About Us >> Description of Chittenden County

Chittenden County, with 25% of Vermont’s population, is home to a rich mixture of families both rural and urban, long-time residents, and recent immigrants and refugees representing over 42 different countries.   Though 75% of the county is rural, the largest cities in Vermont are located in Chittenden County: Burlington, Essex Jct. and South Burlington.   According to the 2000 Census data, 10,141 of Chittenden County residents were children under the age of six.  In addition, there were approximately 15,000 college students from four colleges and the state’s largest university. Bordered to the west by Lake Champlain, Chittenden County encompasses the greater Burlington metropolitan area. It is the manufacturing, services, and commercial center for the state of Vermont, with the Burlington area labor market accounting for 30% of Vermont’s total employment. Within its 18 municipalities and one gore, the county offers views of lakes, mountains, and rivers; a few large institutional employers and many small businesses; a wealth of community resources; and the most cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity in the state.

There are nine school districts and supervisory unions in the county, including 28 elementary schools. Kindergarten programs are available in all school districts, some full and some part-time, and the mandatory school age is six years (first grade). Quality childcare is well utilized in the county, with almost 400 childcare programs.  Sixty-five percent of all parents with children age 6 and younger are in the workforce.  In addition, many families commute into Chittenden County for work.