Fairlee is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 988 at the 2020 census. It includes the village of Ely. Fairlee is home to Lake Morey, which claims to have the longest ice skating trail in the United States.
History
One of the New Hampshire grants, Fairlee was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth on September 9, 1761, and awarded to Josiah Channey, Joseph Hubbard and 62 others. It was first settled in 1766. On February 25, 1797, the western half of the grant was set off as West Fairlee.
The population was 575 by 1859, when it had several sawmills, a gristmill, and an establishment for lead pipe and pumps.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, is land and (4.90%) is water. Bounded by the Connecticut River, Fairlee is drained by Glen Falls Brook, Big Brook and the outlet of Lake Morey. The village of Fairlee is on the eastern edge of the town, along U.S. Route 5.
Demographics
As of the census Samuel Morey Elementary School is in Fairlee. In 2023 the school district's board of trustees voted to close it; six members voted in favor, two were against, and two were not present.
Notable people
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- Helen Gahagan Douglas, actress and US congresswoman
- Milton Friedman, economist, former summer resident of West Fairlee
- William H. Gilmore, Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard
- Richard W. Mallary, US congressman
- Samuel Morey, inventor
- George W. Morrison, US congressman
- Nathaniel Niles, politician
- Stephen Thomas, politician and brigadier general