Burlington Vermont Real Estate

Chartered: June 24, 1762 (New Hampshire Grant)
Land Area: 32,242 Acres / 50.38 Square Miles
Coordinates: 73°15′W 44°18′N
Altitude ASL: 110 feet
Population: (US Census, 2000): 3,569
Population Density: (persons per square mile): 70.8
Tax Rate: $2.057 (’04)
Equalized Value: $5,911,930 (’04)

Charlotte is approximately ten miles south of Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain. One of the oldest still functioning ferry crossings in America is here, with service to Essex, New York. Within the Town are the villages of Charlotte and East Charlotte and the (mostly) summer colony of Thompson’s Point.

In typical Wentworth style, the town (originally “Charlotta”) is named for Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the 17-year-old niece of Germany’s Duke Frederick of Mecklenburg. She became George’s wife shortly after he succeeded to the throne in 1760.

The wedding was the social event of the era, with Royal Governors falling over themselves to honor the new queen. New York’s Colden, for example, still thinking he had the right to do so, patented a Charlotte in the area now occupied by Chelsea; another as Mecklenbergh, in what is present-day Ferrisburg. He even declared a Charlotte County in 1772.

The town has had a relatively large number of post offices in its time. The original Charlotte office was closed in 1875 after 74 years, and East Charlotte and West Charlotte were opened. In 1879, West Charlotte was closed and immediately replaced in the very same location: Postal authorities arbitrarily decided to call this “new” office simply Charlotte. This in turn led to the “West” being gradually dropped from the village’s name over the years.

Thompson’s Point and Cedar Beach at one time or another also had their own postal facilities. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a group of wealthy Burlingtonians calling themselves “The Jolly Club” had developed Cedar Beach as a summer residence area; they even laid on regular ferry service to Burlington so they could commute to work.

Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Fletcher-Allen Health Care (Burlington) 802-656-2345
Town Clerk: Mary A. Mead, 802-425-3071, PO Box 119 Charlotte, VT 05445

Schools:

Chittenden South Supervisory Union 802-425-2771
Charlotte Central School 802-425-2771