Berlin, Vermont, New England USA
About Berlin, Vermont
Washington County
Chartered: June 8, 1763 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 23,494 Acres = 36.71 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 169* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 13′ W 72°34′
Altitude: 589 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 2,887 [ Population Rank: 59* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 78.6 [ Density Rank: 56* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Berlin’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
Traditionally, the name is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable (BERlin) rather than the second (BerLIN), but that tradition appears to be fighting a losing battle. It is easily attributable to the influx of “flatlanders” who tend to ignore local pronunciations in favor of what they bring with them.
Many of the grantees were members of the Onion River Company; Thomas Chittenden, later to become Vermont’s first governor, moderated the first proprietors’ meeting.
Some say it was named for Frederick the Great’s capital city. England’s George III was known to admire Frederick, so it is not outside the realm of possibility that Benning Wentworth named this town in keeping with his efforts to impress his king. Others suggest that it came from Massachusetts, where Berlin and Worcester are neighbors, and that it is more than coincidence that the Vermont towns of Berlin and Worcester were granted on the same day. Of fifteen Berlins in the US, only Massachusetts predates Vermont.
The Central Vermont Railway called its station in the village of West Berlin “Riverton”. Anti-German sentiment was high enough during World War I that the Post Office changed the village’s office name to Riverton as well, and so it remains today. Some efforts were made to change the name of the entire town, but townspeople balked.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Berlin
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin) 802-229-9121
Town Clerk: Rosemary Morse 108 Shed Rd Berlin, VT 05602
802-229-9298
M-Th 8:30-3:30
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
United Methodist : Middlesex UMC 802-223-5119
United Methodist : Trinity UMC 802-229-9158
Schools
Washington Central Supervisory Union 802-229-0553
Berlin Elementary School 802-223-2796
Neighboring Towns
This is a basic geographic reference, intended to show relative location of adjacent towns. Directional accuracy is limited to 16 compass points. There isn’t even the slightest suggestion that one can necessarily travel directly from one town to the next (as in “You can’t get there from here”).
Berlin
Utilities
Notes about utilities:
- One electric or phone company indicates that company serves the entire town. More than one of either indicates each serves different areas of town.
- A listed cable company MIGHT mean the entire town is covered, but not necessarily. More than one listed indicates each serves different areas of town.
- Unless your area is one served by Vermont’s only gas utility, your only option is bottled gas (any dealer).
Cable Comcast 800-266-2278
Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
Electric Northfield Electric Department 802-485-5411
Electric Washington Electric Co-op 800-932-5245
Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001
Telephone TDS Telecom 888-225-5837
