Northfield

History

Northfield was chartered in 1781. Northfield, was settled between 1785 and the 1820s by Yankees from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and older Vermont towns. The period saw the development of four distinct villages: South Village, Center Village, Factory Village, and Northfield Falls. South Village, with numerous small businesses, became the first to have a distinct identity. Center Village followed, where the first post office, town clerk’s office, and churches were established, coming to serve as Northfield's social and political center. Factory Village (now the village of Northfield), named for the woolen mill, developed next. Lastly, Northfield Falls thrived by the late 1820s. Initially centered around farming and barter, Northfield's economic activities diversified. Potash production thrived until about 1814, after which Elijah Paine's woolen mill became a major employer. Wool prices declined in the 1840s, but Charles Paine, Elijah Paine's son and president of the Vermont Central Railroad constructed the railroad through town and established its headquarters in Northfield. Hundreds worked for the line. In 1852, the railroad changed ownership and gradually moved to St. Albans, causing the town's population to decline. In 1889, the first granite shed was built. More were constructed, and by the outbreak of World War I, over 525 people were employed in the granite sheds. Later, the granite industry faced challenges, leading to closures, and by 1954, only the Rock of Ages plant was left. The last plant, Cetrangolo Finishing Works, was closed in 1999.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.29%, is water. The geographic center of Vermont is located within the town, with markers on the university campus of the geographical and magnetic centers. Northfield has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  13,209
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  11,004
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,172
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  8,616
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,836
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  7,584
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,935
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,934

Largest nearby schools

• Barre Town Elementary & Middle School
  Elementary · Barre · 800 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Barre City Elementary/Middle School
  Elementary · Barre · 784 students · 10.7:1 ratio
• U-32 Middle & High School
  High · Montpelier · 707 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• Spaulding Union High School
  High · Barre · 615 students · 11:1 ratio
• Harwood Union Middle/High School
  High · Moretown · 556 students · 9.3:1 ratio
• Union Elementary School
  Elementary · Montpelier · 448 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Montpelier High School
  High · Montpelier · 403 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Main Street Middle School
  Middle · Montpelier · 327 students · 10.2:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2024-06-18
  3 km SE of Haverhill, New Hampshire
• M 2.51 — 2011-07-08
  4 km NE of Newbury, Vermont
• M 2.5 — 2011-01-03
  6 km NNE of Holderness, New Hampshire
• M 2.83 — 2007-05-14
  5 km ESE of Benson, Vermont
• M 2.64 — 2007-03-21
  3 km NNE of Holderness, New Hampshire
• M 2.85 — 2006-10-10
  10 km ENE of Ticonderoga, New York