Essex County, Vermont

Infobox U.S. County
county = Essex County
state = Vermont


map size = 150
founded = 1792
seat = Guildhall | area_total_sq_mi =674
area_land_sq_mi =665
area_water_sq_mi =9
area percentage = 1.27%
census yr = 2000
pop = 6459
density_km2 =4
web =
|

Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 6,459. Its shire town is GuildhallGR|6.

Essex County is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 674 square miles (1,745 km²), of which, 665 square miles (1,723 km²) of it is land and 9 square miles (22 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Coos County, New Hampshire - east
*Grafton County, New Hampshire - south
*Caledonia County, Vermont - southwest
*Orleans County, Vermont - west
*Coaticook Regional County Municipality, Quebec - north

History

On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris the Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. Vermont's border with Quebec was established at 45 degrees north latitude. [Van Zandt, Franklin K. "Boundaries of the United States and the Several States." Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 12.] [Parry, Clive, ed. "Consolidated Treaty Series." 231 Volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York; Oceana Publications, 1969-1981. Volume 48; pp. 481; 487; 491-492.]

In 1999, a group of investors bought convert|86212|acre from Champion International Paper for $7.5 million covering parts of 14 towns in the county. The state of Vermont and the Freeman Foundation purchased easements for $8.5 million to guarantee traditional uses of the land for logging and recreation. In 2008, Plum Creek Timber company announced plans to purchase this property. [cite book | author = Sutkowski, Matt |title = 86,212 acre land sale in works | publisher = Burlington Free Press | date = September 16, 2008]

A murder trial was held at the county courthouse in 1923. As of 2008, this was the last trial. The last homicide in the country was in 1973. While murder victims have since been found, these have all been connected to out of county incidents. [cite book | author = Ring, Wilson |title = Slaying a novelty for county | publisher = Burlington Free Press | date = September 15, 2008]

Politics

In 2004 Essex was the only county in Vermont to vote for the Republican candidate for president, George W. Bush. [ [http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&year=2004&fips=50 2004 Presidential General Election Results - Vermont ] ]

Government

Legislators

The Essex-Orleans Senate district includes all of Essex County, as well as parts or all of Orleans County, Franklin County and Lamoille County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate by Vincent Illuzzi (R) and Robert A. Starr (D).

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,459 people, 2,602 households, and 1,805 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 4,762 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.56% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.1% were of French, 23.1% English, 10.5% American, 8.8% Irish and 5.7% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000. 8.87% of the population speak French at home. [http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=50&county_id=9&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=all&a=&ea=&order=r]

There were 2,602 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $30,490, and the median income for a family was $34,984. Males had a median income of $27,929 versus $20,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,388. About 9.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

The median wage is the lowest in the state. That position is expected to continue through 2010. [cite web | title=Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs | work=Vermont Statewide Trends | url=http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Housing/ConPlan/Volume%20I/Statewide%20Trends.pdf | accessdate=2007-01-05|format=PDF]

Housing

In 2007, Essex was the only county in the state to have a positive affordability index on housing. That is, the average household can afford to buy the average house. That said, both figures are the lowest in the state. [cite book | author = Braithwaite, Chris |title = Vermont law prohibits pre-payment penalties | publisher = the Chronicle | date = December 19, 2007]

Cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated places*

There are seventeen towns, two gores and one grant in the county:

*Averill
*Avery's Gore*
*Bloomfield
*Brighton
**Island Pond (an unincorporated community of Brighton)
*Brunswick
*Canaan
**Beecher Falls, a village in Canaan
*Concord
*East Haven
*Ferdinand
*Granby
*Guildhall
*Lemington
*Lewis
*Lunenburg
*Maidstone
*Norton
*Victory
*Warner's Grant*
*Warren Gore**" In Vermont, gores and grants are unincorporated portions of a county which are not part on any town and have limited self-government (if any, as many are uninhabited). Villages are census divisions of towns or cities, but have no separate corporate existence from the municipality they are located in."

Footnotes

See also

* List of counties in Vermont
* List of towns in Vermont

External links

* [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/VT/Essex/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Essex Co., Vermont]