Pomfret, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Pomfret is a town
in Windsor County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 997 at the 2000 census.
. Pomfret was chartered in 1761 by Benning Wentworth, who was the governor of New Hampshire.
The first settler (1770) was Bartholomew Durkee, who came from Pomfret Connecticut.
Pomfret was called "New Pomfret" at first because most of the people who settled there came from Pomfret, Connecticut.
One of the earliest ski tows in the United States was established at South Pomfret in 1934, and became known as Suicide Six
.
, the town has a total area of 39.5 square miles (102.2 km2), of which 39.4 square miles (102.0 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.15%) is water. The Ottauquechee River
flows along a portion of the southern boundary of the town. The Pomfret town hall is located in the "center" of town as it is on the watershed divide between the White river (North Pomfret) and the Ottaqueechee river (South Pomfret).
of 2000, there were 997 people, 404 households, and 288 families residing in the town. The population density
was 25.3 people per square mile (9.8/km2). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.10% African American, 0.50% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
There were 404 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% 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 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,800, and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $31,063 versus $26,354 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $27,922. About 3.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% 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 Windsor 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 997 at the 2000 census.
History
The town was named after the Earl of PomfretEarl of Pomfret
Earl of Pomfret , in the County of York, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1721 for Thomas Fermor, 2nd Baron Leominster. The Fermor family descended from Richard Fermor who acquired great wealth as a merchant. However, he fell out with Henry VIII after remaining an...
. Pomfret was chartered in 1761 by Benning Wentworth, who was the governor of New Hampshire.
The first settler (1770) was Bartholomew Durkee, who came from Pomfret Connecticut.
Pomfret was called "New Pomfret" at first because most of the people who settled there came from Pomfret, Connecticut.
One of the earliest ski tows in the United States was established at South Pomfret in 1934, and became known as Suicide Six
Suicide Six
Suicide Six is the name of a ski resort in South Pomfret, Vermont. It has some claim to historical fame as a very early ski resort and in 1934, an improvised rope tow, said to be the first ski lift in the Eastern United States. The rope tow was set up by Wallace "Bunny" Bertram on...
.
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 39.5 square miles (102.2 km2), of which 39.4 square miles (102.0 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.15%) is water. The Ottauquechee River
Ottauquechee River
The Ottauquechee River is a river in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
flows along a portion of the southern boundary of the town. The Pomfret town hall is located in the "center" of town as it is on the watershed divide between the White river (North Pomfret) and the Ottaqueechee river (South Pomfret).
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 997 people, 404 households, and 288 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 25.3 people per square mile (9.8/km2). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.10% African American, 0.50% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
There were 404 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% 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 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% 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 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,800, and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $31,063 versus $26,354 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 $27,922. About 3.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Judah DanaJudah DanaJudah Dana was a Maine statesman and U.S. Senator.He was born either in Connecticut or Vermont. He was a grandson of the American Revolutionary War Gen. Israel Putnam....
, U.S. senator for Maine. - Luke S. JohnsonLuke S. JohnsonLuke Samuel Johnson was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 to 1838. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Lyman E. Johnson and Orson Hyde, his brother-in-law.Johnson was born November 3, 1807, in Pomfret,...
, leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. - Lyman E. JohnsonLyman E. JohnsonLyman Eugene Johnson was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He broke with Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon during the 1837-38 period when schism divided the early Church...
, leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. - Joe PerryJoe Perry (musician)Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
, guitarist for AerosmithAerosmithAerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. - Dana StoneDana StoneDana Stone was a U.S. photo-journalist best known for his work for CBS during the Vietnam War....
, Vietnam War journalist and photographer. - William ArkinWilliam ArkinWilliam M. Arkin is an American political commentator, activist, journalist, blogger, and former United States Army soldier.-Biography:Arkin served in U.S. Army intelligence from 1974 to 1978...
, journalist.