Brookfield, Vermont

Brookfield, Vermont
Town
Brookfield Old Town Hall
Brookfield Old Town Hall
Located in Orange County, Vermont
Located in Orange County, Vermont
Brookfield, Vermont is located in the United States
Brookfield, Vermont
Brookfield, Vermont
Location within the U.S.A.
Coordinates: 44°1′25″N 72°36′0″W / 44.02361°N 72.60000°W / 44.02361; -72.60000
CountryUnited States
StateVermont
CountyOrange
Chartered1781
Settled1779
Organized1785
CommunitiesBrookfield
Brookfield Center
East Brookfield
West Brookfield
Area
 • Total41.7 sq mi (107.9 km2)
 • Land41.4 sq mi (107.2 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
1,325 ft (333 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,244
 • Density30/sq mi (11.6/km2)
 • Households
475
 • Families
351
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
05036
Area code802
FIPS code50-09325[1]
GNIS feature ID1462054[2]
Websitebrookfieldvt.org

Brookfield is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. It was created by Vermont charter on August 5, 1781. The population was 1,244 at the 2020 census.[3] Brookfield is best known for its floating bridge which spans Sunset Lake buoyed by pontoons. The bridge, which is the only floating bridge east of the Mississippi River, was originally built in 1820 by Luther Adams and his neighbors. Sunset Lake is also the site of an annual ice harvesting festival. Brookfield boasts that it has Vermont's oldest continually operating library dating back to 1791. In 2006, Brookfield was one of the first American towns to have its citizens pass a resolution endorsing the impeachment of President George W. Bush. As of September 2010, the floating bridge was closed for repairs. Work began in 2014, and was completed May 2015. There was a celebration from May 23–24, 2015, to memorialize the event. Governor Peter Shumlin attended, and cadets from Norwich University provided traffic control.

The town's modest village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Brookfield Village Historic District.

  1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Brookfield town, Orange County, Vermont". Retrieved December 28, 2021.