144.2 square kilometers (55.7 square miles), is land. Only a small part, 0.7 square kilometers (0.3 square miles), is water.

A very important natural feature in Chester is the Williams River. This river is a branch of the larger Connecticut River. The Williams River has three smaller parts that join together and flow through Chester.

People in Chester love to use the river for fun activities. It's a popular spot for fishing and swimming. In 2011, a big storm called Hurricane Irene caused major flooding. The riverbanks, covered bridges, and nearby homes were badly damaged. This flooding happened because of the heavy rains from Irene. Also, the land around the river is very hilly and steep, which made it hard for the water to drain away.

People of Chester (Demographics)

In 2010, about 3,154 people lived in Chester. There were also 1,793 homes. Looking at age groups in 2010:

• 510 residents were 14 years old or younger.
• 205 were between 15 and 19 years old.
• 277 were between 20 and 29 years old.
• 298 were between 30 and 39 years old.
• 418 were between 40 and 49 years old.

This means that over half of Chester's population (53.2%) was under 50 years old in 2010.

Most residents in 2010 were female. There were 1,638 females compared to 1,516 males. This was similar to 2000, when there were 1,574 females and 1,470 males.

Chester is mostly a white community, with 97.5% of its residents being white in 2010. This is a little higher than Vermont as a whole, which is 95.3% white. However, the number of people from other backgrounds in Chester has grown. It more than doubled from 38 residents in 2000 to 78 in 2010.

For example, the Native American/Alaskan population increased from 3 in 2000 to 16 in 2010. The Asian population grew from 7 to 15, and the Hispanic population went from 21 to 35. The number of people who identify with more than one race also more than doubled, from 17 in 2000 to 37 in 2010.

Transportation in Chester

Old train station

Chester is connected by several important roads. These include Vermont Route 10, Route 11, Route 35, and Route 103. Even though the big highway Interstate 91 doesn't go right through Chester, you can easily reach it from exit 6 in the nearby town of Rockingham.

Arts and Culture in Chester

Annual Cultural Events

Chester hosts fun events throughout the year. In September, you can enjoy The Chester Fall Festival on the Green. In February, the town celebrates with the Winter Carnival.

Tourism and Historic Sites

Chester is well-known for its beautiful historic areas. These include the Stone Village Historic District and the Chester Village Historic District. Both of these special places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important to protect because of their history.

The Stone Village area is located along Vermont Route 103 in North Chester. It's famous for its many houses built from local granite. The Chester Factory Village has homes built between 1750 and 1924. These homes show different styles of architecture, like Victorian and Colonial Revival. Both of these historic areas are popular places for tourists to visit.

Here are some registered historic sites in Chester:

• Chester Village Historic District – This area includes streets like Lovers Lane Brook, Maple Street, and parts of the Williams River. (Added September 8, 1985)
• Greenwood House – Located on VT 103. (Added December 1, 1985)
• Jeffrey House – Located on North Street. (Added July 13, 1974)
• Stone Village Historic District – Found on both sides of VT 103. (Added June 17, 1974)

Media in Chester

The Chester Telegraph is an online newspaper based in Chester. It started in 2011 and grew from a website that was supported by the USDA Rural Development. The Chester Telegraph focuses on local news in Chester and nearby towns. These towns include Andover, Grafton, Londonderry, and Weston.

Notable People from Chester

Many interesting people have connections to Chester. Here are a few:

• Clarence Adams, a politician.
• Robert Alden (also known as Edwin Hyde Alden), a religious leader mentioned in books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
• Melvin Baldwin, who served as a U.S. Representative for Minnesota.
• Fernando C. Beaman, a U.S. Congressman from Michigan.
• Paul Bremer, who helped with reconstruction in Iraq.
• Thomas Chandler Jr., one of Chester's founders. He was a Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont's first Secretary of State.
• John Royston Coleman, a former president of Haverford College.
• Donald J. Cram, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1987.
• Anna Dewdney, a children's book author who lived in Chester.
• Franklin Edson, a former mayor of New York City.
• Merritt A. Edson, a Marine Corps general.
• James Robinson Graves, a Baptist preacher and author.
• Albert David Hager, a geologist, historian, and librarian.
• Albert W. Harvey, a United States Marshal for Vermont.
• Hugh H. Henry, also a United States Marshal for Vermont.
• Aaron Leland, a Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
• Thomas B. Marsh, an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.
• Hannah Maynard Thompson Pickard, a school teacher and author.
• Waitstill R. Ranney, another Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
• Charles B. Stoughton, a Union Army officer who became a brigadier general.

Community Discussions

In 2011 and 2012, residents of Chester had many discussions about a plan to build a new store. This topic was covered by the local online newspaper, the Chester Telegraph. It also gained attention from statewide news like Vermont Public Radio and even The New York Times. In 2014, a court decided that the store could be built in Chester.

Gallery

• 

  Stone Village

• 

  Yosemite Engine Company

See also

In Spanish: Chester (Vermont) para niños