Shelburne, Vermont | |
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Town | |
A section of central Shelburne
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Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont. |
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Location in the United States | |
Coordinates: 44°23′23″N 73°13′29″W / 44.38972°N 73.22472°WCoordinates: 44°23′23″N 73°13′29″W / 44.38972°N 73.22472°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Vermont |
County | Chittenden |
Area | |
• Total | 45.1 sq mi (116.7 km2) |
• Land | 24.3 sq mi (63.0 km2) |
• Water | 20.8 sq mi (53.8 km2) |
Elevation | 203 ft (62 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 7,144 |
• Density | 294/sq mi (113.5/km2) |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
ZIP code | 05482 |
Area code(s) | 802 |
FIPS code | 50-64300 |
GNIS feature ID | 1462206 |
Website | www |
Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, in the United States. Along the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne is a suburb of Burlington, the largest city in Vermont. Shelburne's center of town lies approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of the city's center. The population of Shelburne was 7,144 at the 2010 census.
The main settlement of Shelburne in the center of town is a census-designated place (CDP), with a population of 592 at the 2010 census. The town is the wealthiest municipality in both Chittenden County and the Burlington metropolitan area.
Shelburne was chartered by New Hampshire, August 18, 1763, to Jesse Hallock and 64 associates by Governor Benning Wentworth. The name "Shelburne" or "Shelburn" was chosen to honor William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, a celebrated nobleman of the British Parliament and Prime Minister. According to the charter, the town was to have an area of 23,500 acres (95.1 km2), or a tract a little over 6 square miles (15.5 km2), but owing to a blunder on the part of the surveyors, it was shorn of a large portion of its possessions.
From the beginning, Shelburne's economy was based on farming. With the clearing of land and burning of logs the town experienced a potash boom. A carding and fulling mill, a gristmill, a sawmill, and a blacksmith shop were erected on the La Platte River at Shelburne Falls. In 1811, a few Merino sheep imported from Spain led to an upsurge in sheep raising. Orchards and fruit growing became a major source of income for the farmers, with some 17,740 trees in 1880. Following the War of 1812, commerce on the lake expanded rapidly.