Essex

Chartered in 1763, Essex has grown into the most populous town in Vermont, with over 22,000 residents across its Chittenden County landscape. The town's growth accelerated after World War II as Burlington's suburbs expanded eastward, and today Essex is a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and remaining agricultural land. The Indian Brook Reservoir conservation area provides a large natural space within the town's borders.

Essex's history took an unusual turn in 2022 when Essex Junction — the dense, walkable village that had operated as an incorporated village within the town since 1892 — voted to separate and become an independent city. The split left the town of Essex as a geographically larger but less densely settled community surrounding the new city. This reorganization required renegotiating shared services, school governance, and infrastructure in ways that are still being worked out. Essex operates under a selectboard and town manager form of government, and its annual Town Meeting continues to serve as the forum where residents shape the policies of one of Vermont's largest and most rapidly evolving communities.