Milton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,723. According to local legend, the town was named after the English poet John Milton, but the name most likely originated from William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam, who held the title Viscount Milton and was a supporter of independence for the colonies during the American Revolution.

Milton has a municipal building, school system, library, police force, fire department, rescue squad, several churches, as well as civic and social organizations. The Town website can be found here: https://www.miltonvt.gov/

History

Milton was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire on June 8, 1763. In February 1782, the town was first settled by William Irish, Leonard Owen, Amos Mansfield, Absalom Taylor, and Thomas Dewey. There were approximately 300 settlers living in Milton by 1795. It was necessary to build a new meeting place, as meeting in private homes would no longer suffice. The Town House was built in 1849. In 1878, it was destroyed by a fire.

Early settlers in Milton made most of their income from lumber and potash until 1840, when dairy became popular and butter and cheese were sold. Eventually, milk was also shipped to Boston and New York.

Geography

Milton is located in northern Chittenden County, bordered by Franklin County to the north and Grand Isle County to the northwest, across an arm of Lake Champlain. The town includes the community of Milton in the east, as well as the communities of Cozy Corner, West View, Checkerberry Village, Milton Falls, Milton Village, and West Milton from east to west across the center of the town. The Lamoille River flows from northeast to southwest across the town, entering Lake Champlain at the town's southwestern corner. U.S. Route 2 crosses the eastern arm of Lake Champlain to Grand Isle from Sand Point, just north of the Lamoille River delta. Sand Bar State Park is located along Route 2.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Milton has a total area of , of which is land and , or 15.62%, is water.

As of the census

The town of Milton maintains a Volunteer Fire Department, a Volunteer Rescue squad, and a full time Police Department serving the town 24/7. The fire department was established in 1937, originally operating out of a small station on Main St. In 2003, they were moved to a large new station on Bombardier Rd next to the Town Offices and Rescue Squad. The Milton Rescue Service was established in 1966 by members of the Fire Department for providing transport to the hospital. Today they operate two ambulances for in town and mutual aid calls to neighboring towns and are licensed up to the Paramedic level. They are located on Bombardier Rd next to the Fire Department. The Milton Police Department was established in 1968 and provides Twenty four hour 911 assistance and policing to the Town of Milton. Included in their operations is a K-9 units, School Resource officers, and 17 full-time Officers.

Transportation

The Chittenden County Transportation Authority provides weekday commuter bus service. Stops include the Milton Town Office Park & Ride and the Chimney Corner Park & Ride.

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 89
  • 20px U.S. Route 2
  • 20px U.S. Route 7

Education

Milton Elementary School (MES):

  • In May 2012, the Odyssey of the Mind team participated in the World Finals.
  • In March 2013, a group of students and teachers from the elementary school were invited to the White House to join First Lady Michelle Obama in planting the kitchen garden in early April. This was, in part, related to the initiatives the school food service director Steve Marinelli implemented that support Let's Move!, as well as his blog.

Milton Middle School (MMS):

  • The Odyssey of the Mind team participated in the World Finals in 2010 and 2015.

Milton High School (MHS):

  • The Theatre Company produces a musical in the fall and a one-act play in the spring. The one-act is presented at the regional level. Milton's has been chosen to advance to the state level multiple times where it then competes to be selected as one of two schools to represent Vermont at the New England Drama Festival showcase. Milton has done so in 2002 (The Drowned and the Saved), 2004 (Women and Wallace), 2011 (MacBeth), 2012 (A Midsummer Night's Dream), 2014 (Oedipus Rex), and 2015 (Beowulf).
  • Milton hosted the New England Drama Festival in 2003.
  • In 2016, Milton seniors won first (Meredith Holbrook) and third (Ryan Racicot) place in U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' annual State of the Union essay contest. Two other Milton seniors (Megan Bromley and Sara Manfredi) were top twenty finalists. Essays of the winners and finalists will be entered into the Congressional Record.

Economy

Milton has been home to many farms over the years, most of which were dairy farms. As of 2024, only three dairy farms are still in operation in Milton.

The town is home to the warehouse for Gardener's Supply and a manufacturing facility for Husky Injection Molding Systems.

Milton was a filming location for some of the scenes in the Farrelly brothers movie Me, Myself & Irene, which starred Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger.

On May 25, 2016, American singer-songwriter Daya performed an exclusive concert at Milton High School; fellow Artbeatz recording artist Symon performed in the concert as well.

Notable people

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  • George Allen, born in Milton, noted clergyman and academic
  • Heman Allen, U.S. Congressman
  • David R. Bean, Wisconsin legislator; was born in Milton
  • Edwin E. Bryant, Wisconsin legislator; was born in Milton
  • Jean-Paul Cyr, stock car racer
  • David E. Demag, US Marshal for Vermont
  • Luther S. Dixon, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • John G. Haskell, architect who designed Kansas public buildings including the capitol
  • Michael Hastings, journalist and author
  • George LeClair, Major League Baseball pitcher
  • John Palasik, Vermont state legislator
  • Josephine E. Sizer (1862-1937), temperance reformer
  • Apollos Smith, born in Milton, wilderness guide, founder of wilderness resort, eponym of Paul Smiths, New York
  • Noah Smith, one of the founders of Vermont and a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
  • Donald H. Turner, Minority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives
  • Alson Wood, born in Milton, Wisconsin State Assemblyman

References

  • Milton, Vermont Official Town Website
  • The Vermont Encyclopedia, page 206.