Westminster (town), Vermont
Encyclopedia
Westminster is a town in Windham County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 3,210 at the 2000 census.
, the town has a total area of 46.1 square miles (119.5 km2), of which 46.1 square miles (119.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.06%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,210 people, 1,246 households, and 843 families residing in the town. The population density
was 69.7 people per square mile (26.9/km2). There were 1,412 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.73% White, 0.40% Black or African American
, 0.28% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,246 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,263, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $32,365 versus $26,303 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,019. About 7.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
from exerting their authority over the area in the long-running dispute over the New Hampshire Grants
. On January 15, 1777, a group of Vermonters met in the Westminster courthouse to declare the independence of the Republic of New Connecticut (later renamed the Republic of Vermont).
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 3,210 at the 2000 census.
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 46.1 square miles (119.5 km2), of which 46.1 square miles (119.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.06%) is water.
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 3,210 people, 1,246 households, and 843 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 69.7 people per square mile (26.9/km2). There were 1,412 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.73% White, 0.40% Black or African American
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...
, 0.28% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.34% 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 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,246 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% 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, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,263, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $32,365 versus $26,303 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 $20,019. About 7.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
Westminster is Vermont's oldest existing town. It was the site of the Westminster massacre in March 1775, in which two men were killed attempting to prevent New York provincial officialsProvince of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
from exerting their authority over the area in the long-running dispute over the New Hampshire Grants
New Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 , were made on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River, territory that was also...
. On January 15, 1777, a group of Vermonters met in the Westminster courthouse to declare the independence of the Republic of New Connecticut (later renamed the Republic of Vermont).
Notable people
- Jerome AllenJerome Allen (author)Jerome Allen was an American educator and author, born in Westminster, Vermont. He graduated at Amherst College in 1851, then presided over several institutions in the Western United States from 1851 to 1885.Professor Allen's publications include:...
, educator and author. - Stephen R. BradleyStephen R. BradleyStephen Row Bradley was an American politician.Bradley was born in Wallingford, Connecticut. His parents were Moses and Mary Bradley, members of prominent New England families who had arrived from England in the 17th century. Bradley spent his childhood in Wallingford and studied at Yale,...
, politician. - Hiram PrattHiram PrattHiram Pratt was mayor of Buffalo, New York, serving 1835–1836 and 1839–1840. He was born in Westminster, Vermont on June 28, 1800, a son of Captain Samuel Pratt, an early settler of Buffalo. He married Maria Fowle on November 3, 1825. They had three daughters. With Orlando Allen he built a...
, mayor of Buffalo, N.Y..