Ripton, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Ripton is a town in Addison County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 556 at the 2000 census. The Bread Loaf Writer's Conference is held annually in Ripton. Jessica Ravitz of CNN
said that the town "is the kind of place where cell service fails more often than it works and the country store is really just that. Otter Creek rages along snow-packed banks during springtime, Tibetan prayer flags wave outside a weather-worn home, and the fog lifts to reveal a white horse grazing in a field."
, the town has a total area of 49.5 square miles (128.3 km2), of which 49.5 square miles (128.3 km2) is land and 0.02% is water. Ripton is mountainous and largely populated by northern hardwood forest
. The summit of Bread Loaf Mountain
lies in the town. Although the approach to Middlebury Gap
begins in Ripton, the Gap's height-of-land is in neighboring Hancock
.
, there were 556 people, 210 households and 152 families residing in the town. The population density
was 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km2). There were 283 housing units at an average density of 5.7 per square mile (2.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.66% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.18% from other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 210 households of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.89.
Age distribution was 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 113.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.
The median household income
was $39,583, and the median family income was $47,813. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $30,893 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,597. About 10.3% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
, 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 556 at the 2000 census. The Bread Loaf Writer's Conference is held annually in Ripton. Jessica Ravitz of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
said that the town "is the kind of place where cell service fails more often than it works and the country store is really just that. Otter Creek rages along snow-packed banks during springtime, Tibetan prayer flags wave outside a weather-worn home, and the fog lifts to reveal a white horse grazing in a field."
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 49.5 square miles (128.3 km2), of which 49.5 square miles (128.3 km2) is land and 0.02% is water. Ripton is mountainous and largely populated by northern hardwood forest
Northern hardwood forest
The northern hardwood forest is a general type of North American forest ecosystem found over much of southeastern and south central Canada, extending south into the United States in northern New England and New York, and west along the Great Lakes to Minnesota and western Ontario...
. The summit of Bread Loaf Mountain
Bread Loaf Mountain (Vermont)
Bread Loaf Mountain is a mountain located in Addison County, Vermont, in the Green Mountain National Forest. The mountain is part of the central Green Mountains...
lies in the town. Although the approach to Middlebury Gap
Middlebury Gap
Middlebury Gap, is a mountain pass in the Green Mountains of Vermont.The height of land of the pass is located in Addison County.On the southeast side of the height of land, the notch is drained by the Robbins Branch, thence into the Hancock Branch of the White River, which drains into the...
begins in Ripton, the Gap's height-of-land is in neighboring Hancock
Hancock, Vermont
Hancock is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for John Hancock. The population was 382 at the 2000 census. Hancock is home to the Middlebury College Snow Bowl and contains Middlebury Gap....
.
Demographics
At the 2000 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...
, there were 556 people, 210 households and 152 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 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km2). There were 283 housing units at an average density of 5.7 per square mile (2.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.66% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.18% 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 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 210 households of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.89.
Age distribution was 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 113.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $39,583, and the median family income was $47,813. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $30,893 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 $19,597. About 10.3% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Robert FrostRobert FrostRobert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
, poet. - Bill McKibbenBill McKibbenWilliam Ernest "Bill" McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College...
, environmentalist and climate change author.