Chittenden County is named for Thomas Chittenden, who was the first governor of Vermont in 1991 to 1797.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Grand Isle County and Franklin County
E – Lamoille County and Washington County
S – Addison County
W – Essex County, New York, Clinton County, New York and Grand Isle County
Created: October 22, 1787 
County Seat:
Colchester 1787 – 1790
Burlington 1790 – present
County Courthouse – Burlington
Location: 175 Main Street / Church Street
Built: 1903 – 1907
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: James Knox Taylor
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a white colored stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Burlington. The first story has horizontal stone. Six sets of double columns rise from the second story to the top of the third story. The roof line is flat with a balustrade. The building was constructed as a United States Post Office and later became the Army Reserve Center before transfer to the county in 1974. The building was renovated in 1974 for use as a courthouse. The architect was Ralph P Branson of Burlington.
Note: The previous courthouse was designed by Edgar C Ryer of Burlington and built in 1871 to 1872 which stood on the south side of the present courthouse. The building was demolished. Edgar C Ryer also designed the old courthouse in Franklin County.
Criminal Courthouse – Burlington
Location: 32 Cherry Street / Pine Street
Built: 1966 – 1968
Style: Modern Brutalist
Architect: Linde-Hubbard Associates of Burlington ( Burlington Associates )
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a four story red-brown colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the west side of the center of Burlington. The south front has three rectangular openings on the west side and horizontal windows on the second and third floors. The east section has a recessed section on the first story and horizontal windows on the second to fourth stories. The building rises to a square clock tower. Along the west side of the building is a section with three rectangular openings. The building is names as the Judge Edward J Costello Courthouse.
History: The county was created in 1787 and Colchester was selected as the county seat. The first court met at the home of Ira Allen in 1788. The county seat was moved to Burlington in 1790. Court was held at Gideon King’s Tavern at 35 King Street which still stands. The first courthouse was erected at City Hall Park in 1797. The second courthouse was built in 1801 and the former courthouse was razed. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1829. The third courthouse was built in 1829. The building became the Fletcher Free Library and was razed in 1901. The fourth courthouse was a three story Second Empire structure designed by Edgar C Ryder and built in 1871 to 1872 and stood on the south side of the fifth and present courthouse. The building was demolished. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1903 to 1907 and became the courthouse in 1974. The County Criminal Courthouse was constructed in 1966 to 1968.
Note: The highest point in Vermont is Mount Mansfield at 4,393 feet ( 1,339 meters ) which is located in the county on the border with Lamoille County .
County Courthouse – Burlington
Costello Courthouse -Burlington
Photos taken 2014 and 2018