Essex Junction, near Killington, VT is the perfect community for family living and a little adventure on the side. Essex Junction is actually not a city, but is called the Village of Essex Junction.
Essex Junction originated in the 1800s. Around that time, a rail line through the area was being built for Governor Charles Paine. People named the area Painesville in the governor's honor. In the 1950s, Railroads had to let the passengers know they would have to switch trains if they were traveling in a different direction. They used junction ties for this purpose. Since this particular area didn't have a real name yet, the train conductor would call out "Essex Junction" when they were getting close to where the passengers would need to switch. Essex Junction was incorporated as a village in 1892 by the Vermont State General Assembly.
From this time, they village has constantly been growing starting with their volunteer fire department in 1893 being a big addition as well as the trolley service in 1895. 1900 brought the village the luxury of public water.
Maple Street Park, a wonderful landmark for the area, was a great addition to the area in the 1950s. No one will forget when IBM moved to Essex Junction in 1957. This was huge for the growth of Essex Junction as it provided employment for 400 people, with their employee rate even higher today. Since their arrival, Essex Junction is twice its original size.
The Essex Junction Educational Center and Vocational Center was built in 1970 and was a major accomplishment and source of please and entertainment for the village. There has been steady progress in the growth of Essex Junction, making it a great town to visit and a better town to live.
