Middlebury is a town in Vermont, United States. It is the main town, also called the "shire town" or county seat, of Addison County, Vermont. In 2020, about 9,152 people lived there. Middlebury is famous for being home to Middlebury College. It also has the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, which teaches about the area's past.

History of Middlebury

Main Street in Middlebury in 1908

Middlebury was officially started on November 2, 1761. This happened when Governor Benning Wentworth gave permission for the town to be built. Its name, "Middlebury," came from its location. It was in the middle of two other towns, Salisbury and New Haven.

Early Settlers and Challenges

The first settlers arrived in Middlebury in 1766, after the French and Indian Wars ended. John Chipman was one of the first to clear land for farming. However, during the American Revolutionary War, much of the town was burned in 1778. After the war ended in 1783, people returned to rebuild their homes. They cleared forests and started farms, growing crops like grains and hay.

Growth and Industry

A drawing of Middlebury from 1886, showing important places.

Landowners wanted the town center to be on their property. Gamaliel Painter helped develop the village center near the Otter Creek falls. Many mills were built around these falls. These mills helped create different industries. There were factories for cotton, paper, and wool. There were also sawmills, gristmills, and places to make iron and cut marble.

In 1849, the Rutland and Burlington Railroad arrived in Middlebury. This helped the town grow even more. Around 1830, Middlebury was the second-largest town in all of Vermont.

Middlebury College and Other Events

Middlebury College was founded in 1800. It is a well-known college that focuses on liberal arts. Every summer, the college hosts special language schools. It also has the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, which is a very old writing event.

In 2007, part of Middlebury was evacuated for a short time. This happened because a train went off its tracks.

Middlebury Today

Today, Middlebury is the biggest town in Addison County by population. It is an important center for business and shopping. The downtown area has a movie theater, a post office, and many shops and restaurants. There are also supermarkets and fast-food places along U.S. Route 7. Middlebury has Vermont's only remaining A&W car-hop restaurant. It is a popular spot for both locals and college students.

Geography and Climate

Middlebury is located in the middle of Addison County in western Vermont. The Otter Creek flows through the town from south to north. The Middlebury River also flows into Otter Creek. Chipman Hill, a large hill, rises about 450 feet above the village. The Green Mountains are to the east, and the Champlain Valley is to the west.

Area and Water

The town covers about 101.6 square kilometers (39.2 square miles). Most of this area, about 100.6 square kilometers (38.8 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.0 square kilometer (0.4 square miles), is water.

Roads and Nearby Towns

Several main roads cross Middlebury, including U.S. Route 7 and Vermont Route 30. The town is next to New Haven and Bristol to the north. Ripton is to the east, and Cornwall and Weybridge are to the west. Salisbury is to the south. In 2010, a new bridge opened over Otter Creek. This bridge helps reduce traffic in downtown Middlebury. The village of East Middlebury is also part of the town.

Weather in Middlebury

Middlebury has a humid continental climate. This means it has big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	395	—
1800	1,263	219.7%
1810	2,138	69.3%
1820	2,535	18.6%
1830	3,468	36.8%
1840	3,162	−8.8%
1850	3,517	11.2%
1860	2,879	−18.1%
1870	3,086	7.2%
1880	2,993	−3.0%
1890	2,793	−6.7%
1900	3,045	9.0%
1910	2,848	−6.5%
1920	2,914	2.3%
1930	2,968	1.9%
1940	3,175	7.0%
1950	4,778	50.5%
1960	5,305	11.0%
1970	6,532	23.1%
1980	7,574	16.0%
1990	8,034	6.1%
2000	8,183	1.9%
2010	8,496	3.8%
2020	9,152	7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 8,494 people living in Middlebury. There were 2,860 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 209.7 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Middlebury were White (90.3%). There were also people of Asian (4.3%), Hispanic or Latino (3.0%), and Black or African American (1.3%) backgrounds.

About 17.5% of the population was under 18 years old. A large group, 31.4%, was between 18 and 24 years old. The average age in Middlebury was 27 years.

The average income for a household in Middlebury was $37,723. For families, the average income was $46,691. About 9.6% of the people in Middlebury lived below the poverty line.

Things to See and Do

The beautiful falls on Otter Creek.

Middlebury has several interesting places to visit:

Emma Willard Memorial: A place honoring Emma Willard, who was important for women's education.
Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History: Learn about Vermont's history here.
Ilsley Public Library: The town's public library.
Middlebury to Her Soldiers (sculpture): A sculpture dedicated to soldiers.
TAM – Trail Around Middlebury: A trail for walking and enjoying nature.

Education in Middlebury

Middlebury has schools for all ages, from elementary to college.

Public Schools

The campus of Middlebury College.

Mary Hogan Elementary: For students in Pre-K through 5th grade.
Middlebury Union Middle School: For students in 6th through 8th grade.
Middlebury Union High School: For students in 9th through 12th grade.
P.A. Hannaford Career Center: A technical center for high school students and adults.

Private Schools

The Aurora School: A private school for Pre-K students.
Bridge School: A private elementary school.

Higher Education

Community College of Vermont: Has a campus in Middlebury.
Middlebury College: A well-known four-year college.

Town Services and Transportation

Medical Care

Porter Medical Center, serving Middlebury and nearby areas.

Porter Medical Center provides medical care for Middlebury and the surrounding communities.

Transportation Options

Air Travel

Middlebury State Airport is located east of town. It is used for private planes.

Bus Services

Bus service in Middlebury is provided by Tri Valley Transit. You can also find intercity bus lines that connect Middlebury to other cities.

Major Roads

U.S. Route 7: This is the main north-south highway through Middlebury.
Vermont Route 23: This road goes through the college campus.
Vermont Route 30: This road connects to Route 7 in town.
Vermont Route 116: This road is on the east side of town.
Vermont Route 125: This road goes through Middlebury College and then east out of town.

Train Service

Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express train serves the station in Middlebury. This train connects Middlebury to Burlington in the north and New York City in the south. Train service started in Middlebury in July 2022.

Notable People from Middlebury

Many interesting people have connections to Middlebury:

Julia Alvarez: A famous author.
John Deere: The inventor and manufacturer known for his farming equipment.
Jim Douglas: The 80th governor of Vermont.
Robert Frost: A very famous poet.
Bill McKibben: An author and environmentalist.
Emma Willard: A strong supporter of women's rights and a school founder.

Images for kids

Main Street
Middlebury Town Logo
Map of Middlebury's location

Middlebury, Vermont facts for kids

Contents