In 1609, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain entered the 136-mile lake that would bear his name. Before the end of 17th century, a small stone fort was built at Chimney Point near what is now West Addison on Lake Champlain. It was the first settlement in Vermont. The fort was occupied by the French and then the British. During the Revolutionary War, Lake Champlain was the scene of bitter battles and those living in the area were captured or driven away. One such event happened in May of 1775; Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, along with Benedict Arnold rowed across the Lake to captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British.
Finally, in 1783, peace was declared, settlers began to return and new communities were formed. Addison County was established on October 18, 1795 and encompassed most of the lands in northwestern Vermont bounded by Lake Champlain. When Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791, the size of the County was reduced to its present area with a population of about 6,400 settlers.
Today Addison County is home to over 35,000 inhabitants. Its lakeside valley is considered prime agricultural land. Although commercial transportation on Lake Champlain is sharply reduced from the varied activity of the mid-1800's, pleasure craft of all descriptions ply the lake in summer and fisherman's shanties form bustling communities in the winter for superb ice fishing.
To the east rise the Green Mountains offering hiking and skiing trails and unsurpassed forests which Robert Frost immortalized in his many works of poetry. Throughout Addison County there are numerous museums, historic sites, covered bridges and year-round special events for every interest
Area Info:
• Area Info
• Bristol
• Middlebury
• Vergennes
• Town Clerks
• History
• Covered Bridges
• Recreation/Cultural
• Transportation
• Genealogy