Essex Junction, Vermont
Essex Junction is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States.[4] As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 10,590. It was incorporated as a village on November 15, 1892. Essex Junction became Vermont’s 10th city on July 1, 2022.[5]
Essex Junction, Vermont | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Essex Junction | |
 Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont. | |
| Coordinates: 44°29′34″N 73°6′31″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Chittenden |
| Incorporated (village) | 1892 |
| Incorporated (city) | 2022 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.74 sq mi (12.28 km2) |
| • Land | 4.57 sq mi (11.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 344 ft (105 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 10,590 |
| • Density | 2,200/sq mi (860/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 05451-05453 |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-24400[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1457378[3] |
| Website | www |
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides daily service via its station in Essex Junction, one of two rail stations in Chittenden County. The Vermonter train runs daily from St. Albans in northern Vermont to Union Station in Washington, D.C.; passing through Essex Junction. It was formerly called the Montrealer; its terminus being at Central Station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Essex Junction was the nearest Amtrak station to Burlington until the Ethan Allen Express was extended to serve Burlington directly on July 29, 2022.
The city is part of the Essex Westford Unified Union School District which operates K-12 schools including Essex High School. The city is surrounded on three sides by the Town of Essex ("Essex Town").
Essex Junction is home to GlobalFoundries' Burlington Design Center and 200 mm wafer fabrication plant. GlobalFoundries is the largest private employer in the state of Vermont, with approximately 3,000 employees.[6]
History
IBM and GlobalFoundries
The village history was affected in a major way by the presence of IBM (now GlobalFoundries), which chose Essex Junction as the site for its facility in 1958.
In 1958, IBM leased a 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) facility in the southeast part of the village for its new Data Processing Division. By the end of the year, there were 500 workers. In 1969, the plant expanded to 820,000 square feet (7.6 ha).
In 1982, employment reached an all-time high of 8,000. In 2007, the town listers dropped the value of the plant from a high of $147.5 million to $104 million.[7] The plant's workforce was a little over 5,000 in 2011. As a GlobalFoundries operation since July 2015, the plant retains about 3,000 employees.
Cyberbullying
In 2003, as a result of the nationally publicized suicide of an Essex Junction teenager, Vermont and other states passed legislation against cyberbullying.[8][9]
Geography
Essex Junction is located southwest of Essex and is bordered on the south by the Winooski River. The city is 6 miles (10 km) east of downtown Burlington via Vermont Route 15. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.3 km2), of which 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), or 3.72%, is water.[11]
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Essex Junction has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[12]
| Climate data for Essex Junction, Vermont, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2014 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
60 (16) |
82 (28) |
91 (33) |
93 (34) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
82 (28) |
74 (23) |
64 (18) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 50.5 (10.3) |
50.6 (10.3) |
63.8 (17.7) |
78.2 (25.7) |
85.4 (29.7) |
90.6 (32.6) |
91.4 (33.0) |
90.3 (32.4) |
85.4 (29.7) |
75.2 (24.0) |
66.5 (19.2) |
52.0 (11.1) |
93.3 (34.1) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 28.4 (−2.0) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
40.3 (4.6) |
54.4 (12.4) |
68.2 (20.1) |
76.9 (24.9) |
81.3 (27.4) |
79.9 (26.6) |
72.1 (22.3) |
58.2 (14.6) |
46.1 (7.8) |
34.6 (1.4) |
56.0 (13.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.1 (−7.2) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
44.6 (7.0) |
57.4 (14.1) |
66.5 (19.2) |
71.0 (21.7) |
69.6 (20.9) |
62.0 (16.7) |
49.2 (9.6) |
38.3 (3.5) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
46.4 (8.0) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 9.9 (−12.3) |
11.4 (−11.4) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
34.7 (1.5) |
46.7 (8.2) |
56.1 (13.4) |
60.8 (16.0) |
59.2 (15.1) |
51.8 (11.0) |
40.2 (4.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
36.8 (2.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −17.2 (−27.3) |
−13.8 (−25.4) |
−5.7 (−20.9) |
18.2 (−7.7) |
28.8 (−1.8) |
38.5 (3.6) |
46.7 (8.2) |
42.6 (5.9) |
33.3 (0.7) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
11.3 (−11.5) |
−6.5 (−21.4) |
−20.4 (−29.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) |
−35 (−37) |
−23 (−31) |
2 (−17) |
25 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
39 (4) |
36 (2) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
−3 (−19) |
−26 (−32) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.49 (63) |
2.11 (54) |
2.70 (69) |
3.49 (89) |
3.96 (101) |
4.64 (118) |
4.51 (115) |
4.00 (102) |
3.98 (101) |
4.44 (113) |
3.02 (77) |
2.97 (75) |
42.31 (1,075) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 20.4 (52) |
19.2 (49) |
16.5 (42) |
4.4 (11) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
5.8 (15) |
19.3 (49) |
85.9 (218) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 15.5 | 12.1 | 12.5 | 13.3 | 15.0 | 14.5 | 14.6 | 12.7 | 12.3 | 14.1 | 13.3 | 16.0 | 165.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 12.9 | 10.4 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.8 | 10.7 | 47.6 |
| Source 1: NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)[14] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1,141 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,245 | 9.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,410 | 13.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,621 | 15.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,901 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,741 | 44.2% | |
| 1960 | 5,340 | 94.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,511 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,033 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 8,396 | 19.4% | |
| 2000 | 8,591 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 9,271 | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 10,590 | 14.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 8,591 people, 3,409 households, and 2,253 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,804.1 people per square mile (696.8/km2). There were 3,501 housing units at an average density of 735.2/sq mi (284.0/km2). There were 3,409 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
Economy
Personal income
The median income for a household in the city was $53,444, and the median income for a family was $61,985. Males had a median income of $40,287 versus $26,910 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,142. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[2]
Industry
The largest industrial facility in Vermont is GlobalFoundries' semiconductor plant in Essex Junction. In 2007, the then-IBM plant had the largest assessment in the town, $104 million.[16]
Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction is home to the Champlain Valley Exposition, a former dirt racetrack that has evolved into a large event field, with stadium seating for concerts, and multiple halls that can host a variety of indoor events.
Champlain Valley Fair
The 10-day Champlain Valley Fair is the most notable event held at the Expo. The state's largest fair consists of five components blended together at the same time:
- A large agricultural exhibit with a dairy cows, other farm animals, and 4-H-style events for both livestock and agriculture.
- A commercial exhibit for a variety of local and regional vendors to showcase their products to the public.
- A large area dedicated to a mix of local foods like real maple syrup, and conventional fair foods such as fried dough and cotton candy.
- A midway provided by Strates Shows with rides typical of a large traveling carnival.
- Nightly concerts, which in 2010 included Lyle Lovett, Keith Urban, and Justin Bieber.[17]
The Fair was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The headliner for the Fair Darius Rucker will return to the Fair in 2021.
Over the last decade, total fair attendance has been almost 300,000 per year. In 2010, the fair had 46 carnival rides and almost 200 vendors.[17]
Other Expo events
Other events held at the Champlain Valley Expo include an Antique Car Show, WOKO Giant Flea Market, Nightmare Vermont, Vermont International Festival, and the Champlain Valley Balloon Festival.
Government
| Town vote to merge | Revote | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | 2006-11-07 | 2007-01-23 | ||
| Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| 6-1 (outside village) | 1,283 | 2,319 | 690 | 2,528 |
| 6-3 (outside village) | 365 | 822 | ||
| 6-2 (within village) | 2,728 | 1,026 | 2,009 | 362 |
| Townwide totals | 4,376 | 4,167 | 2,699 | 2,890 |
| Village vote to accept | No revote required, result was uncontested. | |||
| 2,922 | 1,085 | |||
The Village of Essex Junction was formed within the town of Essex on November 15, 1892. The village was formed to provide services (such as sidewalks, water, and sewers) to the villagers that the rest of the mostly rural town did not want, and did not want to pay for.
As the town outside the village developed, it added similar services. By 1958, the first hints of merger showed up in a voter petition. Since then a series of votes (often contentious) had defeated or passed merger in each community, but never at the same time in both. The state legislature required a positive vote in both.
This temporarily changed on 2006-11-07 when merger passed in the town as a whole, and in the village. Everyone in the town voted on the merger; the villagers voted in a second ballot on the merger if it passed the townwide vote. The large regional paper initially misreported the results as a defeat of the merger, based solely on the vote results outside the village.[18] The next day the correct results were reported in both the town's paper,[19] and as a correction in the regional paper.[20]
On December 6, 2006, a petition to reconsider the merger was submitted to the Town. The petition contained signatures totaling more than 5 percent of registered voters, which is the threshold required to force a re-vote.[21] The revote was held on 2007-01-23 with a result that overturned merger by 191 votes, rejecting the current merger proposal.[22]
In late 2020 and early 2021 merger discussions took place again, and a new charter for a merger between the Town of Essex outside the Village and the Village of Essex Junction was voted down in March 2021.[23]
On November 2, 2021, Essex Junction voted heavily in favor of secession from the Town of Essex, forming a new city.[24] The referendum requires approval by the Vermont State Legislature in order to take effect.[25]
On July 1, 2022, the Village of Essex Junction became the City of Essex Junction.
Education
The Essex Westford School District was consolidated in 2017. The district includes and funds schools in Essex Junction, Essex Town, and Westford. The schools in Essex Junction include Essex High School, Summit Street School (K-3), Thomas Fleming School (4-5), Albert D. Lawton School (6-9), the Hiawatha School(K-3), and the Center for Technology Essex.[26]
Notable people
- Guy W. Bailey, Secretary of State of Vermont and University of Vermont president[27]
- Season Hubley, actress[28][29]
- Dewey H. Perry, U.S. Marshal for Vermont[30]
- Loung Ung, author[31]
- Brian Wood, comic book author and screenwriter[32]
See also
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- Official map Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine by the United States Census Bureau; Chittenden County listed on page 3. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- Robinson, Shaun (July 1, 2022). "Essex Junction celebrates becoming an independent city". VTDigger. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- Archived 2020-07-31 at the Wayback Machine by VTDigger.org. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
- McLean, Dan; Matt Ryan (January 28, 2009). "Layoffs: Long-feared job losses hit IBM". Burlington Free Press.
- "Teen suicide: Greater IBMer John Halligan says there IS something we can do". Connections eMagazine. IBM. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- Norton, Justin M. (February 21, 2007). "States Pushing for Laws to Curb Cyberbullying". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- Cohen, Lana (November 2, 2021). "Essex Junction residents vote to become an independent city". VTDigger. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Essex Junction village, Chittenden County, Vermont". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- "Essex Junction, Vermont Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Essex Junction 1 N, VT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Burlington". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- Ryan, Matt (July 28, 2007). Value drops at IBM plant. Burlington Free Press.
- Briggs, John (September 6, 2010). "Champlain Valley Fair hits end of the ride". Burlington Free Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- Welch, Victoria (November 8, 2006). "Essex Defeats Merger 2-1". Burlington Free Press.
- Tyler, George (November 9, 2006). "Merger Wins: Confusion over vote count". Essex Reporter.
- Welch, Victoria (November 9, 2006). "Essex merger moves forward: An apology to our Essex readers". Burlington Free Press.
- Welch, Victoria (December 7, 2006). "New rift emerges in Essex merger". Burlington Free Press.
- Welch, Victoria (January 24, 2007). "This time, Essex rejects merger". Burlington Free Press. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017..
- Nosek, Mike (January 14, 2021). "It's official: Town's merger plan will head to the ballot, plus 4 other takeaways from this week's selectboard meeting". The Essex Reporter. O'Rourke Media Group. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- Flanders, Colin (November 2, 2021). "Essex Junction Votes to Secede From the Town of Essex". Seven Days. Da Capo Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- Bates, Devin (November 3, 2021). "Next stop for Essex Junction-Essex split: Vermont Statehouse". My Champlain Valley. Nexstar Media Inc. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- "Education & Schools - Town of Essex, Vermont". Essex.org. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- "Biography, Guy W. Bailey (1920-1940)". Former presidents. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- "Residential Listings". The Essex Guide. Essex Jct., VT. 2014. p. 46. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Issuu.
- "Exclusive Interviews: Season Hubley". The Escape from New York and L.A. Page. 2002. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- "Dewey Perry, Long-time Area Police Officer, Dies". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 22, 1970. p. 6. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- Lindholm, Jane; Smith, Matthew F. (July 22, 2019). "'Vermont Edition' Revisits Interview With Loung Ung, Author And Cambodian Genocide Survivor". Vermont Public Radio. Colchester, VT. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- "Brian Wood - Class of 1990". EHS Alumni. Essex Jct., VT: Essex Westford School District. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Chittenden County, Vermont, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  Map of Vermont highlighting Chittenden County | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||