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AHistory
History · Northfield

Northfield dates to 1781, and 40% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns · #44 of 71 in Vermont. What drives it

9 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1800.

1781founded
9on the National Register
40%homes built before 1940
5old photos & papers
10famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Northfield’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Northfield began

When was Northfield founded?

1781

Northfield dates its founding to 1781 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1800.

First census: 204 in 18002020 census: 5,918245 years

How historic is Northfield?

A

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1828.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Northfield’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Northfield is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #44 of 71 in Vermont. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Northfield’s overall grade.
Founding era1781, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194039.7% of homes (±6.7) · typical VT town 22.4% · U.S. 8.4%ANational Register9 listings, 15.2 per 10,000 residents · typical VT town 147 · U.S. 2.4B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 86%
NewerOlder
Vermont towns of 2,500+ (71)Ahead of 39%

Vermont towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Vermont town has 147 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Northfield’s 15.2 sits below most of its state (29% of Vermont towns have fewer) while its 9 listings outnumber those of 75% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.7 points). Two sources give 1781.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Northfield’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1860 and 1890, then more than doubled.Mapped building by building6 fire insurance maps, 1885 to 1919, drew every building in Northfield.Lost villages2 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Northfield, and 3 old place names are still on the map.Landmarks on the Register9 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · People over time

Northfield, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,0005,5006,0006,500180018501900195020004,329 in 1860Low: 2,628

Lost a third of its people between 1860 and 1890, then more than doubled.

23 censuses, 1800–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Northfield’s Wikipedia page.

Every building

Northfield, building by building, 1885–1919

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Northfield fire insurance map, 1885, sheet 11885Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Northfield’s post office has been open since 1828. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Northfield
1828–today
Gouldsville
1869–1905
South Northfield
1875–1906
Northfield Falls
1905–today
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Northfield CenterNorthfield FallsSouth Northfield
8cemeteries and burying grounds inside Northfield
AldrichElmwoodFour CornersLoomisNorthfield FallsNorwich UniversityOld CatholicRobinson

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

The story

How Northfield came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Northfield.

Read it all →

Northfield was chartered in 1781. The community was named after Northfield, Massachusetts.

Northfield, was settled between 1785 and the 1820s by Yankees from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and older Vermont towns. The period saw the development of four distinct villages: South Village, Center Village, Factory Village, and Northfield Falls. South Village, with numerous small businesses, became the first to have a distinct identity. Center Village followed, where the first post office, town clerk’s office, and churches were established, coming to serve as Northfield's social and political center. Factory Village (now the village of Northfield), named for the woolen mill, developed next. Lastly, Northfield Falls thrived by the late 1820s.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Northfield in 1882

Passages that mention Northfield, cut from the printed page as they were published.

The proprietors of Northfield, at a meeting held at Burch's Inn, in Hartford, Vt., 2d Tues. of Nov. 1784, voted he should have the privilege of pitching 200 or 400 acres of land in Northfield at his option, on condition he would build a good sawmillin said Northfield within 18 months, and a grist-m…
The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer1882 · page 659Read the page →
Read the text

The proprietors of Northfield, at a meeting held at Burch's Inn, in Hartford, Vt., 2d Tues. of Nov. 1784, voted he should have the privilege of pitching 200 or 400 acres of land in Northfield at his option, on condition he would build a good sawmillin said Northfield within 18 months, and a grist-mill in a year. He built the

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The proprietors of Northfield, at a meeting held at Burch's Inn, in Hartford, Vt., 2d Tues. of Nov. 1784, voted he should have the privilege of pitching 200 or 400 acres of land in Northfield at his option, on condition he would build a good sawmill in said Northfield within 18 months, and a grist-…
The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer1882 · page 659Read the page →
Read the text

The proprietors of Northfield, at a meeting held at Burch's Inn, in Hartford, Vt., 2d Tues. of Nov. 1784, voted he should have the privilege of pitching 200 or 400 acres of land in Northfield at his option, on condition he would build a good sawmill in said Northfield within 18 months, and a grist-mill in a year. He built the

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
almon weatherbee moved from Moretown to Northfield in 1S45 ; worked for Governor Paine in his factory and grist-mill. He built the house where his family now live — the first house on that hill. He was killed Dec. 1 1, 1867, in the terrible railroad disaster at Harlow Bridge. He was an industrious …
The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer1882 · page 640Read the page →
Read the text

almon weatherbee moved from Moretown to Northfield in 1S45 ; worked for Governor Paine in his factory and grist-mill. He built the house where his family now live — the first house on that hill. He was killed Dec. 1 1, 1867, in the terrible railroad disaster at Harlow Bridge. He was an industrious and good

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
son's house by John Stafford's and Wilcox's to Warren ; Samson Nichols surveyor. In 1802, the road through the middle of the town, from Northfield to Brookfield, was laid out, 6 rods wide. A road was surveyed from Northfield to Brookfield through the east part of the town, in 1802. In 1806, the roa…
The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer1882 · page 735Read the page →
Read the text

son's house by John Stafford's and Wilcox's to Warren ; Samson Nichols surveyor. In 1802, the road through the middle of the town, from Northfield to Brookfield, was laid out, 6 rods wide. A road was surveyed from Northfield to Brookfield through the east part of the town, in 1802. In 1806, the road was laid from

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Northfield, 1781 to 2010

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1781
    FoundingNorthfield is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1827Born hereGeorge Nichols is born here
  5. 1828Post officeThe Northfield post office opens
  6. 1869Post officeThe Gouldsville post office opens
  7. 1875In the archiveRailroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont scenery
  8. 1875Born hereCharles Albert Plumley is born here
  9. 1875Post officeThe South Northfield post office opens
  10. 1898In the archiveNorthfield Library ca1897 Vermont
  11. 20th century
  12. 1900In the archiveWea01369 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library
  13. 1905Post officeThe Gouldsville post office closes
  14. 1906Post officeThe South Northfield post office closes
  15. 1914Born hereReginald M. Cram is born here
  16. 1924On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  17. 1937In the archiveCovered bridge. Northfield Falls, Vermont, by Arthur Rothstein, United States Office of W…
  18. 1987Born hereJay Hayden is born here
  19. 21st century
  20. 2010CensusPopulation peaks at 6,207
By decade

Northfield, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1870s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1870s–1930s5 items
Railroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont sceneryc. 1875Railroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alternate Title: Gems…River and bridges.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont sceneryc. 1875River and bridges.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont sc…Northfield Library ca1897 Vermont1898Northfield Library ca1897 VermontWea01369 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Libraryc. 1900Wea01369 - Flickr - NOAA Photo LibraryCovered bridge. Northfield Falls, Vermont, by Arthur Rothstein, United States Office of War Information, Sept. 1937, fr…1937Covered bridge. Northfield Falls, Vermont, by Arthur …
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today13 recent
Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1202006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 120Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1192006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 119Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1182006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 118Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1172006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 117Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1162006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 116Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1152006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 115Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1142006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 114Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1132006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 113Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1122006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 112Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1112006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 111Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1102006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 110Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 1092006Covered Bridges of Northfield, Vermont 110406 109Northfield vermont towns2004Northfield vermont towns
On the map

Northfield on the map, 1924 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Northfield. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Northfield on the 1924 USGS mapNorthfield on the 1957 USGS mapNorthfield on the 1980 USGS map1924Barre sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Northfield.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Railroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont scenery
Retake this viewRailroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alternate Title: Gems of Vermont scenery, c. 1875

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Northfield’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

9 historic places in Northfield

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
9
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
9
each building in a district counts
first listed
1974
Slaughterhouse Covered Bridge
Slaughterhouse Covered BridgeNorthfield Falls Covered BridgeUpper Cox Brook Covered BridgeLower Cox Brook Covered BridgeStony Brook Covered BridgeCentral Vermont Railway DepotOld Red MillMayo BuildingNorthfield Graded School
BuildingsStructures
Slaughterhouse Covered BridgeStructure
Northfield Falls Covered BridgeStructure
Upper Cox Brook Covered BridgeStructure
Lower Cox Brook Covered BridgeStructure
Stony Brook Covered BridgeStructure
Central Vermont Railway DepotBuilding
Old Red MillBuilding
Mayo BuildingBuilding
All 9 listings
Northfield Graded SchoolBuilding · listed 2024

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

10 famous people were born in Northfield

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
J
Jay HaydenAmerican actor · b. 1987
Charles Albert PlumleyAmerican politician · b. 1875
George NicholsAmerican politician and physician, Vermont · b. 1827
Reginald M. CramUnited States Air Force Major General · b. 1914
Elisha W. KeyesAmerican politician · b. 1828
Harry Bates ThayerAmerican businessman · b. 1858
Help out

Finish Northfield’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewRailroad Bridge, Northfield, Vt.Alterna…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Waitsfield7 historic placesAWilliamstown1 historic placeB−Berlin3 historic placesAMoretown1 historic placeB+

Questions about Northfield’s history

What year was Northfield founded?

In 1781, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Northfield’s post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1800 counted 204 people here.

How does Northfield rank for history?

Northfield is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #44 of 71 in Vermont. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Northfield?

9 listings: 4 buildings and 5 structures.

How old are the homes in Northfield?

40% of Northfield’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.7 points), against a typical 22% for a Vermont town; the median home was built in 1956.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (18), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.