Washington is a town in Orange County, Vermont, in the United States. The population was 1,032 at the 2020 census. The town is believed to be named after George Washington, although the town may also be named after Washington, Connecticut, as there are records of individuals moving from that town in Connecticut to Vermont around 1766.

History

During the 1760s and 1770s, the territory now known as Vermont was in dispute between New York and New Hampshire, the result of conflicting interpretations of each colony's charter. People moving into the territory, then known as New Connecticut or the New Hampshire Grants, generally settled after purchasing land grants from New Hampshire governor Benning Wentworth. When the British government resolved the dispute in New York's favor, New York attempted to assert control by forcing residents who had purchased grants from Wentworth to pay a fee to confirm their titles, otherwise face eviction. Many Vermonters resisted, leading to creation of the Green Mountain Boys.

As part of New York's effort to demonstrate control over the grants, in 1770 it chartered the town of Kingsland far from New York in what was then remote Gloucester County. Kingsland had no record of any residents, but was designated as one of two county seats. The town was uninhabited until 1785, when Daniel Morse obtained title to 100 acres. He was soon followed by his brother, John.

Centered on the hilltop near the Jail Branch, the town consisted mainly of small sheep farms that produced wool. Between 1820 and 1829, there were two fulling mills and one carding mill in operation, and sheep raising peaked around 1830. Washington's population peaked at 1400 in 1840, after which there was a steady decline, as wool production decreased due to increasing tariffs and other factors. Most farms and homes around the center of town on the hilltop were abandoned, and the center of town relocated downhill and further north, along the Jail Branch and what is now Vermont Route 110.

With the arrival of the railroad in the 1850s, the dairy industry expanded as urban markets became accessible. By 1895, Washington had enough dairy farms to make the operation of a creamery possible. As industries including granite manufacturing grew in nearby towns, the expansion and railroads associated with it bypassed Washington, which remained a low-population rural community centered on agriculture.

By the late twentieth century, small dairy farms were increasingly uncompetitive, and by the 1950s, many of Washington's farms had ceased operation. By 1960, Washington's population had declined to 565. Although Washington remains a rural town, most farms are no longer in operation, and it has become a "bedroom community" with residents commuting to work in Barre, Montpelier, Burlington and other cities.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.9&nbsp;square miles (100.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 38.9&nbsp;square&nbsp;miles (100.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 0.03% is water.

Washington is situated south of U.S. Route 302. Adjacent towns are Barre Town to the northwest, Orange to the north, Corinth to the east, Chelsea to the south, and Williamstown to the west.

Demographics

As of the census of 2020, there were 1,032 people, 522 households, and 371 families residing in the town. There were 557 housing units (of which 442 were occupied and 115 vacant). The racial makeup of the town was 91.38% White alone, 0.68% African American alone, 0.48% Native American alone, 0.58% Asian alone, 0.78% from other races, and 4.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

As of the census

  • Marion Milne, member of the Vermont House of Representatives
  • Scott Milne, Republican nominee for governor in 2014, U.S. Senator in 2016, and lieutenant governor in 2020
  • Daniel Peaslee, Vermont legislator, judge, and member of the governor's executive council
  • Carl C. Pope, Wisconsin legislator and jurist, born in Washington
  • Heman A. White, member of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate

References

  • Official website
  • Washington information
  • Calef Library