Cambridge, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Cambridge is a town
in Lamoille County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 3,186 at the 2000 U.S. Census. Cambridge includes the village of Jeffersonville
.
, New Hampshire
. The intervales proved good but rough, best for grazing livestock. By 1839, the town had about 7,000 sheep. The Lamoille River
offered water power for watermill
s. Industries included one woolen factory, one tannery
, one gristmill, plus several sawmills and cabinet shops.
Cambridge and neighboring Johnson were together known as the King's College Tract
, being created by Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden
by authority of British
King George III
in 1764. The King's College Tract was reserved for the eventual establishment of a university on the site. The place name Cambridge suggests Cambridge University in England
. Johnson, the other town in the King's College Grant, was named for William Samuel Johnson
.
Both the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain Railroad and the Burlington & Lamoille Railroad passed through the town. The former is now the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
, the town has a total area of 63.7 square miles (164.9 km2), of which 63.7 square miles (164.9 km2) is land and 0.02% is water. Cambridge is drained by the Lamoille River
.
The town is crossed by Vermont Route 15
, Vermont Route 104, Vermont Route 108
and Vermont Route 109.
of 2000, there were 3,186 people, 1,266 households, and 886 families residing in the town. The population density
was 50.0 people per square mile (19.3/km2). There were 1,363 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.52% White, 0.25% Black or African American
, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.06% from other races
, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,266 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,950, and the median income for a family was $49,274. Males had a median income of $35,264 versus $23,199 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,527. About 2.9% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Lamoille County, Vermont
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...
. The population was 3,186 at the 2000 U.S. Census. Cambridge includes the village of Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville, Vermont
Jeffersonville is a village in the town of Cambridge, Vermont, United States. The population was 568 at the 2000 census.-History:The village was originally called Cambridge Center, the name was changed to Jeffersonville in 1827 to honor Thomas Jefferson...
.
History
Granted on November 7, 1780, Cambridge was chartered on August 13, 1781 to Samuel Robinson, John Fassett, Jr., Jonathan Frost and 64 others. It was first settled in 1783 by John Safford from PiermontPiermont, New Hampshire
Piermont is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 790 at the 2010 census. It is home to several summer camps.-History:...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The intervales proved good but rough, best for grazing livestock. By 1839, the town had about 7,000 sheep. The Lamoille River
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
offered water power for watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s. Industries included one woolen factory, one tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
, one gristmill, plus several sawmills and cabinet shops.
Cambridge and neighboring Johnson were together known as the King's College Tract
King's College Tract
The King's College Tract consisted of an area of forested land in the vicinity of the present towns of Cambridge and Johnson in the U.S. state of Vermont. The tract was granted in 1764 by Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden of the New York crown colony, in the name of King George III to the...
, being created by Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden was a physician, farmer, surveyor, botanist, and a lieutenant governor for the Province of New York.-Biography:...
by authority of British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in 1764. The King's College Tract was reserved for the eventual establishment of a university on the site. The place name Cambridge suggests Cambridge University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Johnson, the other town in the King's College Grant, was named for William Samuel Johnson
William Samuel Johnson
William Samuel Johnson was an early American statesman who was notable for signing the United States Constitution, for representing Connecticut in the United States Senate, and for serving as president of Columbia University.-Early career:...
.
Both the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain Railroad and the Burlington & Lamoille Railroad passed through the town. The former is now the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
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 63.7 square miles (164.9 km2), of which 63.7 square miles (164.9 km2) is land and 0.02% is water. Cambridge is drained by the Lamoille River
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
.
The town is crossed by Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
, Vermont Route 104, Vermont Route 108
Vermont Route 108
Vermont Route 108 is a north–south state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its southern terminus is at VT 100 in Stowe, and its northern terminus is at the Canadian border in Franklin, where it continues into Quebec as Route 237. VT 108 is long.-Route...
and Vermont Route 109.
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 3,186 people, 1,266 households, and 886 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 50.0 people per square mile (19.3/km2). There were 1,363 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.52% White, 0.25% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,266 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,950, and the median income for a family was $49,274. Males had a median income of $35,264 versus $23,199 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 $20,527. About 2.9% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
- Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge
- Gates Farm Covered Bridge
- Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
- Scott Covered Bridge
Notable people
- Anson D. MorseAnson D. MorseAnson Daniel Morse was an educator and historian who was for many years a professor at Amherst College.Morse was born in Cambridge, Vermont. He received his bachelors degree from Amherst College in 1871. He joined the faculty of Amherst College in 1876, and held positions as lecturer in...
, educator and historian. - Lucy WheelockLucy WheelockLucy Wheelock was an educator and founder of Wheelock College, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.She was born in Cambridge, Vermont, the daughter of Edwin Wheelock and Laura Pierce. Her father was a Congregational minister and superintendent of schools, and also served in the Vermont state legislature...
, educator and college founder.
Further reading
- Swift, Esther Monroe. Vermont Place Names: Footprints of History. The Stephen Greene Press: 1996 ISBN 0-8289-0291-7.