Essex Junction, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Essex Junction, Vermont
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Downtown Essex Junction
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Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Chittenden |
| Incorporated (village) | 1892 |
| Incorporated (city) | 2022 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.74 sq mi (12.28 km2) |
| • Land | 4.57 sq mi (11.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 344 ft (105 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,590 |
| • Density | 2,234/sq mi (862.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
05451-05453
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| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-24400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1457378 |
Essex Junction is a city located in Chittenden County, Vermont, in the United States. In 2020, about 10,590 people lived there. It became a village in 1892 and then Vermont's 10th city on July 1, 2022.
The city is part of the Essex Westford Unified Union School District. This district has schools for all ages, from kindergarten to high school. Essex Junction is mostly surrounded by the Town of Essex.
Essex Junction is home to GlobalFoundries' Burlington Design Center. This company also has a large factory that makes computer chips. GlobalFoundries is the biggest private employer in Vermont, with around 3,000 workers.
Contents
History of Essex Junction
How IBM and GlobalFoundries Shaped the City
The history of Essex Junction was greatly changed by the company IBM. In 1958, IBM chose Essex Junction for a new facility. This facility is now owned by GlobalFoundries.
In 1958, IBM rented a building that was about 40,000 square feet. It was for their new Data Processing Division. By the end of that year, 500 people worked there. In 1969, the factory grew much larger, to 820,000 square feet.
In 1982, the number of employees reached its highest point, with 8,000 workers. By 2011, the factory had a little over 5,000 employees. Since July 2015, it has been a GlobalFoundries factory. It still has about 3,000 employees today.
Geography and Climate
Essex Junction is in the southwest part of the town of Essex. The Winooski River forms its southern border. The city is about 6 miles east of downtown Burlington. You can get there by using Vermont Route 15.
The city covers a total area of about 12.3 square kilometers (4.7 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 11.8 square kilometers (4.57 square miles). The rest, about 0.5 square kilometers (0.18 square miles), is water.
Understanding the Climate
Essex Junction has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot, and winters are cold. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,141 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,245 | 9.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,410 | 13.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,621 | 15.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,901 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,741 | 44.2% | |
| 1960 | 5,340 | 94.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,511 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,033 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 8,396 | 19.4% | |
| 2000 | 8,591 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 9,271 | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 10,590 | 14.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 8,591 people living in Essex Junction. There were 3,409 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 1,804 people per square mile.
The average household had about 2.48 people. The average family had about 3.04 people. The median age of people in the city was 36 years old.
Economy and Jobs
Income for Families
In 2000, the average income for a household in Essex Junction was $53,444. For families, the average income was $61,985. About 2.9% of all people in the city lived below the poverty line. This included 2.6% of children under 18.
Major Industries
The largest factory in Vermont is the GlobalFoundries semiconductor plant in Essex Junction. In 2007, when it was still an IBM plant, it was valued at $104 million. This plant is a very important part of the city's economy.
Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction is home to the Champlain Valley Exposition. This is a large area used for many different events. It has stadium seating for concerts and several halls for indoor events.
The Champlain Valley Fair
The most famous event at the Expo is the 10-day Champlain Valley Fair. This is the largest fair in Vermont. It combines five main parts:
- A big farm exhibit with dairy cows and other animals. There are also 4-H-style events for both animals and crops.
- An area where local businesses show and sell their products.
- A large section with many kinds of food. You can find local foods like real maple syrup and classic fair treats like fried dough and cotton candy.
- A fun carnival area with rides, provided by Strates Shows.
- Concerts every night with famous musicians. Past performers include Lyle Lovett, Keith Urban, and Justin Bieber.
The Fair was canceled in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The main performer for the 2020 fair, Darius Rucker, came back to perform in 2021.
In recent years, almost 300,000 people have visited the fair each year. In 2010, the fair had 46 carnival rides and nearly 200 vendors.
Other Events at the Expo
Many other events happen at the Champlain Valley Expo. These include an Antique Car Show and the WOKO Giant Flea Market. Other popular events are Nightmare Vermont, the Vermont International Festival, and the Champlain Valley Balloon Festival.
Education in Essex Junction
The Essex Westford School District was formed in 2017. This district includes and helps fund schools in Essex Junction, Essex Town, and Westford.
Schools in Essex Junction include Essex High School. There are also elementary schools like Summit Street School (K-3) and Thomas Fleming School (4-5). Albert D. Lawton School (6-9) and Hiawatha School (K-3) are also in the city. The Center for Technology Essex provides special training programs.
Transportation Options
Train Travel
Amtrak is the national passenger train system. It offers daily train service from its station in Essex Junction. This is one of two train stations in Chittenden County.
The Vermonter train runs every day. It goes from St. Albans in northern Vermont to Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C.. This train stops in Essex Junction. Before July 29, 2022, Essex Junction was the closest Amtrak station to Burlington. Now, the Ethan Allen Express train goes directly to Burlington.
Notable People from Essex Junction
Many interesting people have connections to Essex Junction:
- Guy W. Bailey, who was the Secretary of State of Vermont and president of the University of Vermont.
- Season Hubley, an actress.
- Dewey H. Perry, who was a U.S. Marshal for Vermont.
- Loung Ung, an author.
- Brian Wood, a comic book author and screenwriter.
See also
In Spanish: Essex Junction para niños
