The 2023 updated Census results show that Bricklyn has a population of 37,057.

The population of the adjoining City of South Bricklyn is 21,354, a little over half that of Bricklyn. The City of Bricklyn Junction comes in with a population of 7,092.

Together the three cities constitute the “Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn,” with a 2023 estimated population of 65,503, up from a total 55,983 in 2010.

The Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn, Vermont, occupies just 250 acres of land and is considered an “enclave” within the City of South Burlington, Vermont (having relocated from its initial location within the City of Burlington, Vermont). This enclave was formally authorized by the State of Vermont on the Realm’s founding in 1981, and is now located on an anonymous Outlander’s property under a 99-year lease agreement.

Preceding establishment of the Tripartite Realm, the then independent City of Bricklyn was incorporated in 1867, as a result of a wave of Danish emigration to the United States, with the City of Bricklyn Junction following in 1871, and the City of South Bricklyn in 1873. The settlement of the three cities, strangely enough, preceded the official founding of the LEGO company in 1932.

The three cities operated as separate, though adjoining, municipalities until most governmental functions were merged with the formation of the Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn on January 28, 1981 — a holiday celebrated annually as “Founders of the Realm Day,” which also coincides with International LEGO Day.

Confusion still persists when the name “Bricklyn” is used, as sometimes it refers to the Realm of Bricklyn, while other times it is used to refer to the area that was formerly the City of Bricklyn. Indeed when people refer to downtown Bricklyn, they are speaking of the downtown core of the Bricklyn district of the Realm of Bricklyn. Making matters worse, a few governmental functions remain with what is now called the Bricklyn district of the Realm of Bricklyn. However, when the term “Bricklynite” is used, it clearly refers to the citizenry of the entire Realm of Bricklyn.

First of all, to clarify Bricklyn is comprised not just of bricks, but also of tiles, plates, and many other LEGO parts (and even some non-LEGO parts — which raises serious consistency issues that will be addressed in a future post).

But assuming you mean all LEGO parts, the answer is that we do not know for sure. The problem lies, we’re afraid to say, in the sloppy record keeping in the early years of Bricklyn’s existence. Quite frankly (and regrettably) there was no proper inventory system in place.

Shortly after Bricklyn taxpayers learned of this shambolic state of affairs at a town meeting back in 2016, the then Bricklyn Dept. of Public Works Director (who will remain nameless) was fired, and YMK Spiro Brickburger appointed Chulpin B. Spancer to head DPW. Soon after, a well-organized inventory and brick ordering system was put in place.📍

📍The Bricklyn system was apparently modeled after the well-known inventory system developed in Blackburn, Lancashire, after the Borough Council (back in 1967) incredibly found at least 4,000 potholes on Borough roadways, apparently enough to fill the Albert Hall. For more on this, see “A Day in the Life.”

But, to at least provide you with a “guess-timate” we would say there are approximately 35,000 LEGO pieces currently in Bricklyn. Of course, many of those were from the installation of over 2,000 tiles for the new bike and pedestrian system which Bricklyn voters approved through two bond issue votes.

This “existential” question will be addressed in several future posts. For now, we advise you to read the “About Bricklyn” page, especially if you intend to visit Bricklyn at some time in the future. Bear in mind also that Bricklyn’s nickname is “A City Within a City.” For a somewhat similar situation, we would recommend you take a look at British author China Mieville’s book, The City & the City.

Visits are certainly possible! As an Outlander,🌀 you can use U.S. currency in Bricklyn, even though the official currency is the CopperDonut 🍩.

We advise you to contact the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce for the latest information on visiting: bricklynvt@gmail.com. Their staff, led by Tom Brickorti, can provide you with guidance in obtaining a travel visa though the Consulate of Outland Affairs.

Please note that only certain portions of Bricklyn are open to Outlanders (as much of Bricklyn is inaccessible, as it is located behind the Great Wall of Bricklyn). Travel to Bricklyn also needs to be in the company of one of the helpful minder guides from the Chamber of Commerce.

Clearly the biggest news story of 2019 was the relocation of the Simpsons from Springfield to Bricklyn. The reason for the move of this internationally celebrated family — true cultural icons — to Bricklyn has been subject to rumor and rampant speculation.

At this point, we at The Bricklyn Eagle still don’t know all the facts, though some have said that members of the Bricklyn business community, worried that Bricklyn was losing it’s hold on the title of “Donut Capital of America,” took undisclosed steps to entice Homer to move to Bricklyn and serve as the Realm’s “donut ambassador.”

Update: Dec. 29, 2024: Shocking news about nuclear “quid pro quo” for Simpsons’ move to Bricklyn disclosed. See Nu-Clear Bricklyn Secret Agreement Revealed

As for the other Simpson personalities who joined in the move to Bricklyn, word on the street has it that they feared fading into obscurity if they didn’t follow the Simpson family to Bricklyn.

Spiro Brickburger, called the “YMK” (“Yuppie Mayor-King”) of Bricklyn, was first elected to a three year term as Mayor in 2012 and was also then crowned as King.

The Mayor of Bricklyn is free to either accept (or decline) the ceremonial position of King (or Queen) of the Realm. If the position is declined, a King or Queen is selected by vote of the Federal Council.

Note that Bricklyn mayors traditionally include in their title some defining characteristic about their background — in Brickburger’s case, that is seen in the “Yuppie” of “Y” part of his title.

Early in 2024, YMK Brickburger announced that he would not run for another term as Mayor. Elections for a new mayor were held on May 14, 2024, with Alma M-Stanbrick being elected, and now called PM M-Stanbrick (the first PM in her title signifying Progressive Mayor).

Stanbrick has declined the title of Queen of Bricklyn, citing her intention to advocate for abolishing the position of monarch.

Interestingly, the two most powerful political positions in the Realm of Bricklyn are now held by women: with PM M-Stanbrick and HIlma Plater-Zybrick, President of the Federal Council.

LEGO scholars Sondra Bacharach and Roy T. Cook have noted in their book, LEGO and Philosophy: Constructing Reality Brick by Brick,📍 that LEGO can “be used to make pointed commentary on, draw philosophical insights into, and learn more about the world we live in.” And that’s one of the things we’re going to try to do right here in Bricklyn, Vermont.

📍 “Introduction: Play Well, Philosophize Well!,” in LEGO and Philosophy (John Wiley and Sons 2017, p. 3), edited by Bacharach and Cook.

Many writers have created remarkable alternative worlds, and used that as a way of re-imaging how things are done (or not done) in the real world. We’d cite two books in particular, Ursula Le Guin’s Always Coming Home, and Christopher Priest’s The Islanders. Le Guin and Priest weave the stories of the inhabitants of their imagined worlds with questions of how the cities and towns in these worlds developed and grew.