Editing Berlin, Vermont

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Berlin, Vermont
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Berlin Corner Vermont.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = "Berlin Corner", with the Congregational church on the hilltop
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Washington County Vermont Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Berlin highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location in Washington County and the state of Vermont
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Vermont]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Vermont|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Washington County, Vermont|Washington]]
|parts_type               = Communities
|parts                    = {{ubl|Berlin Corners|Montpelier Junction|West Berlin}}

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             =
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            =
|leader_name1             =
|established_title        =
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           =
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 95.7
|area_land_km2            = 93.9
|area_water_km2           = 1.7
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_sq_mi         =

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 2849
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      =
|elevation_m              = 268
|elevation_ft             = 879
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|12|55|N|72|35|10|W|region:US-VT|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 05602 (Berlin)<br/>05641 ([[Barre (city), Vermont|Barre]])<br/>05663 ([[Northfield, Vermont|Northfield]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 802|802]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 50-05650<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1462042<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.berlinvt.org}}
|footnotes                =
}}
'''Berlin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜːr|l|ᵻ|n}} {{respell|BUR|lin}}) is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Washington County, Vermont|Washington County]], [[Vermont]], United States, founded in 1763.

The population was 2,849 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US5002305650|title=Census - Geography Profile: Berlin town, Washington County, Vermont |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 28, 2021}}</ref> Being the town between [[Barre (city), Vermont|Barre]] and [[Montpelier, Vermont|Montpelier]], the two largest cities in the region, much of the commercial business of the region can be found in Berlin, including parts of the Barre-Montpelier Road ([[U.S. Route 302]]), and the Berlin Mall.

==History==

Berlin was [[charter]]ed June 8, 1763.<ref>''Book of Charters'', P. 473-474: "…is hereby incorporated into a township by the name of Berlin."</ref> The name refers to [[Berlin]], Germany, and was the only German town name in this new English colony.<ref>Close-by Montpelier resembles [[Montpellier]] in south France; the name [[Middlesex]] was copied from a county in England.</ref> The grantees who received the 70 original rights to the township were priests, merchants and judges. The charter was issued by the Royal Governor of New Hampshire, [[Benning Wentworth]], and stated that each "proprietor, settler or inhabitant" should pay one ear of [[Indian corn]] for each acre of land, and after ten years, one shilling for each 100 acres.

It took 22 years until the first settlers arrived in the area: Ebenezer Sanborn coming from nearby [[Corinth, Vermont|Corinth]], founding the "Bradford farm", and Joseph Thurber from New Hampshire, founding the "Shepard farm". Both left a year later for New York state.

In 1788 a legislature of the state of Vermont stated that "the town of Randolph, Braintree, Brookfield, Roxbury, Williamstown, Northfield, Wildersburgh, Berlin and Montpelier [...] hereby are formed into one entire probate district, by the name of the district of [[Randolph, Vermont|Randolph]]."<ref>Legislative Acts, State of Vermont, October 15, 1888.</ref>

Jacob Fowler, a hunter, was the first settler who stayed and left descendants in town. Other early settlers were Moses Smith, Daniel Morse, John Lathrop, and Hezekiah Silloway. In 1789 thirteen families lived in Berlin, and eight more in 1790. The first child born in Berlin was Abigail Black (1789).

The first town meeting was held on March 31, 1791.<ref>First town meeting at the dwelling-house of Aaron Strong; James Sawyer, moderator, David Nye, clerk, Zachariah Perrin, Eleazer Hubbard and James Sawyer, selectmen; Micajah Ingham, constable.</ref> The first sawmill was built in the same year, the first school (on East Street) in 1794. The first Christian institution was founded in 1798, with James Hobart as its minister. A [[Congregational church|Congregational]] meeting house opened at Berlin center in 1803. After it burned down in 1838 the Congregational Church was built at Berlin Corner.

The first store and tavern opened {{circa|1800}} and closed in 1850.<ref>''Vermont Historical Gazetteer'', Volume IV, by Abby Hemenway, 1892. Chapter "Berlin" by Sylvanus F. Nye. [http://berlinvt.org/Berlin%20Historical%20Society-%20Vermont%20Historical%20Gazetteer.pdf Full text as pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516070058/http://www.berlinvt.org/Berlin%20Historical%20Society-%20Vermont%20Historical%20Gazetteer.pdf |date=2012-05-16 }}. ''Early History of Berlin, Vermont, 1763-1820'' by Mary Greene Nye. Capital City Press, Montpelier, Vt. 1951. [http://berlinvt.org/Early%20History%20of%20Berlin,%20Vermont%201763-1820%20by%20Mary%20Nye.doc Full text] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516070120/http://www.berlinvt.org/Early%20History%20of%20Berlin%2C%20Vermont%201763-1820%20by%20Mary%20Nye.doc |date=2012-05-16 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Eliada W. Brown]], member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Heg |first=J. E. |date=1883 |title=The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin |url=https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1883/reference/wi.wibluebk1883.i0021.pdf |location=Milwaukee, WI |publisher=Milwaukee Lithographing and Engraving Company |page=507 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Merton Brown]], composer<ref>{{cite book |date=1985 |title=Who's Who in American Music |volume=2: Classical |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7ozAQAAIAAJ&q=%22BROWN+,+MERTON+LUTHER+COMPOSER+%22 |location=New Providence, NJ |publisher=R. R. Bowker Company |page=81 |isbn=9780835220743 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Murdock A. Campbell]], [[State adjutant general|Adjutant General]] of the [[Vermont National Guard]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Armstrong |first=Howard E. |author-link=Howard E. Armstrong |date=1955 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfXvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA736 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |pages=736–737 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Thomas H. Cave]], [[Vermont State Treasurer]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Bigelow |first=Walter J. |date=1919 |title=Vermont, Its Government |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0kjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA23 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Historical Publishing Company |page=23 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Julius Yemans Dewey]], business executive and father of [[George Dewey]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Barrett |first=John |date=1899 |title=Admiral George Dewey: A Sketch of the Man |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JLxOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA260 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Harper & Brothers |page=260 |isbn=9780722294086 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Ira Hobart Evans]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient during the [[American Civil War]], [[List of speakers of the Texas House of Representatives|Speaker]] of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Coffin |first=Howard |date=2015 |title=Something Abides: Discovering the Civil War in Today's Vermont |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUjDdl0YyzUC&pg=PT480 |location=Woodstock, VT |publisher=Countryman Press |page=480 |isbn=978-1-5815-7777-8 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref>
* [[Timothy Dwight Hobart]], [[Texas]] rancher<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hobart-timothy-dwight |title=Hobart, Timothy Dwight (1855–1935) |last=Sheffy |first=L. F. |date=February 1, 1995 |orig-date=1952 |website=Handbook of Texas |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |location=Austin, TX |access-date=}}</ref>
* [[Chauncey L. Knapp]], [[United States Representative]] from [[Massachusetts]]<ref>{{cite news |date=June 10, 1898 |title=Death Notice, Hon. Chauncey L. Knapp |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35573352/chauncey-l-knapp-obituary-husband-of/ |work=The Cambridge Transcript |location=Cambridge, VT |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Clarence H. Pitkin]], U.S. Attorney for Vermont and Washington County State's Attorney<ref>{{cite news |date=May 31, 1901 |title=Death Came Today to C. H. Pitkin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/402589818/ |work=[[Barre Montpelier Times Argus|The Evening Argus]] |location=Montpelier, VT |url-access=subscription  |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |page=1 |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Came Today to C. H. Pitkin"}}}}</ref>
* [[Phil Scott]], [[Governor of Vermont]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vcwa.org/agenda-september21/opening-remarks |title=Speakers Biography, Governor Phil Scott |date=September 21, 2021 |website=VCWA.org |publisher=Vermont Council on World Affairs |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=February 2, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|95.7|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|93.9|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.7|sqkm|disp=flip}}, or 1.81%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Berlin town, Washington County, Vermont |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=September 17, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1800= 684
|1810= 1067
|1820= 1455
|1830= 1664
|1840= 1598
|1850= 1507
|1860= 1545
|1870= 1474
|1880= 1380
|1890= 1514
|1900= 1021
|1910= 1079
|1920= 959
|1930= 992
|1940= 1111
|1950= 1158
|1960= 1306
|1970= 2050
|1980= 2454
|1990= 2561
|2000= 2864
|2010= 2887
|2020= 2849
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="VTHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.vermonthistory.org/explorer|title=Vermont History Explorer|access-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,864 people, 1,109 households, and 774 families residing in the town.  The [[population density]] was 78.5 people per square mile (30.3/km<sup>2</sup>).  There were 1,172 housing units at an average density of 32.1 per square mile (12.4/km<sup>2</sup>).  The racial makeup of the town was 96.82% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.17% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.20% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 1,109 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were couples living together and joined in either [[marriage]] or [[Civil Union|civil union]], 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,014, and the median income for a family was $52,895. Males had a median income of $31,703 versus $26,210 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,312.  About 6.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[File:Berlin VT Volunteer Fire Department.jpg|thumb|left|The Volunteer Fire Department for Berlin]]
Government buildings in Berlin include the headquarters of the [[Vermont Lottery Commission]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vtlottery.com/about/contact|title=Contact|date=2015-09-01|work=Vermont Lottery|access-date=2018-03-13}}</ref>

Berlin is the muster point for the 3rd Battalion of the [[Vermont State Guard]], based out of the [[Vermont National Guard]] Armoury.

==Transportation==
[[Edward F. Knapp State Airport]] is in Berlin.<ref name="BerlinVTmap">"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US5002305650&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Berlin town, Washington county, Vermont]{{dead link|date=July 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 10, 2009.</ref>
[[Montpelier station (Vermont)|Montpelier Junction]] train station is in Berlin on Junction Road.

==Retail==
Parts of Berlin are easily accessible from both Montpelier and Barre, and as such, many of the area's national chain stores are located there. The main shopping center in Berlin is the Berlin Mall, a small enclosed shopping mall. At {{convert|330000|sqft}}, it is Vermont's third biggest mall, with over 25 shops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcax.com/content/news/JCPenney-closed-4-stores-in-our-region-571038581.html|title=JC Penney closing 4 stores in our region|date=June 5, 2020 }}</ref> There are also several strip malls along the Barre-Montpelier Road that are home to supermarkets, sit-down and fast-food restaurants, including the [[Wayside Restaurant]], and car dealerships.

==Hospitals==
[[Central Vermont Medical Center]], with 122 inpatient beds, is the primary health care provider for 66,000 people in central Vermont.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}} The state [[psychiatric hospital]], [[Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital]], is also located in the town, having replaced the [[Vermont State Hospital]] in [[Waterbury, Vermont|Waterbury]] following its flooding and closure in 2011 after [[Tropical Storm Irene]].

==Library==

[[Midstate Regional Library]] is one of two state operated regional libraries operated by the [[Vermont Department of Libraries]], the other being Northeast Regional Library in [[St. Johnsbury, Vermont|St. Johnsbury]]. The Midstate Regional Library is now closed and the Berlin Barracks of the Vermont State Police are now in that space. 

{{Gallery
|title=
|width=160
|height=170
|align=center
|File:Berlin Vermont Historical Society.jpg|Berlin community building with town clerk, historical society and police station
|File:Gravestone-Rev-James-Hobart-Berlin-Vermont.jpg|Gravestone of the first christian minister in town, James Hobart (1766–1862)
||Emblem of the Berlin police unit
|File:Congregational Church Berlin Vermont.jpg|The Congregational Church at Berlin Corner
|File:Berlin-Cemetery.jpg|Berlin Cemetery
}}

==References==

{{Commons category|Berlin, Vermont}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.berlinvt.gov/ Town of Berlin official website]

{{Washington County, Vermont}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Berlin, Vermont| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Vermont]]
[[Category:Towns in Washington County, Vermont]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1763]]
[[Category:1763 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies]]