Addison

Formed October 18, 1785 (6^th county)

Addison County (37,359), Middlebury* (9,152), Vergennes (2,554)

The Modern Queen Anne red brick courthouse was built in 1996.  It is located on Mahady Court at Court Street.  Court Street is United States Highway 7 in this part of the town.  J. Graham Goldsmith is the building architect.  An 1883 courthouse preceded the current structure and a 1796 building was the first courthouse.  Addison County was created on October 18, 1785 from Rutland County as the 6^th county.  Addison (1785) and Middlebury (1791) have each served as the county seat.  The county is named for English politician, Joseph Addison.  The county seat name is a geographical term for its location.  Addison County is the birthplace of 5 Vermont Governors, Silas H. Jennison, William Slade, Jr., John W. Stewart, Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, and John E. Weeks. 

Addison County government consists of a sheriff and 2 Assistant Judges.  One Superior Court Judge serves Addison, Chittenden, and Rutland counties and One Superior Court Judge serves Addison County.  The county is located on the western border with New York.  Burlington, Vermont is north and Albany, New York is southwest of the county.  The county center is 5.6 miles North of Middlebury nearer New Haven.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Chittenden, Washington, Orange, Windsor, and Rutland counties and New York. 

The area of the county is 770 square miles.  It is 4 out of 14 in the state.  It ranks 7 out of 14 in population in the state.  It has a density of 48.5 persons per square mile making it 10 out of 14 in the state.  Addison County has 6.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 7 crosses the county from north to south from Chittenden County to Rutland County.  The county resembles a wild pig.  Middlebury is located in the western third of the county.  Vergennes is in the northwest quarter of the county.  Middlebury is the county seat and Vergennes is the largest city.  Middlebury is 24.5% of the county population although it is unincorporated.  Vergennes is the only incorporated city and is 6.8% of the county population.  The largest city is pronounced VER-JENS.