Orleans County, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state
of Vermont
. It borders Canada
. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat
is Newport
. As in the rest of New England
, few governmental powers have been granted to the county. The county is an expedient way of grouping and distributing state-controlled governmental services.
, the county has a total area of 721 square miles (1,867.4 km²).It is the fifth largest county in Vermont. It is larger than the nation of Guadeloupe and smaller than the country of Mauritius.
There are 37.7 persons per square mile. 698 square miles (1,807.8 km²) is land and 23 square miles (59.6 km²) (3.25%) is water.
The county lies between the eastern and western ranges of the Green Mountains
.
It has the largest area of the three counties comprising the Northeast Kingdom
.
The highest point in the county is Jay Peak
in the town of Jay
, at 3858 feet (1,175.9 m). The lowest is the surface of Lake Memphremagog
at 682 feet (207.9 m).
The county is mainly drained by four river systems: the Barton
, the Black, the Clyde
and the Missisquoi River
. The first three run north. The last meanders west through Canada and the U.S. An exception is found at the southern end of the county: Greensboro, Craftsbury, and southern Glover are largely drained south and west by the Lamoille River
. The county is unique in eastern Vermont for mostly draining north as a part of the St. Lawrence River basin. All Vermont counties directly to the south (and east of the Green Mountains) drain into the Connecticut River, as does much of Essex county, to the east.
The Barton River
drains Crystal Lake
, runs north through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog
. The Barton River watershed also includes the towns of Derby, Irasburg, Westmore, and the water bodies of Lake Willoughby
, Crystal Lake, and Shadow and Parker ponds.
The Black River is about 30 miles (48.3 km) in length. It rises in some ponds in Craftsbury, and passes through Albany, Irasburg, and Coventry. It reaches Lake Memphremagog at Salem. The watershed also includes Albany, Lake Eligo and the Hosmer Ponds.
The Clyde River has four hydroelectric dams before reaching Lake Memphremagog. The watershed includes Brighton (Essex County), Charleston, Morgan (Essex County), Derby, Seymour Pond, Echo Lakes, and Island, Clyde and Pensioner ponds.
Additionally, the Canadian rivers of Coaticook and Tomifobia
watersheds include Derby, Holland, and Norton Pond, Holland Pond, and Great and Little Averill Ponds.
The county contains more ponds than any other in the state.
The county contains three state forests: Hazen's Notch, Jay, and Willoughby.
Tornadoes have struck the county four times from 1950–1995, all F1s
. One caused an injury. This level is 2.7 times below than the national average.
In 2007, median property taxes in the county were $1,940, placing it 265 out of 1,817 counties in the nation with populations over 20,000.
The budget for 2006 was $428,612.51. Town taxes accounted for over 65% of this money. The budget was all fulfilled by the state. Almost 32% of the money was spent on courthouse personnel. Over 22% of the money was spent on the Sheriff Department's expenses.
, Superior Court, approve the budget for county expenses.
Superior Court presiding judge (appointed by the state) - Christina Reiss
Family court presiding judge - Christina Reiss
The District Court is located at 217 Main Street, Newport, Vermont, as is the State Attorney.
The District court presiding judge is Walter Morris. The Court Manager is Tina de la Bruere. The State's Attorney (elected) is Keith Flynn.
The sheriff's office and jail facilities are located at 255 Main Street, Newport, Vermont, next to the Superior Court building. The sheriff
, who is normally elected, is Kirk Martin. He was appointed by the governor to fill the remaining two years for Lance Bowen, who resigned for health reasons.
includes all of Orleans County, as well as parts or all of Essex County
, Franklin County
and Lamoille County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate
by Vincent Illuzzi
(R
) and Robert A. Starr
(D
).
Normally voting among the most conservative counties in Vermont, the county overwhelmingly supported the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 with nearly 63% of the vote. No town supported the Republican opponent. Nevertheless, the county elected only Republicans to the state senate and legislature and voted overwhelmingly for a Republican governor and lieutenant governor, yet Democratic for all other state offices.
With one exception in the legislature for one district, the vote was not close for any office.
A record seventy-three percent of the voters turned out for the general election in 2000.
In 1753, the Abenakis brought the ransomed John Stark
down Lake Memphremagog and came ashore where Newport is now. They then traveled southeast to his home in New Hampshire.
Rogers' Rangers
were forced to retreat through the county following their attack on Saint-Francis, Quebec
in 1759. To confound their avenging pursuers, they split up on the east shore of Lake Memphremagog
. One group followed the Clyde River. Another followed the Barton River south to the falls at the outlet of Crystal Lake where they were able to catch fish. From there, they continued south over the summit into the Passumpsic River
Valley.
The British Crown sent out surveyors to mark the border between its two colonies of Canada and America in accordance with the Quebec Act
of 1774. This was supposed to be on the 45th parallel. The result, however was a crooked line up to 0.75 miles (1.2 km) north of this intended border. This was resolved in favor of the crooked line by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842. This affected Orleans County, particularly Derby Line, which would have otherwise reverted to Canada.
In 1779 or 1780, General Moses Hazen
constructed the Bayley-Hazen Military Road from Newbury, Vermont through Hardwick, Greensboro, Craftsbury, and Albany to Hazen's Notch in northern Vermont. This purpose of this road was to invade Canada. It was never used for that purpose, but was instrumental in the settlement of this area. However, it was five or more years before the wilderness was inhabited by other than a few Abenaki Indians, and that during the summer.
Vermont was divided into two counties in March, 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, located about where they are now. The northern remainder was called Orange county. This latter tract nearly corresponded with the old New York county of Gloucester, organized by that province March 16, 1770, with Newbury as the shire town.
The state granted a town to Ebenezer Crafts, and sixty-three associates, on November 6, 1780. The town name was changed to Craftsbury, in honor of Ebenezer Crafts on October 27, 1790. Crafts was the first settler in the county.
On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris
the Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. Vermont's border with Quebec was established at 45 degrees north latitude.
From 1791 to 1793, Timothy Hinman
built what is now called the "Hinman Settler Road
" linking Greensboro north to Derby and Canada.
On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans. No reason is given for the county being named after Orléans
, France
.
Orleans lost territory when the new Jefferson county was created in 1797.
In 1810, Runaway Pond
suddenly flooded the Barton River Valley with 1988000000 gallons (7,525,399,056 l)of water in the greatest natural catastrophe in Orleans County post-Columbian history. Incredibly, no lives were lost.
On December 27, 1813, the county was invaded by British militia from nearby Stanstead, Quebec, during the War of 1812
in order to destroy an undefended barracks at Derby and to forage for supplies. No one was injured. Until the invasion, local inhabitants, like most New Englanders, opposed the war. A number had smuggled supplies to the British. After the invasion, their enthusiasm for their neighbors diminished substantially.
June 1816 brought 1 foot (0.3048 m) of snow to the county followed by agricultural devastation. 1816 became known as the Year without a summer
.
When Lamoille county was formed in October 1835, Orleans lost the towns of Eden, Hyde Park, Morristown, and Wolcott.
In 1858, Barton (and Orleans County) obtained a triangular piece of land from Sheffield (and Caledonia County) which included all of May Pond, the entire area south of Crystal Lake, and the village of South Barton.
During the Civil War
, Company D, 4th Vermont Infantry
was recruited largely from Orleans County.
Volunteers from the county joined the Union Army in response to a call from the government. In September 1861, they joined the Vermont 6th Vermont Infantry
, and helped fill out Company D. The regiment ultimately became part of the First Vermont Brigade.
In 1864, 267 men from the 11th Vermont Infantry
were captured at the Weldon Railroad
in the Overland campaign. today better known as the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
. It was a considerable source of local concern when it was learned that these prisoners had been taken to Andersonville prison, a place known, even then, for its poor living conditions. 54 of these prisoners were from Orleans County. Many of them died in prison.
French immigration into the county started before the Civil War. It continued afterwards.
Like the rest of the state, Orleans County sent up to one-quarter of its eligible men to the Civil War. Ten percent of these died. Others came back too maimed to continue working their farms, which most volunteers had left. The sudden offering of many farms for sale in the mid-1860s resulted in a precipitous drop in farm prices. Nearby French-Canadians took advantage of this. As a result of this and loss of native farm labor to other states, Vermont, particularly the northern part, saw many migrants then and through the turn of the twentieth century.
After increasing in population since its founding, the county began losing population starting in 1900. It reached a twentieth century low in population in 1960 at 20,143. The population has risen ever since.
In 1903, a state law allowed each town to decide whether to permit the sale of liquor within their boundaries. By 1905, no town in the county allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages. The change was not that dramatic since state law had theoretically forbidden alcohol prior to 1903, but this law was unevenly enforced.
In 1967, researcher and scientist Gerald Bull
constructed a laboratory for hisSpace Research Corporation
in Highwater, just north of the county's Canadian border. The property overlapped into the county in North Troy
. His intent was to fire research packages into orbit using heavy artillery.
In 2004, what was then billed as the final concert of the band Phish
was held in Coventry on August 14–15. The concert was the single largest gathering of people in the town's history. With 70,000 tickets sold, Coventry's augmented population was one of the largest in the state's history.
The county has twenty-three places on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2008, the state notified residents of Albany, Craftsbury, Irasburg, Lowell, Newport Town, Troy, Westfield and six towns in the adjacent counties of Lamoille and Franklin, that a review of health records from 1995 to 2006 had revealed that residents within 10 miles (16.1 km) of the former asbestos mine on Belividere Mountain had higher than normal rates of contracting asbestosis
. The state and federal government continues to study this problem. A critic replied that the entire basis of the study were three unidentified people who died from asbestosis 1995-2005 out of a total population of 16,700. In April 2009 the Vermont Department of health released a revised study which found that all of deaths related to the asbestos mine were caused by occupational exposure. The report also concluded that people living near the mines had no increased risk of asbestos related illness than people living anywhere else in Vermont. However, the site will still need to be cleaned up. In 2009, the expected cost of cleanup was $300 million.
At the 2000 census
The racial makeup of the county
94.5% were born in the United States. 90.58% spoke English
at home, while 7.72% spoke French
.
The median age was 39 years.
For every 100 females there were 98.60 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
In 2004, Orleans County had the least expensive rental housing in Vermont. In 2008, one-third of residential housing were used as second homes.
The poverty rate for Orleans County was highest in Vermont for 2003. Median wages were the second lowest in the state.
See also Vermont locations by per capita income
In 2003, there were 194 dairy farms in the county. This was the third largest number in the state. In March 2010, the number of dairy farms had declined to 139. In March 2007 county farms produced 29585000 pounds (13,419,530.3 kg) of milk. The total number of farms increased between 1992 and 2007. Total area farmed decreased from 149503 acres (60,501.8 ha) in 1992 to 130308 acres (52,733.8 ha) in 2007.
For forest products, from 1988 to 2004, Orleans County showed the greatest employment increase in the state.
drugstores bought the Brooks
pharmacies in 2007, this would have reduced competition by one in the area. The Vermont Attorney General
intervened and one of the two drugstores will be sold to a competitor.
There are four national chain fast food restaurants in the county, one in Orleans, one in Derby and two in the city of Newport.
There are two regional chain supermarkets in the county, both in Derby. There are local groceries as well.
There is one cinema, a tri-plex, in Newport.
There are three public high schools in the county: North Country Union High School
(1063 students), Lake Region Union High School
(396), and Craftsbury Academy
(59). Wheeler Mountain Academy, grades 7-12, aids students who have emotional, behavioral or learning challenges. 15 are enrolled. United Christian Academy is a private religious school K-12, enrolling 108 students.
In 2007, the juniors in three public secondary schools in three different schools districts, North Country, Lake Region, and Craftsbury, scored lower than the state averages on standardized tests with one exception. North Country scored better than average in reading. Areas tested were math, reading and writing.
In 2008, there was no correlation between the performance of students on the standardized New England Common Assessment Program
tests and poverty (free lunch). The five wealthiest schools were among the ten worst performers; of the five poorest schools, three were among the top ten performers in the county. Schools in the Orleans Central Supervisory Union
(the top four) appeared to outperform the North Country Supervisory Union
(eight out of ten worst performing).
There are about 85 home schooled
students in the county, grades 1-12.
The Northeast Kingdom Learning Services is a non-profit agency that provides a central clearing house for learning services. It is located in the village of Orleans.
The Central Orleans Family Education Center was establishined in 2002 to offer childcare, pre-K programs, after-school programs, and migrant education classes in the village of Orleans.
, an accredited four year institution with nearly 100 students.
The city of Newport
is home to a branch of the Community College of Vermont
which enrolls nearly 300 students. It awards an Associate's Degree
for these undergraduate studies.
With the French immigrants came their religion, Catholicism, which is the plurality religion in the county today. Formal dance included the galop
.
Most towns contract with the County Sheriff for policing.
supplies hard line telephone coverage for the entire county.
bought out Unicel
in Orleans County, and in the next year replaced Unicel.
Verizon Wireless
covers Newport city and the south Derby-I-91 area. Owl's Head in Canada may provide "roaming
" service in the North part of the county.
north from Barton on November 9, 1972 and opening south from the county in 1978 had an impact on the county comparable to the opening of the railway a century earlier. In 1980, the county registered its first population gain in a century.
The interstate has five exits in the county. Two are in the town of Barton, servicing the villages of Barton and Orleans; three are in the town of Derby: the southernmost one, exit 27, actually services Newport city a mile away, 28 services village of Derby Center and the shopping areas, 29, the village of Derby Line.
The county has 1041 miles (1,675.3 km) of state highway and class 1, 2 and 3 roads. 606 miles (975.3 km) of these are dirt roads (class 3). 141 miles (226.9 km) are unused roads (Class 4). As in most of New England, the county government does not build nor maintain any roads.
Derby has the most road mileage, 102; Westfield the least with 31.
The county has seven stoplights, five in the city of Newport and two in Derby. Six are on Route 5.
), a non-profit organization, runs out of Saint Johnsbury and services Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille and Orleans Counties. For general use, there are four buses north and south during the week from west Newport city to Derby Center, and two buses each way on Saturday. The fare is US 25 cents.
There are no stops in the county. A line once ran up the east side of Lake Memphremagog, but this line has been abandoned and in some cases, torn up for use as hiking trails. This crossed the line near Beebe. The line still in operation goes northwest to Canada through North Troy.
. It contains two runways of 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) each 05-23, and 18-36.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It borders Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
. As in the rest of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, few governmental powers have been granted to the county. The county is an expedient way of grouping and distributing state-controlled governmental services.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 721 square miles (1,867.4 km²).It is the fifth largest county in Vermont. It is larger than the nation of Guadeloupe and smaller than the country of Mauritius.
There are 37.7 persons per square mile. 698 square miles (1,807.8 km²) is land and 23 square miles (59.6 km²) (3.25%) is water.
The county lies between the eastern and western ranges of the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
.
It has the largest area of the three counties comprising the Northeast Kingdom
Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties and having a population of 62,438. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former...
.
The highest point in the county is Jay Peak
Jay Peak (Vermont)
Jay Peak is a mountain located about 5 mi. south of the United States-Canada border, in Jay and Westfield, Orleans County, Vermont, of which it is the highest point.Most of the mountain is in Jay Peak State Forest....
in the town of Jay
Jay, Vermont
Jay is one of the northernmost towns in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, located on the Canadian border. The population was 426 at the 2000 census. Jay is named for John Jay, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The US Census Bureau estimated that the town's population had...
, at 3858 feet (1,175.9 m). The lowest is the surface of Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
at 682 feet (207.9 m).
The county is mainly drained by four river systems: the Barton
Barton River
The Barton River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States.It runs north from Glover through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog's South Bay.-Course:...
, the Black, the Clyde
Clyde River (Vermont)
The Clyde River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States. It is the easternmost of the four major rivers in Orleans County. It is the most powerful of the four within Orleans County, powering several turbines at damsites...
and the Missisquoi River
Missisquoi River
The Missisquoi River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately 80 mi long, in northern Vermont in the United States and southern Quebec in Canada. It drains a rural area of the northern Green Mountains along the US-Canada border northeast of Lake Champlain, and an area of Quebec's Eastern...
. The first three run north. The last meanders west through Canada and the U.S. An exception is found at the southern end of the county: Greensboro, Craftsbury, and southern Glover are largely drained south and west by the Lamoille River
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
. The county is unique in eastern Vermont for mostly draining north as a part of the St. Lawrence River basin. All Vermont counties directly to the south (and east of the Green Mountains) drain into the Connecticut River, as does much of Essex county, to the east.
The Barton River
Barton River
The Barton River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States.It runs north from Glover through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog's South Bay.-Course:...
drains Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake (Vermont)
Crystal Lake is near the village of Barton in Orleans County, Vermont. It is a glacial lake and deep in places. Route 5 runs along the lake's western shore. Crystal Lake is in the northeast section of the state of Vermont...
, runs north through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
. The Barton River watershed also includes the towns of Derby, Irasburg, Westmore, and the water bodies of Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby is a lake in the town of Westmore in Orleans County in the northeast section of Vermont, United States. Willoughby is a glacial lake over deep in places, the deepest lake entirely contained in the state....
, Crystal Lake, and Shadow and Parker ponds.
The Black River is about 30 miles (48.3 km) in length. It rises in some ponds in Craftsbury, and passes through Albany, Irasburg, and Coventry. It reaches Lake Memphremagog at Salem. The watershed also includes Albany, Lake Eligo and the Hosmer Ponds.
The Clyde River has four hydroelectric dams before reaching Lake Memphremagog. The watershed includes Brighton (Essex County), Charleston, Morgan (Essex County), Derby, Seymour Pond, Echo Lakes, and Island, Clyde and Pensioner ponds.
Additionally, the Canadian rivers of Coaticook and Tomifobia
Tomifobia River
The Tomifobia River is a flowing body of fresh water in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec. The river forms a part of an international border between Canada and the United States near the village of Beebe Plain, Vermont.-Course:...
watersheds include Derby, Holland, and Norton Pond, Holland Pond, and Great and Little Averill Ponds.
The county contains more ponds than any other in the state.
The county contains three state forests: Hazen's Notch, Jay, and Willoughby.
Climate
The average growing season is about 130 frost-free days in the Newport area. As this is the lowest point in the county, the growing season for other places in the county which are more elevated, should be less.Tornadoes have struck the county four times from 1950–1995, all F1s
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
. One caused an injury. This level is 2.7 times below than the national average.
Adjacent counties
- American
- Essex County, VermontEssex County, VermontEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
- east - Caledonia County, VermontCaledonia County, VermontCaledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
- south - Lamoille County, Vermont - southwest
- Franklin County, VermontFranklin County, VermontFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
- west
- Essex County, Vermont
- Canadian
- Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, QuebecBrome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, Quebec- External links :* * *...
- northwest - Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality, QuebecMemphrémagog Regional County Municipality, QuebecMemphrémagog is a Quebec Regional County Municipality in Canada.-History:After the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, the American Revolutionary War ended with the establishment of the state of Vermont. The border of Upper Canada was then defined at approximately 45 degrees north...
- north - Coaticook Regional County Municipality, QuebecCoaticook Regional County Municipality, QuebecCoaticook is a regional county municipality in southeastern Quebec, Canada. The regional county municipality seat is Coaticook.-History:On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris the American Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain...
- northeast
- Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Government
As in all Vermont counties, there is a small executive function which is mostly consolidated at the state level. Remaining county government is judicial. There are no "county taxes."In 2007, median property taxes in the county were $1,940, placing it 265 out of 1,817 counties in the nation with populations over 20,000.
The budget for 2006 was $428,612.51. Town taxes accounted for over 65% of this money. The budget was all fulfilled by the state. Almost 32% of the money was spent on courthouse personnel. Over 22% of the money was spent on the Sheriff Department's expenses.
Executive
The Assistant, or "Side," JudgesSide judge
Side judge is a judicial position apparently unique to the state of Vermont. Side judges sit with the judge in Superior and Family court. There is a Superior and a Family Court located in each of Vermont's 14 county at their "shire town" or county seat...
, Superior Court, approve the budget for county expenses.
- Assistant Judge (elected) - Robert Goodby
- Assistant Judge (elected) - Benjamin M. Batchelder
- Road commissioners (appointed for one-year terms by the Superior Court) Citizens may appeal to this commission when they believe that a town has failed to properly maintain a road or a bridge.
- Shawn Austin
- Thomas Berrier
- Dale Carpenter, Jr.
Judicial
The Superior, Family and Probate courts are all located at 247 Main Street, Newport Vermont.Superior Court presiding judge (appointed by the state) - Christina Reiss
Christina Reiss
Christina Clair Reiss is a United States district judge serving on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.- Early life and education :...
- Court clerk - Laura Dolgin
Family court presiding judge - Christina Reiss
Christina Reiss
Christina Clair Reiss is a United States district judge serving on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.- Early life and education :...
- Magistrate - Barbara Zander
- Assistant JudgesSide judgeSide judge is a judicial position apparently unique to the state of Vermont. Side judges sit with the judge in Superior and Family court. There is a Superior and a Family Court located in each of Vermont's 14 county at their "shire town" or county seat...
- Robert Goodby and Benjamin M. Batchelder
- County Clerk (appointed) - Constance Daigle
- Probate Judge (elected) - John P. Monette
The District Court is located at 217 Main Street, Newport, Vermont, as is the State Attorney.
The District court presiding judge is Walter Morris. The Court Manager is Tina de la Bruere. The State's Attorney (elected) is Keith Flynn.
The sheriff's office and jail facilities are located at 255 Main Street, Newport, Vermont, next to the Superior Court building. The sheriff
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
, who is normally elected, is Kirk Martin. He was appointed by the governor to fill the remaining two years for Lance Bowen, who resigned for health reasons.
Legislators
The Essex-Orleans Senate districtEssex-Orleans Vermont Senate District, 2002-2012
The Essex-Orleans Senate District is one of 13 Vermont Senate districts included in the redistricting and reapportionment plan developed by the Vermont General Assembly following the 2000 U.S. Census. The plan applies to legislatures elected in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. A new plan will be...
includes all of Orleans County, as well as parts or all of Essex County
Essex County, Vermont
Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
, Franklin County
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
and Lamoille County. It is represented in the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
by Vincent Illuzzi
Vincent Illuzzi
Vincent Illuzzi is an American politician and a Republican member of the Vermont State Senate, representing the Essex-Orleans senate district....
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) and Robert A. Starr
Robert A. Starr
Robert A. Starr is an American politician from Vermont who currently serves as a Democratic member of the Vermont State Senate. He has represented the Essex-Orleans senate district since 2004. He had previously spent a quarter-century in the Vermont House of Representatives.-Biography:Robert Starr...
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
).
Elections
| Year | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 62.6% 7,998 | 35.1% 4,482 |
| 2004 | 51.7% 6,330 | 46.3% 5,666 |
| 2000 | 45.1% 5,472 | 47.8% 5,799 |
Normally voting among the most conservative counties in Vermont, the county overwhelmingly supported the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 with nearly 63% of the vote. No town supported the Republican opponent. Nevertheless, the county elected only Republicans to the state senate and legislature and voted overwhelmingly for a Republican governor and lieutenant governor, yet Democratic for all other state offices.
With one exception in the legislature for one district, the vote was not close for any office.
A record seventy-three percent of the voters turned out for the general election in 2000.
History
The county shares the same pre-Columbian history with the Northeast Kingdom.In 1753, the Abenakis brought the ransomed John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
down Lake Memphremagog and came ashore where Newport is now. They then traveled southeast to his home in New Hampshire.
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...
were forced to retreat through the county following their attack on Saint-Francis, Quebec
Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec
Saint-François-du-Lac is a community in the Nicolet-Yamaska Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,002...
in 1759. To confound their avenging pursuers, they split up on the east shore of Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
. One group followed the Clyde River. Another followed the Barton River south to the falls at the outlet of Crystal Lake where they were able to catch fish. From there, they continued south over the summit into the Passumpsic River
Passumpsic River
The Passumpsic River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, in Vermont. Though primarily a Caledonia County river, it is the only river to flow through all three counties of the Northeast Kingdom.- Course :...
Valley.
The British Crown sent out surveyors to mark the border between its two colonies of Canada and America in accordance with the Quebec Act
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act of 1774 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain setting procedures of governance in the Province of Quebec...
of 1774. This was supposed to be on the 45th parallel. The result, however was a crooked line up to 0.75 miles (1.2 km) north of this intended border. This was resolved in favor of the crooked line by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842. This affected Orleans County, particularly Derby Line, which would have otherwise reverted to Canada.
In 1779 or 1780, General Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers. His service included particularly brutal raids during the Expulsion of the Acadians and...
constructed the Bayley-Hazen Military Road from Newbury, Vermont through Hardwick, Greensboro, Craftsbury, and Albany to Hazen's Notch in northern Vermont. This purpose of this road was to invade Canada. It was never used for that purpose, but was instrumental in the settlement of this area. However, it was five or more years before the wilderness was inhabited by other than a few Abenaki Indians, and that during the summer.
Vermont was divided into two counties in March, 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, located about where they are now. The northern remainder was called Orange county. This latter tract nearly corresponded with the old New York county of Gloucester, organized by that province March 16, 1770, with Newbury as the shire town.
The state granted a town to Ebenezer Crafts, and sixty-three associates, on November 6, 1780. The town name was changed to Craftsbury, in honor of Ebenezer Crafts on October 27, 1790. Crafts was the first settler in the county.
On September 3, 1783, as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
the Revolutionary War ended with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. Vermont's border with Quebec was established at 45 degrees north latitude.
From 1791 to 1793, Timothy Hinman
Timothy Hinman
Timothy Hinman was a pioneer road builder who constructed the Hinman Settler Road in Orleans County, Vermont.-References:...
built what is now called the "Hinman Settler Road
Hinman Settler Road
The Hinman Settler Road was constructed by former Revolutionary War veteran Timothy Hinman from 1791-1795 in Orleans County, Vermont. Hinman's intent was to help develop the land he owned in Derby....
" linking Greensboro north to Derby and Canada.
On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans. No reason is given for the county being named after Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Orleans lost territory when the new Jefferson county was created in 1797.
In 1810, Runaway Pond
Runaway Pond
Runaway Pond was a lake on the site of the former Long Pond in Glover, Vermont. Located south of what is today the central village of Glover, it is now a marsh.- Hydrology :An engineer estimated that the pond must have contained of water....
suddenly flooded the Barton River Valley with 1988000000 gallons (7,525,399,056 l)of water in the greatest natural catastrophe in Orleans County post-Columbian history. Incredibly, no lives were lost.
On December 27, 1813, the county was invaded by British militia from nearby Stanstead, Quebec, during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
in order to destroy an undefended barracks at Derby and to forage for supplies. No one was injured. Until the invasion, local inhabitants, like most New Englanders, opposed the war. A number had smuggled supplies to the British. After the invasion, their enthusiasm for their neighbors diminished substantially.
June 1816 brought 1 foot (0.3048 m) of snow to the county followed by agricultural devastation. 1816 became known as the Year without a summer
Year Without a Summer
The Year Without a Summer was 1816, in which severe summer climate abnormalities caused average global temperatures to decrease by about 0.4–0.7 °C , resulting in major food shortages across the Northern Hemisphere...
.
When Lamoille county was formed in October 1835, Orleans lost the towns of Eden, Hyde Park, Morristown, and Wolcott.
In 1858, Barton (and Orleans County) obtained a triangular piece of land from Sheffield (and Caledonia County) which included all of May Pond, the entire area south of Crystal Lake, and the village of South Barton.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Company D, 4th Vermont Infantry
4th Vermont Infantry
The 4th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three year' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 1861 to July 1865...
was recruited largely from Orleans County.
Volunteers from the county joined the Union Army in response to a call from the government. In September 1861, they joined the Vermont 6th Vermont Infantry
6th Vermont Infantry
The 6th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from October 1861 to June 1865. It was a member of the Vermont Brigade.The...
, and helped fill out Company D. The regiment ultimately became part of the First Vermont Brigade.
In 1864, 267 men from the 11th Vermont Infantry
11th Vermont Infantry
The 11th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry or simply known as 11th VVI was a three-years infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in eastern theater, from September 1862 to August 1865...
were captured at the Weldon Railroad
Battle of the Weldon Railroad
The Battle of the Weldon Railroad refers to two actions in Virginia during the American Civil War:* The First Battle of the Weldon Railroad is now more commonly referred to as the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road....
in the Overland campaign. today better known as the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, also known as the First Battle of the Weldon Railroad, was fought June 21–23, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia. It was the first of a series of battles during the Siege of Petersburg aimed at extending the Union siege lines to the west and cutting the rail...
. It was a considerable source of local concern when it was learned that these prisoners had been taken to Andersonville prison, a place known, even then, for its poor living conditions. 54 of these prisoners were from Orleans County. Many of them died in prison.
French immigration into the county started before the Civil War. It continued afterwards.
Like the rest of the state, Orleans County sent up to one-quarter of its eligible men to the Civil War. Ten percent of these died. Others came back too maimed to continue working their farms, which most volunteers had left. The sudden offering of many farms for sale in the mid-1860s resulted in a precipitous drop in farm prices. Nearby French-Canadians took advantage of this. As a result of this and loss of native farm labor to other states, Vermont, particularly the northern part, saw many migrants then and through the turn of the twentieth century.
After increasing in population since its founding, the county began losing population starting in 1900. It reached a twentieth century low in population in 1960 at 20,143. The population has risen ever since.
In 1903, a state law allowed each town to decide whether to permit the sale of liquor within their boundaries. By 1905, no town in the county allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages. The change was not that dramatic since state law had theoretically forbidden alcohol prior to 1903, but this law was unevenly enforced.
In 1967, researcher and scientist Gerald Bull
Gerald Bull
Gerald Vincent Bull was a Canadian engineer who developed long-range artillery. He moved from project to project in his quest to launch economically a satellite using a huge artillery piece, to which end he designed the Project Babylon "supergun" for the Iraqi government...
constructed a laboratory for hisSpace Research Corporation
Space Research Corporation
Space Research Corporation was a corporation founded by Gerald Bull, after the budget for his research at Project HARP for the United States and Canadian federal governments was cut in 1967, in order to commercialize the technology of long-range artillery. Project HARP's assets were then given to...
in Highwater, just north of the county's Canadian border. The property overlapped into the county in North Troy
North Troy, Vermont
North Troy is a village in Troy, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 593 at the 2000 census.-History:There were Winter Carnivals from 1940 to 1942. In 1942, 4,000 people attended...
. His intent was to fire research packages into orbit using heavy artillery.
In 2004, what was then billed as the final concert of the band Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
was held in Coventry on August 14–15. The concert was the single largest gathering of people in the town's history. With 70,000 tickets sold, Coventry's augmented population was one of the largest in the state's history.
The county has twenty-three places on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2008, the state notified residents of Albany, Craftsbury, Irasburg, Lowell, Newport Town, Troy, Westfield and six towns in the adjacent counties of Lamoille and Franklin, that a review of health records from 1995 to 2006 had revealed that residents within 10 miles (16.1 km) of the former asbestos mine on Belividere Mountain had higher than normal rates of contracting asbestosis
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers...
. The state and federal government continues to study this problem. A critic replied that the entire basis of the study were three unidentified people who died from asbestosis 1995-2005 out of a total population of 16,700. In April 2009 the Vermont Department of health released a revised study which found that all of deaths related to the asbestos mine were caused by occupational exposure. The report also concluded that people living near the mines had no increased risk of asbestos related illness than people living anywhere else in Vermont. However, the site will still need to be cleaned up. In 2009, the expected cost of cleanup was $300 million.
Population
Of the four Vermont counties bordering Canada, Orleans County is the largest. That said, all four counties have the lowest population in Vermont.At the 2000 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
- People - 26,277
- Households - 10,446
- Families - 7,155
- Population densityPopulation densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
- 15/km² (38/sq mi) - Housing units - 14,673
- Density of housing units - 8/km² (21/sq mi)
The racial makeup of the county
- WhiteRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 97.16% - from two or more races - 1.37%
- HispanicRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or LatinoRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.72% - Native AmericanRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.65% - BlackRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African AmericanRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.37% - AsianRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.30% - Other racesRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.13% - Pacific IslanderRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 0.02%
94.5% were born in the United States. 90.58% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at home, while 7.72% spoke French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Population distribution
In the county, the population was distributed by age as follows:- Under the (18 year spread) - 25.10%
- From 18 to 24 (7 year spread) - 7.10%
- From 25 to 44 (20 year spread) - 26.80%
- From 45 to 64 (20 year spread) - 25.90%
- 65 years of age or older - 15.00%
The median age was 39 years.
For every 100 females there were 98.60 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
Ancestry
- French/French Canadian - 30%
- English - 17%
- Irish - 11%
- German - 5%
- Scottish - 4%
- Italian - 3%
- Scots-Irish - 2%
- Polish - 2%
- Canadian - 2%
- American Indian - 2%
- Swedish - 1%
- Dutch - 1%
- Welsh - 1%
- Russian - 1%
Religion
In 2000, the following were counted by denomination:- Catholics 7,775
- Mainline Protestant 2,064
- Evangelical Protestant 838
- Other 304
- Unclaimed 15,296
Households and housing
- Households - 10,446
- Children under the living in household - 32.10%
- married couplesMarriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together - 54.40% - Female householder with no husband present - 9.60%
- Non-families - 31.50%
- Individuals - 25.20%
- Someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older - 10.90%
- Average household size - 2.45
- Average family size - 2.91
- Owned their own homes - 74.1%
- Lived in multi-unit dwellings - 14.9%
- Average value of owner occupied homes - $78,800.
In 2004, Orleans County had the least expensive rental housing in Vermont. In 2008, one-third of residential housing were used as second homes.
Incomes
- Family = $36,630
- HouseholdMedian household incomeThe median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
= $31,084 - Males = $27,964
- Females = $20,779
- Per capita incomePer capita incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
= $16,518.
Poverty statistics
The following were below the poverty line:- Under age 18 = 17.90%
- Population = 14.10%
- Age 65 or over = 10.90%
- Families = 10.60%
The poverty rate for Orleans County was highest in Vermont for 2003. Median wages were the second lowest in the state.
See also Vermont locations by per capita income
Vermont locations by per capita income
Vermont has the twenty-fifth highest per capita income in the United States of America, at $20,625 . Its personal per capita income is $30,740 .-Vermont counties ranked by per capita income:...
Unemployment
In March 2008, the unemployment rate was 9.1% seasonally uncorrected, the highest in the state, which averaged 5.3%.Business and industry
There were 838 private non-farm establishments, employing 7,392 people. In 2002, there was $238 million manufacturer's shipments. That year, the county had $240 million in retail sales. Retail sales per capita were $9,000. 24% of firms were owned by women.In 2003, there were 194 dairy farms in the county. This was the third largest number in the state. In March 2010, the number of dairy farms had declined to 139. In March 2007 county farms produced 29585000 pounds (13,419,530.3 kg) of milk. The total number of farms increased between 1992 and 2007. Total area farmed decreased from 149503 acres (60,501.8 ha) in 1992 to 130308 acres (52,733.8 ha) in 2007.
For forest products, from 1988 to 2004, Orleans County showed the greatest employment increase in the state.
Retail
There are five pharmacies in the county, three are regional chains. When the Rite AidRite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
drugstores bought the Brooks
Brooks Pharmacy
Brooks Pharmacy was a chain of more than 330 pharmacies located throughout New England and New York and has been a well-recognized name in the New England pharmacy industry for several decades. The corporate headquarters were located in Warwick, Rhode Island...
pharmacies in 2007, this would have reduced competition by one in the area. The Vermont Attorney General
Vermont Attorney General
The Vermont Attorney General is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. It was created by an act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1790, repealed in 1797, and revived in 1904. The office began as a one-person operation...
intervened and one of the two drugstores will be sold to a competitor.
There are four national chain fast food restaurants in the county, one in Orleans, one in Derby and two in the city of Newport.
There are two regional chain supermarkets in the county, both in Derby. There are local groceries as well.
There is one cinema, a tri-plex, in Newport.
Tourism
The county is tied for first place in Vermont with the highest percentage of second home ownership.Education
78.2% of residents had at least a high school education. 16.1% had at least an undergraduate degree.There are three public high schools in the county: North Country Union High School
North Country Union High School
North Country Union High School , commonly known as North Country or NCU, is a secondary school located in Newport, Vermont. The school is operated by the North Country Supervisory Union school district ....
(1063 students), Lake Region Union High School
Lake Region Union High School
Lake Region Union High School, commonly known as Lake Region, is a secondary school located in Barton, Vermont. The school is operated by the Orleans Central Supervisory Union school district....
(396), and Craftsbury Academy
Craftsbury Academy
Craftsbury Academy, with 171 students, is one of the smallest public schools in Vermont, USA. The school is located in Craftsbury and teaches 5th through 12th grade. The school is a part of the Craftsbury School System...
(59). Wheeler Mountain Academy, grades 7-12, aids students who have emotional, behavioral or learning challenges. 15 are enrolled. United Christian Academy is a private religious school K-12, enrolling 108 students.
In 2007, the juniors in three public secondary schools in three different schools districts, North Country, Lake Region, and Craftsbury, scored lower than the state averages on standardized tests with one exception. North Country scored better than average in reading. Areas tested were math, reading and writing.
In 2008, there was no correlation between the performance of students on the standardized New England Common Assessment Program
New England Common Assessment Program
The New England Common Assessment Program is a series of reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement tests, administered annually, which were developed in response to the Federal No Child Left Behind Act...
tests and poverty (free lunch). The five wealthiest schools were among the ten worst performers; of the five poorest schools, three were among the top ten performers in the county. Schools in the Orleans Central Supervisory Union
Orleans Central Supervisory Union
The Orleans Central Supervisory Union is a school district responsible for the education of students in the Vermont towns of Albany, Barton, Brownington, Glover, Irasburg, Orleans, and Westmore. This requires maintaining one elementary schools in each of the towns mentioned, plus the Lake Region...
(the top four) appeared to outperform the North Country Supervisory Union
North Country Supervisory Union
The North Country Supervisory Union is a school district responsible for the education of students in the Vermont towns of the city of Newport, Newport Town, Derby, Charleston, Coventry, Jay, Troy, North Troy, Coventry, Brighton, Holland, Morgan, Westfield, and Lowell...
(eight out of ten worst performing).
There are about 85 home schooled
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
students in the county, grades 1-12.
The Northeast Kingdom Learning Services is a non-profit agency that provides a central clearing house for learning services. It is located in the village of Orleans.
The Central Orleans Family Education Center was establishined in 2002 to offer childcare, pre-K programs, after-school programs, and migrant education classes in the village of Orleans.
Higher education
Craftsbury Common is home to Sterling CollegeSterling College (Vermont)
Sterling College is a college in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, known as the smallest accredited four-year college in the country. Sterling is one of seven colleges in the Work College Consortium. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
, an accredited four year institution with nearly 100 students.
The city of Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
is home to a branch of the Community College of Vermont
Community College of Vermont
The Community College of Vermont is a two year college founded in 1970 with locations in 12 sites in the state of Vermont. The college is a part of the Vermont State Colleges, a consortium of Vermont's five public colleges governed by a common board of trustees, chancellor, and Council of...
which enrolls nearly 300 students. It awards an Associate's Degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
for these undergraduate studies.
Cultural
There are thirteen libraries in the county, all of them 501(c) corporations. This includes two full time libraries in Derby Line and the city of Newport. The rest often have one part-time paid librarian. Much of the staff are volunteers. One is endowed. The rest depend upon fundraising and municipal contributions.With the French immigrants came their religion, Catholicism, which is the plurality religion in the county today. Formal dance included the galop
Galop
In dance, the galop, named after the fastest running gait of a horse , a shortened version of the original term galoppade, is a lively country dance, introduced in the late 1820s to Parisian society by the Duchesse de Berry and popular in Vienna, Berlin and London...
.
Cities, towns, and villages
There are eighteen towns and one city in the county.Most towns contract with the County Sheriff for policing.
- Albany
- Albany VillageAlbany (village), VermontAlbany is a village in the town of Albany in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 165 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.5 square miles , all land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were...
- Albany Village
- BartonBarton (town), VermontBarton is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,780 at the 2000 census. The town includes two incorporated villages, Barton and Orleans. Approximately 30% of the town's population lived in the village of Orleans, 27% in the village of Barton, and 43% outside of the...
- BartonBarton (village), VermontBarton is a village located near the center of the town of Barton, in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census.-Government:...
(a village of Barton) - OrleansOrleans, VermontOrleans is a village in the northwestern corner of Barton, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 826 at the 2000 census, making it the largest village in Orleans County.-Government:...
(a village of Barton)
- Barton
- BrowningtonBrownington, VermontBrownington is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 885 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.4 square miles , of which 28.3 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
- CharlestonCharleston, VermontCharleston is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 895 at the 2000 census. The town contains three unincorporated villages: Charleston, East Charleston and West Charleston.-Town:* Selectman - Tom Jensen...
- CoventryCoventry, VermontCoventry is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Local government:A waste system company paid the town about $800,000 in "tipping fees" in 2009. This allows the town property tax rate to be zero...
- CraftsburyCraftsbury, VermontCraftsbury is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The town includes the four unincorporated villages of Craftsbury Common, Mill Village, North Craftsbury and East Craftsbury.-Town:...
- DerbyDerby, VermontDerby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line...
- Beebe Plain (an unincorporated village of Derby)
- Derby CenterDerby Center, VermontDerby Center is a village in the town of Derby, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 670 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(a village of Derby) - Derby LineDerby Line, VermontDerby Line is an incorporated village in the town of Derby in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, slightly north of the 45th parallel, the normal U.S.-Canadian boundary...
(a village of Derby)
- GloverGlover, VermontGlover is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 966. It contains two unincorporated villages, Glover and West Glover....
- GreensboroGreensboro, VermontGreensboro is the southernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 770 at the 2000 census. The town includes the places of Campbells Corners, East Greensboro, Gebbie Corner, Greensboro Four Corners, Greensboro Bend, The Four Corners, Tolmans Corner, and Burlington...
- HollandHolland, VermontHolland is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census.-Town:* Selectman - Brett Farrow, Ron Patenaude* Town Clerk - Diane Judd* Treasurer - Diane Judd* Delinquent Tax Collector - Diane Judd...
- IrasburgIrasburg, VermontIrasburg is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2000 census.-Town:* Moderator - David Turner* Selectman - Randy Wells, Roger Gagnon * Town Clerk - Barbara Lawson* Town Treasurer - Barbara Lawson...
- JayJay, VermontJay is one of the northernmost towns in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, located on the Canadian border. The population was 426 at the 2000 census. Jay is named for John Jay, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The US Census Bureau estimated that the town's population had...
- LowellLowell, VermontLowell is the westernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census.-School District:* Budget - $1,199,600* Principal - Scott Boskind...
- MorganMorgan, VermontMorgan is the easternmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: Morgan and Morgan Center.-History:The town was named for John Morgan, a landholder....
- Newport (city)Newport (city), VermontNewport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
- Newport (town)Newport (town), VermontNewport is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,511 at the 2000 census. The town is referred to by the United States Postal Service and the media as Newport Center, the name of the main settlement of the town.-Town:...
- TroyTroy, VermontTroy is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,564 at the 2000 census. Troy contains two villages: the unincorporated village of Troy, and the incorporated village of North Troy.-Town:* Moderator - Robert Starr...
- North TroyNorth Troy, VermontNorth Troy is a village in Troy, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 593 at the 2000 census.-History:There were Winter Carnivals from 1940 to 1942. In 1942, 4,000 people attended...
(a village of Troy)
- North Troy
- WestfieldWestfield, VermontWestfield is a town in Orleans County, Vermont in the United States. The population was 503 at the 2000 census. It is the least densely populated town in the county...
- WestmoreWestmore, VermontWestmore is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county...
Health and public safety
- Orleans-Essex Visiting Nurses Association and HospiceOrleans-Essex Visiting Nurses Association and HospiceOrleans-Essex Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice, also known as Orleans-Essex VNA, is a not-for-profit home care and hospice agency, which has served Orleans County, Vermont and Essex County, Vermont since its inception in 1969...
- non-profit palliative care
Newspapers
- The ChronicleThe Chronicle (Barton, Vermont)The Chronicle is a weekly newspaper published in Barton, Vermont. Circulation was 8,500 in 1998....
- published weekly in Barton - The Newport Daily ExpressNewport Daily ExpressThe Newport Daily Express is a newspaper published weekdays in Newport , Vermont.-History:There were a number of predecessor papers that merged to form the Express....
- published weekdays in Newport
Radio
- W243AE - 96.5 FM; Orleans
- WIKEWIKEWIKE is a radio station located in Newport, Vermont. It currently broadcasts a country music format at 1 kw 24 hours a day. It is owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners.-External links:...
- 1490 AM; 1 kW; Newport - WMOOWMOOWMOO is a hot adult contemporary formatted radio station broadcasting from Derby Center, Vermont, USA. It is owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners. It is rebroadcast on W257AU 99.3 in St. Johnsbury....
- 92.1 FM; Derby Center
Television
- W14CKWWBI-LPWWBI-LP was a low-power television station in Plattsburgh, New York. The station was owned and operated by SMC Communications.The station was licensed as Class A, even though the calls list it as an "-LP"; this was the case with many other stations licensed prior to 1999, when the FCC began to...
- Channel 14; Newport - NEK-TV - Channels 14 and 15; Northeast Kingdom Television, Newport.
Communication
Fairpoint CommunicationsFairPoint Communications
FairPoint Communications, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and operates communication services in 32 markets in 18 states, mostly in rural areas....
supplies hard line telephone coverage for the entire county.
Cell phones
In 2007, AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
bought out Unicel
Unicel
Unicel was a brand of mobile phone service from Rural Cellular Corporation. Service was provided in northern Minnesota, northern New England, Mississippi, Alabama, eastern Washington and Oregon, and adjacent areas. The company was headquartered in Alexandria, Minnesota. Until 2005, RCC also...
in Orleans County, and in the next year replaced Unicel.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
covers Newport city and the south Derby-I-91 area. Owl's Head in Canada may provide "roaming
Roaming
In wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the...
" service in the North part of the county.
Broadband
- Broadband coverage as of 2006
- Total Coverage = 86%
- Cable = 52%
- DSL = 44%
- Wireless Internet Service Provider = 69%
Major routes
The opening of Interstate 91Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
north from Barton on November 9, 1972 and opening south from the county in 1978 had an impact on the county comparable to the opening of the railway a century earlier. In 1980, the county registered its first population gain in a century.
The interstate has five exits in the county. Two are in the town of Barton, servicing the villages of Barton and Orleans; three are in the town of Derby: the southernmost one, exit 27, actually services Newport city a mile away, 28 services village of Derby Center and the shopping areas, 29, the village of Derby Line.
The county has 1041 miles (1,675.3 km) of state highway and class 1, 2 and 3 roads. 606 miles (975.3 km) of these are dirt roads (class 3). 141 miles (226.9 km) are unused roads (Class 4). As in most of New England, the county government does not build nor maintain any roads.
Derby has the most road mileage, 102; Westfield the least with 31.
The county has seven stoplights, five in the city of Newport and two in Derby. Six are on Route 5.
-
Interstate 91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
- Barton to Derby -
U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
- Barton to Derby -
VT 5AVermont Route 5AVermont Route 5A is a state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is an alternate route of U.S. Route 5 that passes along the east shore of Lake Willoughby...
- Westmore to Derby -
VT Route 14 - Irasburg to Coventry and Newport -
Vermont Route 16Vermont Route 16Vermont Route 16 is a north–south state highway in northern Vermont, United States. The route is long and connects Hardwick to Westmore. It begins at VT 15 in Hardwick and heads northward to U.S. Route 5 in Barton. From Barton, it heads eastward to VT 5A in Westmore...
- Greensboro to Westmore -
Vermont Route 58Vermont Route 58Vermont Route 58 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. The western terminus of the route is at VT 118 in Montgomery. The eastern terminus of VT 58 is at VT 5A north of Westmore and Lake Willoughby. In Orleans, VT 58 runs concurrent to U.S...
- Lowell to Westmore -
VT Route 100 - Newport through Eden. One of the few good roads west/southwest from the county. -
Vermont Route 101 - Connects North Troy and Route 105 with Troy Village -
VT Route 105 - Troy to Charleston. Road east of Charleston was closed for awhile due to flood damage from Tropical Storm IreneHurricane Irene (2011)Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
in 2011 -
Vermont Route 111 - Derby to Morgan -
VT Route 114 - Goes through Morgan -
VT 122 - Glover southeast to Sheffield -
Vermont Route 191Vermont Route 191Vermont Route 191 is a short state highway in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. It serves as a connection from Interstate 91 to the city of Newport...
- "Access Road", connects I-91, Exit 27, to the city of Newport -
Vermont Route 242 - connects route 101 in Jay, with Jay Peak Village -
Vermont Route 243Vermont Route 243Vermont Route 243 is a state highway located within the village of North Troy in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The route runs from VT 105 in the village center to the Canada – United States border at Potton, where the road continues into Quebec as Route 243.-Major...
- Connects North Troy to Mansonville, apparently retaining the same number on the Canadian side of the border
Local community public and private transportation
The RCT (Rural Community TransportationRural Community Transportation
Rural Community Transportation is a nonprofit, public bus system headquartered in St. Johnsbury in Caledonia County, Vermont. RCT serves the counties of Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, and Orleans Counties. It provides regular bus routes to member municipalities.It consists of mainly volunteer drivers...
), a non-profit organization, runs out of Saint Johnsbury and services Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille and Orleans Counties. For general use, there are four buses north and south during the week from west Newport city to Derby Center, and two buses each way on Saturday. The fare is US 25 cents.
Railroads
Washington County Railroad (The Vermont Railway System) - WACR has just recently been awarded a 30 year contract to operate the track running from White River Junction North through St. Johnsbury and Newport. Users ship freight on this route.There are no stops in the county. A line once ran up the east side of Lake Memphremagog, but this line has been abandoned and in some cases, torn up for use as hiking trails. This crossed the line near Beebe. The line still in operation goes northwest to Canada through North Troy.
Airport
The county is served by the Newport State AirportNewport State Airport (Vermont)
Newport State Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Newport, a city in Orleans County, Vermont, United States...
. It contains two runways of 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) each 05-23, and 18-36.
Ecological concerns
The Nature Conservancy has acted to protect areas against development. Specific areas in the county include: May Pond, Barton, Wheeler Mountain, the north beach at Willoughby Lake, the Westmore Town Forest, the Willoughby Falls Wildlife Management Area, and the South Bay Wildlife Management Area (Memphremagog).Notable residents
- John GuntherJohn GuntherJohn Gunther was an American journalist and author whose success came primarily in the 1940s and 1950s with a series of popular sociopolitical works known as the "Inside" books...
, author and part-time resident of Greensboro - Henry M. LelandHenry M. LelandHenry Martyn Leland was a machinist, inventor, engineer and automotive entrepreneur who founded the two premier American luxury marques, Cadillac and Lincoln. Retrieved December 30, 2008....
, machinist, inventor, engineer and automotive entrepreneur. Created and named both the original Cadillac and the original Lincoln. At one time he was President or Chief Executive of both divisions or companies. Born in Barton. - Gilbert C. Lucier - last surviving Civil War veteran in Vermont. Died 1944 in Jay.
- Howard Frank MosherHoward Frank MosherHoward Frank Mosher is a contemporary author of eleven books: ten fiction and one non-fiction. Much of his fiction takes place in the mid-20th century and all of it is set in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, a region loosely defined by the three counties in the northeastern corner of the state...
, author of many books set in the Northeast Kingdom. Lives in Irasburg. - William Hubbs Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme CourtChief Justice of the United StatesThe Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
and part-time resident of Greensboro - Theodore RobinsonTheodore RobinsonTheodore Robinson was an American painter best known for his impressionist landscapes. He was one of the first American artists to take up impressionism in the late 1880s, visiting Giverny and developing a close friendship with Claude Monet...
, impressionist landscape painter. Born in Irasburg. - Wallace StegnerWallace StegnerWallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
, Pulitzer prizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning author (part-time resident of Greensboro) - William Barstow Strong, president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayThe Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. Born in Brownington. - Alexander TwilightAlexander TwilightAlexander Lucius Twilight , born free in Vermont, was the first black person known to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university upon graduating Middlebury College in 1823. An educator, minister and politician, he was licensed as a Congregational preacher, and worked in...
, first African American to serve on a state legislature, and first African American to receive a degree from an American University. Lived in Brownington.
See also
- Essex-Orleans Vermont Senate District, 2002-2012Essex-Orleans Vermont Senate District, 2002-2012The Essex-Orleans Senate District is one of 13 Vermont Senate districts included in the redistricting and reapportionment plan developed by the Vermont General Assembly following the 2000 U.S. Census. The plan applies to legislatures elected in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. A new plan will be...
- Historical U.S. Census Totals for Orleans County, VermontHistorical U.S. Census totals for Orleans County, VermontThis article shows U.S. Census totals for Orleans County, Vermont, broken down by municipality, from 1900 to 2000. The county population reached a 20th century low in 1960, 20,143, and has increased its population ever since....
- List of counties in Vermont
- List of towns in Vermont
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans County, Vermont