Castleton, Vermont

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Castleton, Vermont: A short, easy-to-understand overview

Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. It sits about 15 miles west of Rutland, the county seat, and near the New York state line. The town had about 4,458 residents according to the 2020 census and is home to a Vermont State University campus with roots going back to 1787.

History in brief
- Castleton was settled in 1770 and chartered in 1761 by Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire. The 36-square-mile area was divided into 70 shares, with some set aside for churches and a school.
- Early settlers included Amos Bird and Noah Lee, who arrived around 1767. Birdseye Mountain is named for Amos Bird.
- In 1775, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys met in Castleton to plan the attack on Fort Ticonderoga. The region saw battles linked to the American Revolution, including Hubbardton, Bennington, and Saratoga.
- Fort Warren was built in Castleton in 1777, and at times the town hosted German soldiers during the war. Loyalists faced strong local opposition.
- Vermont’s first medical school was chartered in Castleton in 1818.
- In the 19th century, Castleton grew as an agricultural town, then developed slate and marble industries. The railroad arrived in 1854, boosting tourism around Lake Bomoseen. Luxury hotels sprang up along the lake, and a trolley connected the town center to the lake.
- Fires between 1900 and 1940 damaged several areas, but Castleton preserved much of its historic character. Main Street is lined with Federal and Greek Revival buildings, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Arts and culture
- Higley House (built 1810) is tied to the Higley family and now cared for by the Castleton Historical Society, displaying antiques and carriages.
- The Castleton Federated Church (1833) was designed by Thomas Dake and is listed in the Historic American Buildings Survey.
- The Cobbler’s Shop, a brick building at Main Street and Cemetery Road, is believed by some to be the oldest brick building in Vermont (built between 1774 and 1794).
- Castleton Medical Chapel (1821) is part of Castleton University’s history and sits near the Fine Arts Center.

Education
- Castleton is part of the Slate Valley Modified Unified School District. Castleton Elementary School serves grades K–6. Students from Castleton may attend nearby Fair Haven Union High School and Fair Haven Union Middle School for higher grades.
- Castleton University, a public liberal arts college, has a long history in the town dating to 1787.

Geography
- The town covers about 42.4 square miles in total, with around 39 square miles of land and 3.3 square miles of water (Lake Bomoseen is a major feature in the area).
- Within Castleton there are three main areas: Castleton village (the town center with the post office, town offices, a bank, and stores), Lake Bomoseen (a resort and fishing area), and Hydeville (south end of the lake).
- Nearby communities include Rutland to the west and various towns along the Vermont–New York border.

Transportation
- Since 2009, Castleton has been an Amtrak stop on the Ethan Allen Express. The station is behind Main Street near the post office and features an enclosed building.

Demographics (a quick snapshot)
- Population: around 4,458 (as of 2020)
- The town has a mix of families and individuals, with a community feel and a predominantly White population.
- Income and housing: typical of small Vermont towns, with a median household income in the range shown in census data and several thousand housing units.

Notable people connected to Castleton
- Edwin Drake, known for early contributions to the oil industry
- Amos Pollard, surgeon and defender at the Alamo
- Ron Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
- Samuel Shaw, U.S. Representative from Vermont
- J. M. Adams, Alexander W. Buel, Chauncey Langdon, and others tied to Castleton’s history

Castleton blends a rich Revolutionary War-era past with a strong educational presence, scenic Lake Bomoseen, and a preserved 19th-century architectural heritage, making it a small Vermont town with deep roots and a notable role in the region’s history.