Chelsea, Vermont


Chelsea is a town in and the shire town of Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,238 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Chelsea is located in a river valley in Central Vermont. The First Branch of the White River travels through the valley and the town. Located in the center of town are two commons
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.9 square miles, of which 39.9 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,238 people, 541 households, and 334 families residing in the town. Of the 541 household 117 had children under the age of 18 living within them.
The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
The median age of residents is 48.3. The median household income is $49, 500. 89.2% of adults have earned a high school diploma or higher level of education. 17.9% of individuals live below the poverty line.

History

The town was founded on August 4, 1781. It was originally called Turnersburgh after settler Bela Turner. In 1788 the townspeople of Turnersburgh approved a bill to rename the town Chelsea.
The first small school houses were established in the early 1800s. By 1845 there were 18 school houses operating around the town. In 1852 the Chelsea Academy was built in the village district. The Chelsea Academy burnt in 1870. In 1913 the “new” Chelsea High School building was built, this building still houses the Chelsea Public School today.

Historic Sites

In 1983 the village of Chelsea was placed on the National Register of Historical Places.
Chelsea has two other structures listed on the National Register:
Figure, the original Morgan Horse, is buried in Chelsea

Barn Quilt Trail

In 2018 The Chelsea Arts Collective led a project to create a barn quilt trail in Chelsea. Barn quilts are painted pieces of plywood. Designs are often geometric and resemble the patchwork of a quilt.

Interesting Facts

The following movies were filmed in Chelsea: