Derby, Vermont facts for kids

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Derby, Vermont
Located in Orleans County, Vermont
Located in Orleans County, Vermont
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Country United States
State Vermont
County Orleans
Organized September 1, 1955
 • Total 57.6 sq mi (149.2 km2)
 • Land 49.6 sq mi (128.6 km2)
 • Water 8.0 sq mi (20.7 km2)
Elevation 1,011 ft (307 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 4,604
 • Density 92.8/sq mi (35.8/km2)
 • Households 1,832
 • Families 1,319
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 05829
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-17350
GNIS feature ID 1462081

Derby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line.

The Town of Derby encompasses the largest area in Orleans County. As of the 2010 censuses, Derby became the most-populous town in the county.


According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 57.6 square miles (149.2 km2), of which 49.6 square miles (128.5 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (20.7 km2) (13.87%) is water. The town lies in the northernmost part of Orleans County, forming part of Vermont's border with Canada, and is otherwise bordered to the east by Holland, the southeast by Morgan and Charleston, the southwest by Coventry and Brownington, and to the west by Lake Memphremagog.

Lake Salem is within the town boundaries. Clyde Pond was formed by damming the Clyde River.


On October 29, 1779, the state of Vermont chartered it to Timothy Andrus and fifty-nine associates, with an area of 23,040 acres (93.2 km2). It was named after Derby, in England.

In the War of 1812, an expeditionary force of Quebec Eastern Townships' volunteers destroyed a barracks built at Derby with no personnel casualties.

On October 31, 1866, the town erected a granite monument at Derby Center in honor of those who died in the Civil War. It is inscribed: "In Memory of the Volunteers from Derby, who Lost their Lives in the Great Rebellion, 1861-’65.” It lists the names of fifty-three men from Derby. It is the oldest community memorial to that war in the United States.

The failed town of Salem was annexed to Derby by an act of the legislature of 1880, and took effect March 1, 1881. This increased the land size of Derby so it became the largest in Orleans County.

Like many Orleans County towns, Derby grew in population until 1890, after which the depression (then called "panics") of 1893 affected the local economy and agricultural prices. Population fluctuated until it hit a bottom in 1940. The town has grown steadily since.

In 1917, the city of Newport was formed from portions of the towns of Newport (the former village of Newport) and Derby (the former village of West Derby).

In 1928, the Canadian Gateway Airport opened off Vermont 111, within walking distance from Derby Center. It was the third airport constructed in the state. The larger and older airport, Burlington, was given the designation of "entry airport" from Canada resulting in the closure of Gateway in 1933.

A Drive-in theater opened in 1950 and closed in 1985 on the Derby Road (Route 5).


Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 178
1810 714 301.1%
1820 925 29.6%
1830 1,469 58.8%
1840 1,681 14.4%
1850 1,750 4.1%
1860 1,906 8.9%
1870 2,039 7.0%
1880 1,967 −3.5%
1890 2,900 47.4%
1900 3,274 12.9%
1910 2,530 −22.7%
1920 2,201 −13.0%
1930 2,165 −1.6%
1940 2,118 −2.2%
1950 2,245 6.0%
1960 2,506 11.6%
1970 3,252 29.8%
1980 4,222 29.8%
1990 4,479 6.1%
2000 4,604 2.8%
2010 4,621 0.4%
Est. 2014 4,502 −2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,604 people, 1,832 households, and 1,319 families residing in the town. The population density was 92.8 people per square mile (35.8/km2). There were 2,258 housing units at an average density of 45.5 per square mile (17.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.57% White, 0.28% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 1,832 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.


With 103 miles (166 km), Derby has the most miles of road of any town or city in Orleans County. Derby also has the most Class 3 roads (dirt) of any town in Orleans County.

Interstate 91 has two interchanges, and its northern terminus, in Derby.

The Rural Community Transportation provides buses for general use, four buses north and south during the week from west Newport city to Derby Center, and two buses each way on Saturday. The fare is US 25 cents. These provide special services for the handicapped and the elderly upon request.


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