Tunbridge, Vermont, New England USA
About Tunbridge, Vermont
Chartered: September 3, 1761 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 28,665 Acres = 44.79 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 67* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 43° 53′ W 72°29′
Altitude: 600 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 1,284 [ Population Rank: 117* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 28.7 [ Density Rank: 145* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Tunbridge’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
Tunbridge was likely named for one of the most prominent members of British establishment at the time the town was created: William Henry Nassau de Zuylstein (1717-81), fourth Earl of Rochford, Viscount Tunbridge, Baron Enfield and Colchester. Additionally, the town is in Orange County, which is named for de Zuylstein’s great grandfather, King William III (William of Orange). Swift substantiates “likely” by pointing out that Benning Wentworth granted Enfield, New Hampshire the same year and Colchester,Vermont two years later. Oddly, he never granted a town named Rochford.
De Zuylstein’s secondary title is derived from the old “royal borough” of Tunbridge Wells (sometimes Royal Tunbridge Wells), and therein lies an odd coincidence: the discovery of mineral springs in the 1600s made England’s Tunbridge a fashionable resort for the titled and wealthy, and such springs were discovered in Vermont’s Tunbridge in the 1800s, making it a similar destination for many years.
The town is home to the Tunbridge World’s Fair, once of such sleazy reputation that parents ordered their children to stay away (once so wild and wooly that “sober” individuals were turned out as “nuisances”). The fair has cleaned up its act of late, and over the past several years has become one of THE annual events to attend in Vermont.
Tunbridge was also home to Fred Tuttle, a retired farmer who, in 1996, starred in the independent (Vermont-produced) film “Man With a Plan”, documenting his fictional shoestring effort to be elected to Congress. It was quite a story in 1998 when Fred actually ran in the Republican Senatorial primary against Jack McMullen, a wealthy flatlander who had established residence in Burlington solely for the purpose of getting elected to office. Tuttle won the nomination and, knowing there was no way he could defeat longtime incumbent Democrat Pat Leahy, immediately gave Leahy his support, thus demonstrating that Vermonters don’t take kindly to carpetbaggers (is anyone from New York reading this?). Appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, Fred revealed that his campaign had cost him a grand total of $16. Fred passed away October 4, 2003, at the age of 84.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Tunbridge
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Tunbridge World’s Fair
Old time agricultural fair.
Covered Bridges (With Google Maps and satellite images):
Cilley Flint Howe Larkin Mill
Click Here for a map of all bridges in Orange County.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Gifford Medical Center (Randolph) 802-728-7000
Town Clerk: Wendy McCullough PO Box 6 Tunbridge, VT 05077
802-889-5521
M T W 7:30-3; Th 7:30-10:30, 12:30-3; F by appt
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
United Methodist : Yoked Parish 802-889-3790
Schools
Orange Windsor Supervisory Union 802-763-8840
Tunbridge Central School 802-889-3310
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”).
Tunbridge
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 Charter Communications 888-438-2427
Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
Electric Washington Electric Co-op 800-932-5245
Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001
