History of Essex, Vermont, USA

1783 - (Essex) The first settlement in town, of which history or tradition gives any account, was made early in the spring of 1783.
Previous to the Revolutionary War emigrants came to this and adjoining towns with a view to settlement, but the opening war sent them all away to join in the battle for liberty and independence. Samuel SMITH, and William, his brother, Jonathan WINCHELL, Dubartus WILLARD, and David HALL are believed to have been the first settlers of the town, and came here about the same time.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1786 - The warning for the town meeting, at which the organization of the town took place, was dated Jericho, March 10, 1786,
and was signed John FASSETT, assistant. The meeting was held March 22, 1786, at the house of Dr. Elkanah BILLINGS, in the south part of the town.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1794 - (Essex) On the 2d day of September, 1794, supposed to have been the “first Tuesday," the first "freemen's meeting" was held. At this meeting forty-eight votes were cast for governor, of which Thomas CHITTENDEN had thirty-six.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1797 - (Essex) On the 3d day of October, 1797, the Congregational Church was organized.
The first members of the church were Timothy BLISS, Daniel MORGAN, Joshua BASSETT, Morgan NOBLE, David KELLOGG, Samuel BRADLEY, Samuel BUELL, Stephen BUTLER, Zeniah BLISS, Eleanor KELLOGG and Rachel BUELL.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1800 - (Essex) Some time about the year 1800 the first building was erected at the Center, and stood on the southeast corner of the Common. It was built by Samuel PELTON.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1801 - (Essex) The Baptist Church was organized November 5, 1801, with five members.
January 16, 1803, it took the name of the "Baptist Church of Christ, of Essex," and in the same year Elder David HURLBUT became the first pastor.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1804 - (Essex) In 1804 Mr. PELTON leased of David MORGAN the right to flow land on Alder Brook, and built a saw-mill on the bank west of Lysander WOODWORTH's.
This brook, so called from the immense grove of alders on its bank, was then a very small stream, quite shallow, emptying in Brown's River, in the northeast part of the town. Mr. PELTON diverted this brook from its natural course, carrying the water in a flume to a reservoir dam a few miles below the present gulf cross-way. In this saw-mill some of the lumber used in building the meeting-house was prepared.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1808 - In January, 1808, “The Essex Library Society" was organized under a constitution,
the preamble of which declares that "a public library is of the greatest benefit, as it enables all concerned to acquire literary knowledge and thereby become better citizens and more useful members of society."

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1829 - (Essex) In December, 1829, the first Methodist class was formed, seventeen being present.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1830 - (Essex) in the great freshet of 1830 the brook became a mighty power, swept off bridges, dams and mills,
cut for itself a new channel well toward a hundred feet below the original bed and forced its way over all opposing obstacles until it mingled its waters with the Winooski, many miles away, in an entirely opposite direction from its original mouth. This was one of the most destructive calamities the town ever witnessed, and from which the "Center" never recovered.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1839 - Essex
Essex, Vermont
Chittenden county. This town is finely watered by Onion river on the S. and Brown's river, a branch of the Lamoille, on the N. It is also watered by other smaller streams. At Hubbell's falls, on Onion river, are admirable mill sites, at which are manufactures of some extent. The surface of the town is level; a considerable portion of the soil is dry and somewhat sandy, but produces good crops of corn and rye. Along Onion river are some tracts of beautiful intervale. Essex was first settled in 1783. It lies 31 miles N.W. from Montpelier and 8 N.N.E. from Burlington. Population, 1830, 1,664.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1849 Essex
Chittenden Co. There are no mountains, and but few hills in this township. The south and western parts are timbered principally with pine, the soil is dry and sandy, but produces good rye and com. The remaining part of the township is timbered with hard wood, and is more natural to grass. Winooski Kiver washes the southern boundary. In this river are two falls. The lower, called Hubbell's Falls, afford several valuable mill privileges. Brown's River rises in Underhill and Jericho, enters this township from the latter, and, after running across the north-east corner, and through Westford, falls into the River Lamoille in Fairfax. Indian River, called here Steven's Brook, Alder Brook, and Crooked Brook, are considerable streams. On Winooski River are beautiful tracks of intervale.

Boundaries. North by Westford, east by Jericho, south by Williston and Burlington, from which it is separated by Winooski River, and west by Colchester.

First Settlers. The first permanent settlement... Read MORE...

1851 - The Second Congregational Church was organized at Essex Junction June 29, 1851,
by a council representing the churches in the Chittenden County Conference. The number of members at its organization was twenty-two. This church joins with the first church in sustaining a pastor laboring in both parishes.

History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1854 - Essex
Essex, a post-village in Chittenden co., Vt., on the Vt. Central railroad, 35 miles N.W. from Montpelier. It contains several churches and manufactories. Pop. of the township, 2052.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1857 - (Essex) In 1857 the Universalist Church was organized by Rev. Joseph SARGENT, who was its first pastor. The church building was erected in 1859.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Edited By W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886

1886 - Essex
THE township of Essex was among the New Hampshire grants, and was chartered June 7, 1763. The original of this document is now extant. It begins, "George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith," etc., and bears the official signature of "Benning WENTWORTH, esq., our governor and commander-in-chief of our said province of New Hampshire," and the countersign of "T. ATKINSON, junr., secretary." By the terms of the charter the township was to contain 23,040 acres, or to be six miles square, and was to be divided into seventy-two equal shares among as many grantees named in it, none of whom probably ever set foot on the territory thus granted. The reservations made in the charter were the governor's right, two shares; one share for a glebe for the Church of England; one share for the incorporated society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts; one share for the first settled minister of the gospel; and one for the... Read MORE...

1892 - The Village of Essex Junction was formed — within the Town of Essex — on November 15, 1892.
The Village was formed to provide services (such as sidewalks, water, and sewers) to the villagers that the rest of the, mostly rural, town citizens did not want, and did not want to pay for.
wikipedia.org

1895 - Essex / Essex Centre
Essex, or Essex Centre, a post-village of Chittenden co., Vt., in Essex township, on the Burlington & Lamoille Railroad, 8 miles E. of Burlington. It has 4 churches and a classical institute. Pop, about 200. The name of its post-office is Essex. The township is bounded on the S. by the Winooski River, contains another village, named Essex Junction, and has manufactures of paper, cheese, lumber, flour, &c. Pop. of the township, 3659.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1904 - Theophile Cornnors Injures One Foot While Chopping in Wood Lot.
ESSEX JUNCTION.
Theophile Cornnors, who is in the employ of the Drury Brick & Tile Co., while chopping in the company's wood lot Monday injured his right foot badly. The axe struck his foot, splitting it about two inches toward the instep. Dr. C. M. Ferrin was called and dressed the wound and it is expected that the foot can be saved.
St. Albans Daily Messenger
St. Albans, Vermont
December 13, 1904

1916
Essex, or Essex Center, a post-village of Chittenden co., Vt., in Essex township (town), on the Central Vermont R., 8 miles E. of Burlington. The Essex Classical Institute is located here. The town is bounded on the S. by the Winooski River, contains another village, named Essex Junction, and has various manufactures. Pop. of the town in 1900, 2203 ; of the village, about 250.

Essex Junction, a post-village in Essex township (town), Chittenden oo., Vt., on the Winooski River and on the Central Vermont R., 8 miles E. of Burlington, its banking point. It has granite-works and manufactures of bob bins, wooden novelties, canned-goods, etc. Pop. in 1900, 1141.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Essex:
Essex Outlets:

Shop till you drop at Essex Outlets. A great place for retail therapy, it offers a variety of stores, including well-known brands and local shops.

Essex Cinema:

Catch the latest blockbuster or enjoy an indie film at Essex Cinema. It's not just a movie experience; they often host special events and screenings.

Essex Junction Recreation and Parks:

Explore the parks and recreational areas in Essex Junction. Take a walk, have a picnic, or engage in various outdoor activities with friends and family.

Indian Brook Reservoir:

If you're into outdoor activities, Indian Brook Reservoir is a fantastic spot for hiking and fishing. The serene environment makes it a great place to unwind.

Vermont Audubon:

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the Vermont Audubon. Enjoy birdwatching and learn about the local wildlife in their natural habitat.

Essex Country Club:

Golfers, rejoice! Head to the Essex Country Club for a round of golf in a beautiful setting.... Read MORE...