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Washington County, Vermont
Washington County Courthouse
Location in the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont's location in the U.S.
Founded	1811
Shire Town	Montpelier
Largest city	Barre
Area
• Total	695 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Land	687 sq mi (1,779 km2)
• Water	8.2 sq mi (21 km2), 1.2%
Population (est.)
• (2016)	58,504
• Density	85.8/sq mi (33.1/km2)
Congressional district	At-large
Time zone	Eastern: UTC−5/−4

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. Named after George Washington, its county seat is the municipality of Montpelier, the least populous state capital in the United States, and the most populous municipality is Barre.^[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,534,^[2] making it the third-most populous county in Vermont, but the third-least populous capital county in the United States after Hughes County, South Dakota and Franklin County, Kentucky. If Carson City, Nevada and Juneau, Alaska was treated as counties, Washington County would be the fifth-least populous capital county.

Washington County comprises the Barre, Vermont micropolitan statistical area.

In 2010, the center of population of Vermont was located in Washington County, in the town of Warren.^[3]

History

Washington County is one of several Vermont counties created from land ceded by the state of New York on January 15, 1777 when Vermont declared itself to be a distinct state from New York.^[4][5][6] The land originally was contested by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Netherland, but it remained undelineated until July 20, 1764 when King George III established the boundary between New Hampshire and New York along the west bank of the Connecticut River, north of Massachusetts and south of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude. New York assigned the land gained to Albany County.^[7][8] On March 12, 1772 Albany County was partitioned to create Charlotte County,^[9] and this situation remained until Vermont's independence from New York and Britain.

Washington County was originally established as Jefferson County in 1810 from parts of Caledonia County, Chittenden County, and Orange County and organized the following year.^[10]

In 1814 it was renamed to Washington County. The name change occurred after the Federalists took control of the Vermont Legislature from the Jeffersonians. Vermont which conducted significant trade with British Canada had suffered particularly by passage of the Embargo Act of 1807 during the Jefferson administration.^[11]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 695 square miles (1,800 km²), of which 687 square miles (1,780 km²) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[12]

Major highways

• 
  Interstate 89
  

Adjacent counties

• 
  Lamoille County – north


• 
  Caledonia County – northeast


• 
  Orange County – southeast


• 
  Addison County – southwest


• 
  Chittenden County – northwest

National protected area

• 
  Green Mountain National Forest (part)

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,534 people, 25,027 households, and 15,410 families residing in the county.^[18] The population density was 86.6 inhabitants per square mile (33.4/km²). There were 29,941 housing units at an average density of 43.6 per square mile (16.8/km²).^[19]

Of the 25,027 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 42.3 years.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,313 and the median income for a family was $66,968. Males had a median income of $45,579 versus $38,052 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,337. About 5.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.^[20]

Elections

In 1828, Washington County was won by National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams.

In 1832, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent president Andrew Jackson. Democratic Martin Van Buren was also able to win the county in 1836.

In 1840, the county was won by Whig Party candidate William Henry Harrison.

In 1844, the county was won by Democratic candidate James K. Polk. Democratic candidate Lewis Cass was also able to win the county in 1848.

In 1852, Whig Party candidate Winfield Scott won the county.

From John C. Frémont in 1856 to Richard Nixon in 1960, the Republican Party would have a 104 year winning streak within Washington County.

In 1964, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Following the Democrats victory in 1964, the county went back to voting for Republican candidates for another 20 year winning streak starting with Richard Nixon in 1968 and ending with George H. W. Bush in 1988, who became the last Republican presidential candidate to win the county.

In 1992, the county was won by Bill Clinton and has been won by Democratic candidates ever since.

Communities

Cities

• Barre


• 
  Montpelier (shire town)

Towns

Villages

• Marshfield


• Northfield


• Waterbury

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

• Adamant


• Tangletown

See also

• List of counties in Vermont


• List of towns in Vermont


• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Vermont

References

External links

• National Register of Historic Places listing for Washington Co., Vermont


• 
  Life in Washington County Documentary produced by Vermont Public Television
  

Coordinates: 44°16′N 72°37′W / 44.27°N 72.62°W / 44.27; -72.62