Chittenden County, Vermont

Chittenden County
Chittenden County Superior Court in Burlington
Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°28′32″N 73°07′38″W / 44.475681°N 73.127274°W / 44.475681; -73.127274
Country United States
State Vermont
FoundedOctober 22, 1787
Named afterThomas Chittenden
Shire TownBurlington
Largest cityBurlington
Area
  Total
619 sq mi (1,600 km2)
  Land537 sq mi (1,390 km2)
  Water83 sq mi (210 km2)  13%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
168,323
  Estimate 
(2022)
169,301
  Density270/sq mi (100/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districtAt-large

Chittenden County (/ˈɪtəndən/) is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, its population was 168,323. The county seat is Vermont's most populous municipality, the city of Burlington. The county has over a quarter of Vermont's population and more than twice the population of Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland. The county also has more than twice the population density of Vermont's second-most dense county, Washington. The county is named for Vermont's first governor and one of the framers of its constitution as an independent republic and later U.S. state, Thomas Chittenden.

The county has most of Vermont's fastest growing municipalities. It is one of the three counties that comprise the Burlington metropolitan area, along with the counties of Franklin and Grand Isle to the north and northwest, respectively. The University of Vermont, Vermont's largest university, is located in the county, as well as its affiliated hospital, the UVM Medical Center (which is Vermont's largest hospital and collectively forms the largest employer in the state along with the university). Vermont's largest private employer (GlobalFoundries) and largest airport (Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport) are in the localities of Essex Junction and South Burlington, respectively.

The Vermont Army National Guard is based at Camp Johnson in the town of Colchester. The Vermont Air National Guard is based at the Burlington Air National Guard Base on the grounds of the international airport in South Burlington.