Bakersfield is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2020 census.

Geography

Bakersfield is located in southeastern Franklin County, bordered by Lamoille County to the southeast. Vermont Route 108 passes through the center of town, leading north to Enosburg Falls and south to Jeffersonville. The unincorporated village of Bakersfield is in the center of the town. Vermont Route 36 leads west from VT 108 in the village center to St. Albans, the Franklin County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bakersfield has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.24%, is water. The town is part of the Missisquoi River watershed, draining to Lake Champlain. The Cold Hollow Mountains occupy the eastern end of the town, with a high point of just north of the Lamoille County line.

History

Early years

The town history began when Joseph Baker of Westborough, Massachusetts, the namesake for the village, bought 10,000 acres in 1791. Initial settlers were his son-in-law, Stephen Maynard, and his nephew Jonas Brigham, along with their families. Baker built grist and saw mills on Baker's Pond in 1794. Two years later Maynard built a tavern. In 1797, a school was established in a log cabin at the Post Road and Vermont 108. Five acres were deeded for the development of a town common and burying ground in 1804 by Joseph Baker. Maynard built a Federal style house north of the village to serve as the first post office in 1811. Jacob Spaulding was hired as headmaster and Mary, his wife, was a drawing instructor and preceptress. In 1851, there were 271 students from New England, other parts of the United States, and Quebec. They had a staff of 14 people. The academy suffered a loss of reputation when Spaulding left the school in 1852 to become a principal for Barre and its well-endowed academy.

In 1844 by Methodists wanted an academy on the north end of town. Unofficially called North Academy, the principal was Rev. H.J. Moore from northern New York. Bakersfield Academy is no longer in existence.

As of the census

Notable people

  • Calvin H. Blodgett, mayor of Burlington, Vermont
  • Peter Bent Brigham, businessman, railroad executive, and philanthropist
  • D. Manfield Stearns, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Lee Stephen Tillotson, Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard
  • William C. Wilson, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court

References

Further reading

  • Town of Bakersfield official website
  • Bakersfield Elementary Middle School