Colchester, Vermont, New England USA
About Colchester, Vermont
Chittenden County
Chartered: June 7, 1763 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 38,592 Acres = 60.3 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 12* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 32′ W 73°09′
Altitude: 274 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 17,067 [ Population Rank: 4* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 283 [ Density Rank: 13* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Colchester’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
Named for one of the most prominent men in British establishment, William Henry Nassau de Zuylestein, (among a number of other titles) Baron Colchester. In 1769, he supported King George’s hardline heavy taxation policy for the colonies, casting the deciding vote against repealing duties and taxes.
Ira Allen was the first Town Clerk, Colchester being one of the “Onion River Towns” first settled by Ira and Ethan Allen and their cousin, Remember Baker. It is easy to see why these men, as land speculators, wanted this gently rolling property with few hills. The grant records show the Burling family as grantees, though it was the next town to the south that is said to have been named for them (see).
One of the most beautiful parts of Lake Champlain bears a name steeped in legend. Supposedly, an old Frenchman known only as “Captain Mallett” lived in the area at the time of Benning Wentworth’s grant. Apparently, nobody considered him to be a threat, because he managed to stay put during the French and Indian troubles; it is rumored that the remains of his house were visible into the 1800s. All that remains of him today is the sizable feature known as Malletts Bay, with its marinas, summer residences and campgrounds.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Colchester
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Chittenden County Historical Society
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Police (non-emergency): 802-655-1412
Hospital: University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington) 802-847-0000
Town Clerk: Karen Richard PO Box 55 Colchester, VT 05446
802 264-5520
M-F 8-4
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
Episcopal : St. Andrew 802-658-0533
Roman Catholic : Holy Cross
Roman Catholic : Our Lady of Grace
Roman Catholic : St. Michael’s College
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
Schools
Colchester School District 802-264-5999
Colchester High School 802-264-5700
Colchester Middle School 802-264-5800
Malletts Bay School 802-264-5900
Porters Point School 802-264-5920
Union Memorial School 802-264-5959
Woodside Juvenile Rehabilation Center 802-655-4990
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”).
ColchesterLake
Champlain
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
Natural Gas Vermont Gas Systems 802-863-4511
Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001
