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The Town of Essex, nicknamed the "Engine of Vermont," is a beautiful town located in Chittenden County in northern Vermont. As a result of it's New England heritage, Essex is split into two districts. Those living in the downtown area surrounding the "Five Corners" are considered residents of the Village of Essex Junction, which is an incorporated village within the Town of Essex. The remaining residents belong to the Town of Essex, which has more of a rural atmosphere. According the 2000 Census, approximately 18,600 reside in Essex, nearly half of whom live in the Village of Essex Junction. Essex is conveniently located only minutes away from Burlington, the largest city in Vermont, and is within an hour of many of the most popular ski destinations in the state.

Education

Both the Town and the Village share a unified high school and police department, and have their own kindergarten through 8th grade schools. The school district features Essex High School and the Center for Technology, the largest secondary education technical school in the state. The Essex school system is highly regarded within Vermont, with its students earning the highest math scores in New England on the New England Common Assessment Program tests. In addition to academics, athletics also make Essex an attractive destination. The Essex Hornets have won multiple state titles in football, lacrosse, and rugby, and the cheerleading squad has won an astounding eighteen titles since 1986!

Essex residents are also within easy commuting distance of the University of Vermont (UVM), the Community College of Vermont (CCV), and Saint Michael's College. The Vermont Technical College, which offers degrees in Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and many others, has a campus conveniently located at nearby Tafts Corners in Williston.

Town Life and Activities

There are plenty of recreational activities in Essex for the whole family. Both the Town and the Village have a Parks and Recreation department that offer everything from summer camps for kids to ballroom dancing classes for adults, as well as local sports leagues for all ages. During the summer, the whole family can enjoy a beautiful day swimming, fishing and hiking at the Indian Brook Reservoir park. There are also two public libraries in Essex; the Brownell Library, located in the Village, and the Essex Free Library in Essex Center.

Business

Essex also features many fine dining establishments, such as local favorites Cody's Pub and the Inn at Essex. Shoppers will be delighted by the shopping district on Pearl Street and the Essex Shoppes, which features the Essex Cinema and over twenty outlet stores, boasting such names as Nautica, BCBG Maxazria and Osh Kosh Bgosh. Essex is also home to the Champlain Valley Exposition, which presents concerts by artists such as Willie Nelson, Elton John, and Paul Simon, and also hosts the Vermont State Fair every August.

Residents of Essex are an easy commute away from many of the major businesses in the county. Essex is home to the regional IBM campus, which is the largest private employer in the state. Many other residents of Essex Junction are employed by The University of Vermont, Saint Michael's College, and Fletcher Allen Healthcare.

Transportation

Essex is a major transportation center for the region, connected to Interstate 89 by the encircling highway and Routes 15, 117, and 2A. The downtown transportation terminal is a hub for rail service by Amtrak, which runs the Vermonter, a service connecting Washington D.C. to St. Albans. The terminal is also serviced by CCTA (Chittenden County Transportation Authority), which runs bus routes throughout the county including routes to IBM and downtown Burlington. CCTA also connects to the Burlington International Airport, which offers commercial flights on Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and others.

Essex is a classic example of small town America; humble enough to foster a close sense of community, yet large enough to offer a bit of everything. Combining the beauty of life in the countryside with the convenience and culture of the city, it's a great place to raise a family and start living the American dream!