Brookfield, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Brookfield is a town in Orange County, Vermont
, United States
. It was created by Vermont charter on August 5, 1781. The population was 1,222 at the 2000 census. Brookfield is best known for its floating bridge which spans Sunset Lake
buoyed by pontoons. The bridge, which is the only floating bridge east of the Mississippi River
, was originally built in 1820 by Luther Adams and his neighbors. Sunset Lake is also the site of an annual ice harvesting festival. Brookfield boasts that it has Vermont's oldest continually operating library dating back to 1791. In 2006, Brookfield was one of the first American towns to have its citizens pass a resolution endorsing the impeachment of
President George W. Bush
. As of September 2010, the floating bridge was closed for repairs. The town does not have the money to fix it and one resident indicated that it will be some time before they do.
, the town has a total area of 41.7 square miles (107.9 km²), of which 41.4 square miles (107.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.7 km²) (0.65%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,222 people, 475 households, and 351 families residing in the town. The population density
was 29.5 people per square mile (11.4/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 14.5 per square mile (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.98% Asian, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,515, and the median income for a family was $51,071. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $24,258 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,502. About 2.5% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was created by Vermont charter on August 5, 1781. The population was 1,222 at the 2000 census. Brookfield is best known for its floating bridge which spans Sunset Lake
Sunset Lake Floating Bridge
The Sunset Lake Floating Bridge is a floating bridge that spans Sunset Lake in Brookfield, Vermont, United States. The bridge is supported by floating barrels because the lake is too deep for traditional pilings...
buoyed by pontoons. The bridge, which is the only floating bridge east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, was originally built in 1820 by Luther Adams and his neighbors. Sunset Lake is also the site of an annual ice harvesting festival. Brookfield boasts that it has Vermont's oldest continually operating library dating back to 1791. In 2006, Brookfield was one of the first American towns to have its citizens pass a resolution endorsing the impeachment of
Movement to impeach George W. Bush
During the presidency of George W. Bush, several American politicians sought to either investigate Bush for allegedly impeachable offenses, or to bring actual impeachment charges on the floor of the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee...
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. As of September 2010, the floating bridge was closed for repairs. The town does not have the money to fix it and one resident indicated that it will be some time before they do.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 41.7 square miles (107.9 km²), of which 41.4 square miles (107.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.7 km²) (0.65%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,222 people, 475 households, and 351 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 29.5 people per square mile (11.4/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 14.5 per square mile (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.98% Asian, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,515, and the median income for a family was $51,071. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $24,258 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,502. About 2.5% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- http://www.virtualvermont.com/towns/brookfield.html
- http://www.travel-vermont.net/2008/05/brookfield-and-its-floating-bridge/