Clarendon, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Clarendon is a town in Rutland County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 2,571 at the 2010 census. Clarendon spans U.S. Route 7
and is split by the highway, the Cold River and Mill River, Otter Creek, and the Green Mountains
into the villages of Clarendon, West Clarendon, East Clarendon, Clarendon Springs, and North Clarendon.
, but was later split off as Charlotte County
until Vermont declared itself as a republic
around 1788. Land claims by New Hampshire
were eventually settled, and in 1795 Vermont became a state.
Clarendon now includes the following entries on the National Register of Historic Places
:
, the town has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.7 km2), all land.
The Clarendon Gorge, accessible using the combined Appalachian Trail
/Long Trail
, is a popular local geographical feature. One must cross a 30 feet (9.1 m) suspension bridge
to reach the waterfall and swimming holes as well as to connect with the Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail.
Clarendon Gorge (Upper Falls):
of 2000, there were 2,811 people, 1,136 households, and 784 families residing in the town. The population density
was 89.1 people per square mile (34.4/km2). There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of 38.3 per square mile (14.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.28% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,136 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,597, and the median income for a family was $48,534. Males had a median income of $31,122 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,801. About 5.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% 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...
. The population was 2,571 at the 2010 census. Clarendon spans U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
and is split by the highway, the Cold River and Mill River, Otter Creek, and the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
into the villages of Clarendon, West Clarendon, East Clarendon, Clarendon Springs, and North Clarendon.
History
The area that later formed the Town of Clarendon was settled by families from lower New England as early as 1762. It and the surrounding area was then part of Albany County, New YorkAlbany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, but was later split off as Charlotte County
Charlotte County, Province of New York
Charlotte County was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. The county was named for Charlotte, Princess Royal, oldest daughter and fourth child of George III of the United Kingdom. Its boundaries extended...
until Vermont declared itself as a republic
Vermont Republic
The term Vermont Republic has been used by later historians for the government of what became modern Vermont from 1777 to 1791. In July 1777 delegates from 28 towns met and declared independence from jurisdictions and land claims of British colonies in New Hampshire and New York. They also...
around 1788. Land claims by 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...
were eventually settled, and in 1795 Vermont became a state.
Clarendon now includes the following entries on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
- Brown Covered BridgeBrown Covered BridgeThe Brown Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Built in 1880 by Nichols Powers, famed Vermont Bridgewright, also builder of Blenheim Bridge, recently lost to flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. Clarendon was the hometown of Mr...
— bridges the Cold River on Cold River Road in North Clarendon (added February 21, 1974) - Clarendon Congregational ChurchClarendon Congregational ChurchClarendon Congregational Church is a historic church building on Middle Road in Clarendon, Vermont....
— Middle Rd. (added August 12, 1984) - Clarendon House — off VT 133 in Clarendon Springs (added June 17, 1976)
- The Clarendon House hotel was a spaDestination spaA destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
resort destination in the early 20th century
- The Clarendon House hotel was a spa
- Cold River Bridge — VT 7B over the Cold R. (added December 14, 1991)
- East Clarendon Railroad StationEast Clarendon Railroad StationEast Clarendon Railroad Station is a historic station at VT 103 and East Road in Clarendon, Vermont.It was built in 1916 and added to the National Register in 1999....
— VT 103 and East Rd. (added April 8, 1999)- The former East Clarendon Railroad Station is a restaurant today
- Kingsley Covered BridgeKingsley Covered BridgeThe Kingsley Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Clarendon, Vermont. Built in 1836 by Timothy K. Horton, the bridge is a town lattice style with a 120 foot span across the Mill River...
— bridges the Mill River on East Street in East Clarendon (added March 12, 1974)
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 31.6 square miles (81.7 km2), all land.
The Clarendon Gorge, accessible using the combined Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
/Long Trail
Long Trail
The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States, constructed between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club...
, is a popular local geographical feature. One must cross a 30 feet (9.1 m) suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
to reach the waterfall and swimming holes as well as to connect with the Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail.
Clarendon Gorge (Upper Falls):
- Height: 8 feet (2.4 m) total drop
- Water Source: Mill River
- Trail Length: .01 mile
- Trail Difficulty: Easy
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 2,811 people, 1,136 households, and 784 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 89.1 people per square mile (34.4/km2). There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of 38.3 per square mile (14.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.28% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.21% 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 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,136 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,597, and the median income for a family was $48,534. Males had a median income of $31,122 versus $24,375 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 $19,801. About 5.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.