Pittsfield, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Pittsfield is a town in Rutland County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 546 at the 2010 census. It is site of the annual Pittsfield Snowshoe
Race.
, which itself had been named in honor of William Pitt
. It was first settled in 1786. The town proved suitable for grazing
livestock
because of its mountainous terrain. Indeed, in the 19th-century, humorists attributed the invention of the one-legged milking
stool to Pittsfield, "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."
Pittfield was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene
in 2011.
, the town has a total area of 20 square miles (51.8 km²), all land. Set among the Green Mountains
, Pittsfield is drained by the Tweed River, a tributary
of the White River
.
The town is crossed by Vermont Route 100
.
of 2000, there were 427 people, 190 households, and 120 families residing in the town. The population density
was 21.3 people per square mile (8.2/km2). There were 393 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.23% Asian, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 190 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples
living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,667, and the median income for a family was $47,000. Males had a median income of $29,306 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,837. About 1.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
destroyed parts of Vermont Route 100
between Killington
and Bethel
, preventing vehicle travel in and out of the town for weeks.
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 546 at the 2010 census. It is site of the annual Pittsfield Snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
Race.
History
Granted on November 8, 1780, the town was chartered on July 29, 1781, to Samuel Wilcox and 129 others. Pittsfield was named after Pittsfield, MassachusettsPittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
, which itself had been named in honor of William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
. It was first settled in 1786. The town proved suitable for grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
because of its mountainous terrain. Indeed, in the 19th-century, humorists attributed the invention of the one-legged milking
Milking
Milking is the act of removing milk from the mammary glands of an animal, typically cows , water buffalo, goats, sheep and more rarely camels, horses and donkeys. Milking may be done by hand or by machine.-Hand milking:...
stool to Pittsfield, "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."
Pittfield was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene
Hurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
in 2011.
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 20 square miles (51.8 km²), all land. Set among 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,...
, Pittsfield is drained by the Tweed River, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the White River
White River (Vermont)
The White River is a river in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River.The White River rises at Skylight Pond south of Bread Loaf Mountain near the crest of the Green Mountains. The river flows east to the town of Granville, where it receives the outflow from the...
.
The town is crossed by Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100 is a north–south state highway in Vermont, United States. Running through the center of the state, it travels nearly the entire length of Vermont and is long...
.
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 427 people, 190 households, and 120 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 21.3 people per square mile (8.2/km2). There were 393 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.23% Asian, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 190 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% 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, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,667, and the median income for a family was $47,000. Males had a median income of $29,306 versus $26,406 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 $21,837. About 1.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable recent events
In August 2011, Pittsfield become known as one of the most isolated Vermont towns when Tropical Storm IreneHurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
destroyed parts of Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100 is a north–south state highway in Vermont, United States. Running through the center of the state, it travels nearly the entire length of Vermont and is long...
between Killington
Killington, Vermont
Killington is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 811 at the 2010 census. Killington Ski Resort is located here....
and Bethel
Bethel, Vermont
Bethel is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,968 at the 2000 census. The town includes the locations of Bethel-Gilead, East Bethel, Lilliesville, Lympus , and West Bethel...
, preventing vehicle travel in and out of the town for weeks.