Charlotte, Vermont, New England USA
About Charlotte, Vermont
Chittenden County
Chartered: June 24, 1762 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 32,242 Acres = 50.38 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 27* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 18′ W 73°15′
Altitude: 110 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 3,754 [ Population Rank: 44* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 74.5 [ Density Rank: 64* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Charlotte’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
Pronunciation: shuh LOT
Charlotte is approximately ten miles south of Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain. One of the oldest still functioning ferry crossings in America is here, with service to Essex, New York. Within the Town are the villages of Charlotte and East Charlotte and the (mostly) summer colony of Thompson’s Point.
In typical Wentworth style, the town (originally “Charlotta”) is named for Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the 17-year-old niece of Germany’s Duke Frederick of Mecklenburg. She became George’s wife shortly after he succeeded to the throne in 1760.
The wedding was the social event of the era, with Royal Governors falling over themselves to honor the new queen. New York’s Colden, for example, still thinking he had the right to do so, patented a Charlotte in the area now occupied by Chelsea, Vermont, and another as Mecklenbergh, in what is present-day Ferrisburgh, Vermont. He even declared a Charlotte County in 1772.
The town has had a relatively large number of post offices in its time. The original Charlotte office was closed in 1875 after 74 years, and East Charlotte and West Charlotte were opened. In 1879, West Charlotte was closed and immediately replaced in the very same location: Postal authorities arbitrarily decided to call this “new” office simply Charlotte. This in turn led to the “West” being gradually dropped from the village’s name over the years.
Thompson’s Point and Cedar Beach at one time or another also had their own postal facilities. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a group of wealthy Burlingtonians calling themselves “The Jolly Club” had developed Cedar Beach as a summer residence area; they even laid on regular ferry service to Burlington so they could commute to work.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Charlotte
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Chittenden County Historical Society
Large “permanent” Charlotte Flea Market
(weekends, seasonal) Route 7, next to Wildflower Farm.
Vermont Wildflower Farm
Seeds, gifts, nature trail, film on Vermont wildflowers. Route 7 Charlotte. 802-985-9455
Covered Bridges (With Google Maps and satellite images):
Holmes Creek Quinlan Seguin
Click Here for a map of all bridges in Chittenden County.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington) 802-847-0000
Town Clerk: Mary Mead PO Box 119 Charlotte, VT 05445
802-425-3071
M-F 8-4
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
Roman Catholic : Our Lady of Mount Carmel
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
Schools
Chittenden South Supervisory Union 802-383-1234
Charlotte Central School 802-425-2771
Lake Champlain Waldorf School (9-12) 802-985-2827
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”).
Lake Champlain
Charlotte
Businesses & Services
Rocheleau Appraisal
Fast Friendly Service for Northwestern Vermont
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
Telephone Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom 802-496-3391