Vernon, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Vernon is a town in Windham County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census. Vernon is the home of Vermont Yankee
, Vermont's only nuclear power plant
.
, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (51.8 km2), of which 19.4 square miles (50.2 km2) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.6 km2) (3.15%) is water.
.
of 2000, there were 2,141 people, 741 households, and 574 families residing in the town. The population density
was 110.5 people per square mile (42.7/km2). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 40.5 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.60% White, 0.28% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 741 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,688, and the median income for a family was $55,625. Males had a median income of $35,845 versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,720. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
Vernon has discussed seceding from Vermont to New Hampshire
or to Massachusetts
if Vermont legislators impose taxes on Vermont Yankee, or attempt to take away Vermont Yankee's operating permit, which is up for renewal in 2012. Vernon was once part of the town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire
; accordingly, it has been claimed that this would be a return to a historical norm, rather than an unprecedented shift.
Windham County, Vermont
Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 44,513. Its shire town is Newfane.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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 2,141 at the 2000 census. Vernon is the home of Vermont Yankee
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
Vermont Yankee is a General Electric boiling water reactor type nuclear power plant currently owned by Entergy. It is located in the town of Vernon, Vermont, and generates 620 megawatts of electricity at full power. The plant began commercial operations in 1972...
, Vermont's only nuclear power plant
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
.
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 20.0 square miles (51.8 km2), of which 19.4 square miles (50.2 km2) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.6 km2) (3.15%) is water.
History
Fort Bridgman, in Vernon, was burned in 1755, a casualty of the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
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 2,141 people, 741 households, and 574 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 110.5 people per square mile (42.7/km2). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 40.5 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.60% White, 0.28% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 741 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,688, and the median income for a family was $55,625. Males had a median income of $35,845 versus $25,139 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 $19,720. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
Vermont Yankee
The town's website states the local government's position with regard to Vermont Yankee:Vernon has discussed seceding from Vermont to 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...
or to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
if Vermont legislators impose taxes on Vermont Yankee, or attempt to take away Vermont Yankee's operating permit, which is up for renewal in 2012. Vernon was once part of the town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Hinsdale is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,046 at the 2010 census. Hinsdale is home to part of Pisgah State Park in the northeast, and part of Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest in the northwest....
; accordingly, it has been claimed that this would be a return to a historical norm, rather than an unprecedented shift.