Washington County is a county in Vermont, United States, home to the state capital, Montpelier. It had a population of 59,807 at the 2020 census and covers 695 square miles (1,800 km2) centred near 44\u00b016\u2032N 72\u00b037\u2032W.<\/p>\n
Montpelier is the county seat and the least populous state capital in the country; its postal code is 05602. Barre, the county’s most populous city, sits three miles to the southeast. The county has 2 cities, 18 towns and roughly a dozen villages and unincorporated places, and it sits in the Eastern time zone.<\/p>\n
Washington County’s 20 chartered municipalities (2 cities, 18 New England towns) are the primary units of local government; most also contain a named village center or crossroads hamlet. The table below lists the chartered towns and cities plus the better-known villages, CDPs and hamlets within them. CDP<\/strong> = Census Designated Place (unincorporated village center tracked separately by the Census Bureau); Unincorp.<\/strong> = an unincorporated hamlet with no separate census tally.<\/p>\n Barre and Barre Town are neighboring but separate municipalities — the city of Barre is fully surrounded by, but administratively independent from, the town of Barre. Montpelier and East Montpelier are likewise distinct chartered towns rather than a single divided community.<\/p>\n Small crossroads hamlets such as North Montpelier, Berlin Corners and Dowsville have no ZIP code of their own and use their parent town’s code.<\/p>\n Washington County sits in the heart of the Green Mountains, straddling the range’s central spine along the Winooski River valley. The Winooski runs west through Montpelier, Middlesex and Duxbury on its way to Lake Champlain, while the Mad River drains the Waitsfield-Warren valley to the south. The county rises to Camels Hump and other peaks over 4,000 feet along its western edge, and includes a portion of the Groton State Forest in the east. It borders Lamoille County<\/a> to the north, Caledonia County<\/a> to the northeast, Orange County<\/a> to the southeast, Addison County<\/a> to the southwest and Chittenden County<\/a> to the northwest.<\/p>\n Washington County had 59,807 residents at the 2020 census, the third-most populous county in Vermont. Barre (8,491) and Montpelier (8,074) are its two largest municipalities, together holding about a quarter of the county’s population, with Barre Town (7,910) and Northfield (6,223) close behind. Vermont’s statewide 2023 median household income was $81,211; Washington County, anchored by state-government and healthcare employment in Montpelier and Barre, runs close to that figure. Overall density is roughly 87 people per square mile, concentrated around the twin urban centers of Barre and Montpelier with the rest of the county sparsely settled mountain and farm towns.<\/p>\n Vermont’s state government is the county’s largest employer, with thousands of workers at the Statehouse and executive agencies in Montpelier. Barre remains known as the “Granite Capital of the World,” home to the Rock of Ages quarry and granite-finishing sheds in Barre Town’s Graniteville and Websterville villages. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin is a major regional hospital employer. The Mad River Valley towns of Warren and Waitsfield anchor a ski and tourism economy built around Sugarbush Resort, while Waterbury is home to Ben & Jerry’s headquarters operations and a cluster of craft-beverage makers. Norwich University, a private military college founded in 1819, is based in Northfield.<\/p>\n The county was chartered in 1810 as Jefferson County and renamed Washington County in 1814, honoring George Washington. Montpelier was named the Vermont state capital in 1805, before the county itself existed, chosen partly for its central location and remoteness from other states’ claims. Barre grew rapidly after the 1880s as granite quarrying and rail links drew Scottish, Italian and Spanish stonecutters, giving the city its enduring granite-industry identity. Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 caused severe flooding along the Mad and Winooski rivers, and record July 2023 flooding again inundated downtown Montpelier and Barre.<\/p>\n Interstate 89 runs the length of the county from southwest to northeast, with U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 12 serving Montpelier, Barre and Northfield. Vermont Route 100 threads the Mad River Valley towns of Waitsfield and Warren.<\/p>\n Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is the nearest major commercial airport. Amtrak’s Vermonter line stops at the Montpelier Junction station in Berlin.<\/p>\n Where is Washington County, Vermont?<\/strong> What is the population of Washington County?<\/strong> How big is Washington County?<\/strong> What is the county seat of Washington County?<\/strong> How many towns are in Washington County?<\/strong> What ZIP codes are in Washington County?<\/strong>\n
\n Place<\/th>\n Type<\/th>\n Town<\/th>\n Pop.<\/th>\n ZIP<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Barre<\/td>\n City · seat area<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 8,491<\/td>\n 05641<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Montpelier<\/td>\n City · seat<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 8,074<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Barre Town<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 7,910<\/td>\n 05641<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Northfield<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 6,223<\/td>\n 05663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Waterbury<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 5,132<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Montpelier<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 2,624<\/td>\n 05651<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Berlin<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 2,910<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Warren<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 1,644<\/td>\n 05674<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Waitsfield<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 1,798<\/td>\n 05673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Moretown<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 1,681<\/td>\n 05660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Middlesex<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 1,731<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Calais<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05648<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Marshfield<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05658<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Cabot<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Duxbury<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fayston<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Plainfield<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05667<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Worcester<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05682<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Woodbury<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05681<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Roxbury<\/td>\n Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05669<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Graniteville<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05654<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Websterville<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05678<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lower Websterville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05678<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Upper Graniteville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05654<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n South Barre<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05641<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Barre<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n Barre Town<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05641<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Adamant<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05640<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Calais<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05650<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Calais<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05650<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Maple Corner<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05648<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Kents Corners<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05648<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n South Woodbury<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Woodbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05681<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Montpelier<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Calais<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Berlin Corners<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Berlin<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n West Berlin<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Berlin<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Montpelier Center<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n East Montpelier<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05651<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Fayston<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Fayston<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Irasville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Fayston<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Moretown<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Moretown<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Mill Village<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Moretown<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Duxbury<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Duxbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n South Duxbury<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Duxbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n South Cabot<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Cabot<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Cabot<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Cabot<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lower Cabot<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Cabot<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Northfield Center<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Northfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Northfield Falls<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Northfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n South Northfield<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Northfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05663<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Roxbury<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Roxbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05669<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n East Warren<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Warren<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05674<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Waitsfield Common<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Waitsfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05673<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sugarbush Village<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Warren<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05674<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Waterbury Center<\/td>\n CDP<\/td>\n Waterbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05677<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Edgewater<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Waterbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Wrightsville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Middlesex<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Putnamville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Middlesex<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05602<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Colbyville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Waterbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05676<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dowsville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Moretown<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05660<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Shady Rill<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Marshfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05658<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Wildersburg Common<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Cabot<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05647<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Perkinsville<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Marshfield<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05658<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Alpine Village<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Warren<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05674<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lanesboro<\/td>\n Unincorp.<\/td>\n Roxbury<\/td>\n —<\/td>\n 05669<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n ZIP Codes<\/h2>\n
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Geography<\/h2>\n
Demographics<\/h2>\n
Economy & Local Life<\/h2>\n
History<\/h2>\n
Getting There<\/h2>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
It sits in central Vermont, in the Green Mountains along the Winooski River, and includes the state capital, Montpelier.<\/p>\n
59,807 as of the 2020 census.<\/p>\n
695 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 687 square miles is land.<\/p>\n
Montpelier, the least populous U.S. state capital, is the county seat.<\/p>\n
Twenty chartered municipalities — two cities (Barre and Montpelier) and 18 towns — plus a number of unincorporated villages within them.<\/p>\n
Major codes include 05602 (Montpelier), 05641 (Barre), 05663 (Northfield) and 05676 (Waterbury), with smaller towns each carrying their own code.<\/p>\n