Fairlee, Vermont | |
|---|---|
 Fairlee, VT, from the northeast | |
 Seal | |
 Located in Orange County, Vermont | |
 Location of Vermont with the US | |
| Coordinates:43°54′27″N72°08′36″W / 43.90750°N 72.14333°W /43.90750; -72.14333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Chartered | 1761[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.2 sq mi (55.0 km2) |
| • Land | 20.2 sq mi (52.3 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 440 ft (130 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 988 |
| • Density | 49/sq mi (18.9/km2) |
| • Households | 471 |
| • Families | 250 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 05045 (Fairlee) 05033 (Bradford) |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-25675[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1457398[3] |
| Website | fairleevt |
Fairlee is atown inOrange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 988 at the2020 census.[4] It includes the village of Ely. Fairlee is home to Lake Morey, which claims to have the longest ice skating trail in the United States.[5]
One of theNew Hampshire grants, Fairlee was chartered by GovernorBenning Wentworth on September 9, 1761, and awarded to Josiah Channey, Joseph Hubbard and 62 others.[6] It was first settled in 1766. On February 25, 1797, the western half of the grant was set off asWest Fairlee.
The population was 575 by 1859, when it had severalsawmills, agristmill, and an establishment forlead pipe andpumps.[6]
The Fairlee Railroad Depot was built in 1848 by the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers Railroad. Listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1998, it is the oldest surviving railroad structure along theConnecticut River.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.2 square miles (55 km2), of which, 20.2 sq mi (52 km2) is land and 1 sq mi (2.6 km2) (4.90%) is water. Bounded by theConnecticut River, Fairlee is drained by Glen Falls Brook, Big Brook and the outlet of Lake Morey. Thevillage of Fairlee is on the eastern edge of the town, alongU.S. Route 5.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 463 | — | |
| 1800 | 386 | −16.6% | |
| 1810 | 983 | 154.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,143 | 16.3% | |
| 1830 | 656 | −42.6% | |
| 1840 | 644 | −1.8% | |
| 1850 | 575 | −10.7% | |
| 1860 | 549 | −4.5% | |
| 1870 | 416 | −24.2% | |
| 1880 | 469 | 12.7% | |
| 1890 | 398 | −15.1% | |
| 1900 | 438 | 10.1% | |
| 1910 | 438 | 0.0% | |
| 1920 | 459 | 4.8% | |
| 1930 | 456 | −0.7% | |
| 1940 | 535 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 571 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 569 | −0.4% | |
| 1970 | 604 | 6.2% | |
| 1980 | 770 | 27.5% | |
| 1990 | 883 | 14.7% | |
| 2000 | 967 | 9.5% | |
| 2010 | 977 | 1.0% | |
| 2020 | 988 | 1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 967 people, 395 households, and 265 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 47.9 people per square mile (18.5/km2). There were 575 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile (11.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.52%White, 0.21%African American, 0.10%Native American, 0.52%Asian, 0.21% fromother races, and 1.45% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 395 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% weremarried couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,018, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $31,736 versus $25,217 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $18,454. About 2.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
The town is crossed by
Interstate 91,
U.S. Route 5, and
Vermont Route 244.
Residents are in theRivendell Interstate School District.[9] Samuel Morey Elementary School is in Fairlee. In 2023 the school district's board of trustees voted to close it; six members voted in favor, two were against, and two were not present.[10]
Places adjacent to Fairlee, Vermont | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Vermont,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
