Shelburne is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Located along the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne's town center lies approximately south of the city center of Burlington, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population of Shelburne was 7,717.
The main settlement of Shelburne in the center of town is a census-designated place (CDP), with a population of 6,178 at the 2020 census. Shelburne municipality has the highest median income in both Chittenden County and the Burlington metropolitan area.
History
Shelburne was chartered by New Hampshire, August 18, 1763, to Jesse Hallock and 64 associates by governor Benning Wentworth. The name "Shelburne" or "Shelburn" was chosen to honor William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, a celebrated nobleman of the British parliament and Prime Minister. According to the charter, the town was to have an area of , or a tract a little over , but owing to a blunder on the part of the surveyors, it was shorn of a large portion of its possessions.
From the beginning, Shelburne's economy was based on farming. With the clearing of land and burning of logs the town experienced a potash boom. A carding and fulling mill, a gristmill, a sawmill, and a blacksmith shop were erected on the La Platte River at Shelburne Falls. In 1811, a few Merino sheep imported from Spain led to an upsurge in sheep raising. Orchards and fruit growing became a major source of income for the farmers, with some 17,740 trees in 1880. Following the War of 1812, commerce on the lake expanded rapidly.
The Lake Champlain Transportation Company established its shipyard at Shelburne Harbor and launched its first steamboat, the General Green, in 1825; this was followed by ten others before the Ticonderoga in 1906. In 1955, the Ticonderoga was moved overland to the Shelburne Museum, where it is now on display.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 46.06%, is water (primarily Lake Champlain, but also including Shelburne Pond in the eastern part of town).
Government and politics
The town had the highest voter turnout in Vermont in the general election of 2008 with 89.4%. It had the highest number of registered voters among the top ten towns with the highest turnout. It also had the second-highest percentage of people voting absentee of any town in Vermont, 50.2%.
In the Vermont Democratic Party presidential primary of 2016, the town was the worst-performing of all municipalities in both Chittenden County and the Burlington metro area for U.S. senator Bernie Sanders of nearby Burlington. Bernie Sanders received 76.6% of the Democratic primary vote in the town and former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton received her highest level of support for any municipality in the county and metro area, at 23.1%. Kathryn Webb and Jessica Brumsted, both Democrats, represent the town in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Demographics
As of the census Males had a median income of $50,085 versus $28,428 for females. The per capita income for the town was $55,638.
The town maintains a beach on Lake Champlain which has a boat launch and nature park.
<big>Transportation</big>
U.S. Route 7 (Shelburne Road) crosses the center of town, leading north into South Burlington and south towards Vergennes.
Bus service is provided by Green Mountain Transit.
Schools
Public:
- Shelburne Community School (elementary and middle school)
The town is part of the Champlain Valley School District and sends students of high school age to Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.
Private:
- Vermont Day School
- Lake Champlain Waldorf School
Preschools:
- Heartworks (Shelburne campus)
- Shelburne Nursery School
Other Schools:
- Shelburne Craft School
Media
The Shelburne News is a weekly newspaper mailed to all residents of Shelburne. It was established in 1967. In 2017, it was sold to the owners of the Stowe Reporter who then created the Vermont Community Newspaper Group in 2019.
Notable people
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- Frederic W. Allen, Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
- Tom Atwood, photographer
- John L. Barstow, Governor of Vermont
- Sam Bartlett, musician and author
- Michael Dante DiMartino, animation director and author
- Henry U. Harder, Adjutant General of Vermont
- Isaac R. Harrington, mayor of Buffalo, New York
- William C. Hill (1917–1998), Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
- Madeleine Kunin, 77th governor of Vermont (1985–1991)
- Kevin Lepage, stock car racer
- Lucius Lyon, one of the first two U.S. senators from Michigan
- Ezra Meech (1773–1856), U.S. Congressman
- George A. Meigs (1816–1897), businessman in Washington territory and state
- Megan Nick, Olympic bronze medalist in Aerial skiing
- Almon Heath Read (1790–1844), U.S. Congressman
- Barbara Snelling, 76th lieutenant governor of Vermont (1992–1996)
- Richard Snelling, 78th governor of Vermont (1977–1985, 1991)
- Jane Swift, 69th lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
- Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888–1960), founder of the Shelburne Museum
- William Seward Webb (1851–1926), founder of Shelburne Farms