Colchester, Vermont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colchester, Vermont
Town
View of Malletts Bay (part of Lake Champlain) from Bayside Park near the center of Colchester
Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont
Colchester, Vermont Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Chittenden
Communities	Colchester Malletts Bay Walnut Ledge
Area
• Total	58.6 sq mi (151.7 km2)
• Land	36.3 sq mi (94.1 km2)
• Water	22.2 sq mi (57.6 km2)
Elevation	95 ft (29 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,524
• Density	299.19/sq mi (115.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	05439, 05446, 05449
Area code(s)	802
FIPS code	50-14875
GNIS feature ID	1462073

Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It is located in the northeastern part of the country. As of 2020, about 17,524 people lived there.

Colchester is the third-largest town in Vermont by population. It is also the most populated town in the state. The town is just north of Burlington, which is Vermont's biggest city. Colchester is part of the Burlington area. It sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, with the Green Mountains to its east. The Vermont National Guard has its base in Colchester. The town is also home to Saint Michael's College and a campus of Southern New Hampshire University.

History of Colchester

Colchester was officially started on June 7, 1763. It was named after the Earl of Colchester.

In 1922, a part of Colchester called Winooski Falls became its own city, Winooski. This meant Colchester lost many of its residents to the new city.

Exploring Colchester's Geography

Colchester is right on the shore of Malletts Bay, which is part of Lake Champlain. The western edge of the town reaches the New York state border in the middle of the lake. To the northwest, across the lake, is the town of South Hero.

Other towns near Colchester in Chittenden County include Milton to the northeast and Essex to the southeast. The cities of South Burlington, Winooski, and Burlington are to the south.

Colchester covers a total area of about 151.7 square kilometers (58.6 square miles). About 94.1 square kilometers (36.3 square miles) of this is land. The rest, about 57.6 square kilometers (22.2 square miles), is water.

People and Population

The Island Line Trail goes from Colchester across Lake Champlain. It used to be a railroad line.

In 2010, there were 17,067 people living in Colchester. The town had about 6,576 households. The population density was about 470 people per square mile. Most people living in Colchester are White (94.6%). Other groups include African American (1.5%), Asian (1.9%), and people of two or more races (1.8%). About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, about 34.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.50 people. The average family had 2.96 people. The median age in the town was 33 years old. This means half the people were younger than 33 and half were older.

Economy and Jobs

Colchester is an active place for business. In 2007, it had $245.8 million in retail sales. This made it the fourth-highest in the state.

Some of the biggest employers in Colchester are:

• VNA of Chittenden & Grand Isle Counties (a healthcare organization)
• Saint Michael's College
• Costco Wholesale Corporation
• Green Mountain Power (an energy company)
• Shaw's Supermarket
• Champlain Cable Corporation

Money and Income

In 2014, the average household income in Colchester was $68,440. This means families earned a good living.

Fun Things to Do and Tourism

Colchester is a popular spot for visitors, especially in the summer. People from southern New England and the New York City area come to vacation by the lake. This makes the area busier, especially around the Fourth of July.

• Fishing Derby: Since 1981, there has been an annual "Lake Champlain International Father's Day Fishing Derby." In 2009, 6,000 fishermen joined this fun event.
• Niquette Bay State Park: This park offers great opportunities for hiking and swimming in Lake Champlain. It's a beautiful place to explore nature.

Education in Colchester

Saint Michael's College campus from above.

Colchester is home to two colleges:

• Saint Michael's College
• Southern New Hampshire University – Vermont Center (which has a graduate program for education)

Public Schools

About 2,200 students attend schools in the Colchester school district. The district has five schools:

• One high school: Colchester High School
• One middle school: Colchester Middle School
• Three elementary schools: Malletts Bay School, Porters Point School, and Union Memorial School

Media and News

Colchester has its own radio and TV stations.

Radio Stations

• WVTX – 88.7 FM
• WVMT – 620 AM
• WXXX "95 Triple X" – 95.5 FM

Television Stations

• WFFF-TV – "Fox 44"
• WVNY – "ABC 22"

Getting Around: Transportation

Interstate 89 runs through Colchester. Exits 16 and 17 serve the town. Exit 16 connects to US Routes 2 and 7 (Roosevelt Highway). Exit 17 connects to US 2, which goes west to the Champlain Islands, and US 7, which goes north.

Bus service is available in parts of Colchester. It is provided by Green Mountain Transit. You can also find bus service to other cities like Albany, New York and Hanover, New Hampshire through Vermont Translines.

Famous People from Colchester

Many interesting people have connections to Colchester:

• Alfred Elisha Ames: A doctor and politician.
• Tom Brennan: A former basketball coach at the University of Vermont.
• Ray Collins: A pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox.
• Roger Enos: A Major General in the Vermont Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
• Mat Fraser: A famous CrossFit athlete.
• Donato Giancola: An artist known for science fiction and fantasy illustrations.
• Richard Tarrant: A businessman and politician.
• Lucy Wheelock: She founded Wheelock College and was important in early childhood education.

See also

In Spanish: Colchester (Vermont) para niños