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History · West Fairlee

West Fairlee dates to 1797, and 25% of its homes were built before 1940

5 places in town are on the National Register, among them four historic districts with 76 buildings between them. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1896 on, and the census since 1800.

1797founded
5on the National Register
25%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How West Fairlee began

When was West Fairlee founded?

1797

West Fairlee dates its founding to 1797 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1800.

First census: 391 in 18002020 census: 621229 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1807.The full story ↓

What stands out about West Fairlee’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18963 editions of the USGS map, 1896 to 1981. Watch West Fairlee change.A historic districtThe Camp Wyoda takes in 34 historic buildings.Boom and bustPeaked at 1,143 in 1820; 621 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start West Fairlee’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how West Fairlee’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

West Fairlee on the map, 1896 to 1981

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

West Fairlee on the 1896 USGS mapWest Fairlee on the 1944 USGS mapWest Fairlee on the 1981 USGS map1896Strafford 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 West Fairlee.

On the National Register

5 listings protect 77 historic buildings

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

places listed
5
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
77
each building in a district counts
first listed
1993
Asa May House
Asa May HouseWest Fairlee Center ChurchAloha Hive CampCamp WyodaCamp Billings
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Bungalow3
Adirondack Rustic3
Federal1
Greek Revival1
Hawaiian Cottage1
Queen Anne1
Asa May HouseFederal
West Fairlee Center ChurchGreek Revival
Aloha Hive CampBungalow
Camp WyodaAdirondack Rustic
Camp BillingsBungalow

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

The story

How West Fairlee came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of West Fairlee.

Read it all →

Originally a part of the town of Fairlee, West Fairlee separated in 1797. The town was first settled by Nathaniel Niles that same year. The town remained predominantly agricultural until copper was discovered in nearby Vershire in 1813. With the opening of the Ely Copper Mine in 1821 the town rapidly began to grow. The mine became the site of Vermont's largest labor revolt, dubbed the 'Ely War,' in 1883. Unable to remain financially solvent the mine was sold to George Westinghouse.

Combined with a fire that destroyed much of the town in 1910 and the mine's closure in 1920, West Fairlee's economy suffered immensely. Today the town is largely a bedroom community.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

West Fairlee, 1797 to 1896

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

  1. 18th century
  2. 1797
    FoundingWest Fairlee is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1807Post officeThe West Fairlee post office opens
  5. 1820CensusPopulation peaks at 1,143
  6. 1829Born hereEben Pomeroy Colton is born here
  7. 1852Born hereJabez William Clay is born here
  8. 1852Post officeThe Middlebrook post office opens
  9. 1855Post officeThe Middlebrook post office closes
  10. 1896On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

West Fairlee, decade by decade

Date unknown1 to date
A flood plain management study for the town ofDate?A flood plain management study for the town ofBook
Today8 recent
West Fairlee VT 12-20-20252025West Fairlee VT 12-20-2025West Fairlee Village2021West Fairlee VillageWestFairleeVT HorizonsCamp2015WestFairleeVT HorizonsCampWestFairleeVT CenterChurch2015WestFairleeVT CenterChurchWestFairleeVT AsaMayHouse2015WestFairleeVT AsaMayHouseWestFairleeVT AlohaHiveCamp 22015WestFairleeVT AlohaHiveCamp 2WestFairleeVT AlohaHiveCamp 12015WestFairleeVT AlohaHiveCamp 1West fairlee vt highlight2004West fairlee vt highlight
People over time

West Fairlee, census by census

02004006008001,0001,20018001850190019502000Peak: 1,143

Peaked at 1,143 in 1820; 621 people lived here in 2020.

23 censuses, 1800–2020.

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

Famous people

2 famous people were born in West Fairlee

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

See all →
Eben Pomeroy ColtonAmerican politician · b. 1829
Jabez William ClayFraternity founder · b. 1852
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

West Fairlee’s post office has been open since 1807. Another post office, Middlebrook, opened and closed inside today’s town.

West Fairlee
1807–today
Middlebrook
1852–1855
18001910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
West Fairlee Center
8cemeteries and burying grounds inside West Fairlee
Blood Brook SchoolKidderhoodKrook MeadowMiddle BrookScruton HillWest Fairlee CenterWest Fairlee VillageWild Hill

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

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Fairlee4 historic placesA+Bradford3 historic placesA+Strafford2 historic placesA+

Questions about West Fairlee’s history

What year was West Fairlee founded?

In 1797, according to Wikidata. West Fairlee’s post office opened in 1807, and the census of 1800 counted 391 people here.

What is on the National Register in West Fairlee?

5 listings: 1 building and 4 historic districts with 76 contributing buildings. 77 historic buildings in all.

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (9), the National Register of Historic Places (5), 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) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.