Guilford, Vermont, New England USA

About Guilford, Vermont

Windham County
Chartered: April 2, 1754 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 25,331 Acres = 39.58 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 129* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 42° 49′ W 72°35′
Altitude: 400 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 2,121 [ Population Rank: 81* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 53.6 [ Density Rank: 86* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State

*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Guilford’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.

It is most often said that Guilford honors Frederick North, second Earl of Guilford, who, as Prime Minister, made many decisions the American colonists felt were both unjust and punitive. However, he did not assume the title until his father’s death in 1790. If Benning Wentworth was naming this town for a peer, it would have been for Frederick’s father, Francis. It has also been suggested that the town is named for Guildford, England, where the name means a place where marigolds grow at a stream crossing or ford. Wentworth’s casual spelling could account for the missing d. As well, some of the grantees were from Guilford, Connecticut, another possible source.

The proprietors of Guilford made very attractive proposals to potential settlers, resulting in the town’s rapid growth in its earliest days. The advent of the Revolutionary War brought about so much controversy between Yorkist and Vermont factions within the town that for several years there were two sets of officials sparring for control. Matters were so bad in 1783 that the government of Vermont sent Ethan Allen to Guilford with the militia to enforce martial law and collect taxes (the so-called “Guilford War”). Eventually many of the people who were opposed to Vermont rule left town and settled in New York state.

In the northwestern corner of town was the village of Hinesburg, after William Hines, who came from Rehoboth, Massachusetts quite early in Guilford’s history. During the last years of the l9th Century the residents of Hinesburg village thought they would like to have their own post office. Washington was willing, but said the office couldn’t be named Hinesburg because there already post office by that name in Vermont, right where one would expect it, in the town of Hinesburg. Village residents were willing to have their office called West Guilford, but instead they got Hale (apparently the brainchild of a Washington clerk). The office of Hale, Vermont went into operation on March 24, 1896, but it never flourished, and was discontinued in 1903. Disgusted with the whole affair, the village residents went back to using the Hinesburg name. At some point, West Guilford came back into use, as is evident on modern maps; Hinesburg Brook, however, still flows through the village.

Activities & Points of Interest

Goings-on in and near Guilford
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.

Guilford Historical Society

Historical Society of Windham County

Covered Bridge (With Google Maps and satellite images):
Green River
Click Here for a map of all bridges in Windham County.

Contact Info

Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (Brattleboro) 802-257-0341

Town Clerk: Penny Marine 236 School Road Guilford, VT 05301
802-254-6857
M 7-6, T-Th 7-5

Churches, Ministries, Charitables

Congregational : Guilford Community Church UCC 802-257-2776
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ

Schools

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union 802-254-3731
Guilford Central School 802-254-2271

Neighboring Towns

This is a basic geographic reference, intended to show relative location of adjacent towns. Directional accuracy is limited to 16 compass points. There isn’t even the slightest suggestion that one can necessarily travel directly from one town to the next (as in “You can’t get there from here”).

Marlboro

Brattleboro

Halifax

Guilford

Vernon

Massachusetts

Utilities

Notes about utilities:

  • One electric or phone company indicates that company serves the entire town. More than one of either indicates each serves different areas of town.
  • A listed cable company MIGHT mean the entire town is covered, but not necessarily. More than one listed indicates each serves different areas of town.
  • Unless your area is one served by Vermont’s only gas utility, your only option is bottled gas (any dealer).
    Cable Comcast 800-266-2278
    Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
    Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001

1984 Guilford HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK Rockford, IL Valhalla picture

1984 Guilford HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK Rockford, IL Valhalla

$39.99



Laura Zinder Handmade Lot Of 2 Owl Mugs GUILFORD VERMONT Never Used  picture

Laura Zinder Handmade Lot Of 2 Owl Mugs GUILFORD VERMONT Never Used

$64.99



Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 347 picture

Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 347

$3.50



Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 379 picture

Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 379

$3.50



Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40-2LW 501 picture

Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40-2LW 501

$3.50



Maine Central Guilford 347 Train Action Original Kodachrome Slide South Portland picture

Maine Central Guilford 347 Train Action Original Kodachrome Slide South Portland

$4.45



Guilford Trans Ind (GTI) / D&H # 654 EB @ Mechanicville   R picture

Guilford Trans Ind (GTI) / D&H # 654 EB @ Mechanicville R

$6.00



Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 345 picture

Original Slide: Maine Central / Guilford Rail System GP40 345

$3.50



Guilford Mills 1970s Vintage NOS Rocky & Bullwinkle Night Gown Rare Retro HTF picture

Guilford Mills 1970s Vintage NOS Rocky & Bullwinkle Night Gown Rare Retro HTF

$157.50



147 GUILFORD CT MILITARY OFFICER COMMISSION PAYMASTER SGN JOHN BURGRIS 1839 picture

147 GUILFORD CT MILITARY OFFICER COMMISSION PAYMASTER SGN JOHN BURGRIS 1839

$138.00