Westmore, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Westmore is a town
in Orleans County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 306 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county. The town contains one unincorporated village clustered around Lake Willoughby
.
. The town pays an assessment for this and elects a board member to the Orleans Central Supervisory Union
.
had a town named Westford
, in 1787 the name was changed to Westmore.
The first vacation house was built on the lake in 1860. It is known as the "Cheney House, after an owner in the late 19th century.
Westmore never attracted many settlers. The town's peak population was in the census year of 1880 with 485 people.
Before he became famous, Robert Frost
camped here in the summer of 1909 with his family.
Songadeewin Camp for girls was located here in the 1920s-1940s.
Electrity became available at the south end of the Lake, from West Burke, around 1934.
In 1970, the state of Vermont acquired 7600 acres (3,075.6 ha) as part of Willoughby State Forest, which included the Cheney House.
Nudity is legal throughout Vermont, though in 2007-8, the town discussed whether to ban nudity, aimed at sunbathers on the south beach of Lake Willoughby.
Having closely approximated the state's voting percentages for governor, in 2006, and president in 2004, Westmore was considered one of six "bellwether" towns for the 2008 general election.
, the town has a total area of 37.5 square miles (97.0 km2), of which 34.5 square miles (89.4 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.6 km2) (7.85%) is water.
One of the town's most prominent features is Lake Willoughby
. The lake has a maximum depth of 312 feet, making it the deepest lake totally contained within Vermont
, and one of the deepest lakes in all of New England
. The relatively young 12,000-year-old glacier-carved lake is flanked on the east by Mount Pisgah
2752 feet (839 m) and the west by Mount Hor
2654 feet (809 m). The mountains, which have hundreds of feet of rock cliffs, are located in the Willoughby State Forest and the cliffs have been designated a National Natural Landmark
. In recent decades, several peregrine falcons have been found there.
Local mountains also include Goodwin 2936 feet (895 m), Bald 3316 feet (1,011 m), Hedgehog 2201 feet (671 m), Haystack 2713 feet (827 m), and Bartlett 2047 feet (624 m).
The town has a local weather recording and reporting station.
of 2000, there were 306 people, 133 households, and 90 families residing in the town. The population density
was 8.9 people per square mile (3.4/km2). There were 530 housing units at an average density of 15.4 per square mile (5.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% White, 1.63% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.33% from two or more races.
There were 133 households out of which 20.3% had children under the living with them, 58.6% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.7% under the , 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 36.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.5 males.
for the town was $14,522. About 7.8% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 3.8% of those sixty five or over.
Vermont municipality
A Vermont municipality is a particular type of New England municipality. It is the basic unit of local government.-Background:Vermont contains 246 incorporated towns and cities. Nine are cities and 237 are towns. Collectively, these 246 municipalities cover the vast majority of, but not all of,...
in Orleans County
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the 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 306 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county. The town contains one unincorporated village clustered around Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby is a lake in the town of Westmore in Orleans County in the northeast section of Vermont, United States. Willoughby is a glacial lake over deep in places, the deepest lake entirely contained in the state....
.
Town
- Chairman of the Selectmen - Nancy Mallary
- Selectman - John Alexander
- Selectman - David Stevens
- Treasurer and Town Clerk - Greg Gallagher
- Delinquent Tax Collector - Robert Decker
- Agent - Greg Gallagher
- Auditor - Mellisa Zebrowski
- Auditor - Millie Davis
- Grand Juror - Michael Branon
- Cemetery Commissioner - Steve Richards
School District
High schools students are sent to Lake Region Union High SchoolLake Region Union High School
Lake Region Union High School, commonly known as Lake Region, is a secondary school located in Barton, Vermont. The school is operated by the Orleans Central Supervisory Union school district....
. The town pays an assessment for this and elects a board member to the Orleans Central Supervisory Union
Orleans Central Supervisory Union
The Orleans Central Supervisory Union is a school district responsible for the education of students in the Vermont towns of Albany, Barton, Brownington, Glover, Irasburg, Orleans, and Westmore. This requires maintaining one elementary schools in each of the towns mentioned, plus the Lake Region...
.
History
Originally named Westford, the town was chartered on August 17, 1781. Since Chittenden CountyChittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
had a town named Westford
Westford, Vermont
Westford is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,087 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.3 square miles , of which 39.3 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
, in 1787 the name was changed to Westmore.
The first vacation house was built on the lake in 1860. It is known as the "Cheney House, after an owner in the late 19th century.
Westmore never attracted many settlers. The town's peak population was in the census year of 1880 with 485 people.
Before he became famous, Robert Frost
Robert Frost
Robert 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...
camped here in the summer of 1909 with his family.
Songadeewin Camp for girls was located here in the 1920s-1940s.
Electrity became available at the south end of the Lake, from West Burke, around 1934.
In 1970, the state of Vermont acquired 7600 acres (3,075.6 ha) as part of Willoughby State Forest, which included the Cheney House.
Nudity is legal throughout Vermont, though in 2007-8, the town discussed whether to ban nudity, aimed at sunbathers on the south beach of Lake Willoughby.
Having closely approximated the state's voting percentages for governor, in 2006, and president in 2004, Westmore was considered one of six "bellwether" towns for the 2008 general election.
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 37.5 square miles (97.0 km2), of which 34.5 square miles (89.4 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.6 km2) (7.85%) is water.
One of the town's most prominent features is Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby
Lake Willoughby is a lake in the town of Westmore in Orleans County in the northeast section of Vermont, United States. Willoughby is a glacial lake over deep in places, the deepest lake entirely contained in the state....
. The lake has a maximum depth of 312 feet, making it the deepest lake totally contained within 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...
, and one of the deepest lakes in all of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. The relatively young 12,000-year-old glacier-carved lake is flanked on the east by Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah (Vermont)
Mount Pisgah is a mountain in Westmore, Vermont. It is located on the east side of Lake Willoughby with an almost mirror reflection of itself on the other side of the lake known as Mount Hor. Together the two mountains are known as "Willoughby Notch"...
2752 feet (839 m) and the west by Mount Hor
Mount Hor (Vermont)
Mount Hor is a mountain in Sutton, Vermont. It is located on the west side of Lake Willoughby with an almost mirror reflection of itself on the east side of the lake known as Mount Pisgah. Together the two mountains are known as "Willoughby Notch" or locally as "Willoughby Gap". Hiking trails...
2654 feet (809 m). The mountains, which have hundreds of feet of rock cliffs, are located in the Willoughby State Forest and the cliffs have been designated a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
. In recent decades, several peregrine falcons have been found there.
Local mountains also include Goodwin 2936 feet (895 m), Bald 3316 feet (1,011 m), Hedgehog 2201 feet (671 m), Haystack 2713 feet (827 m), and Bartlett 2047 feet (624 m).
The town has a local weather recording and reporting station.
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 306 people, 133 households, and 90 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 8.9 people per square mile (3.4/km2). There were 530 housing units at an average density of 15.4 per square mile (5.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% White, 1.63% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.33% from two or more races.
There were 133 households out of which 20.3% had children under the living with them, 58.6% 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, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.7% under the , 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 36.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.5 males.
Personal income
The median income for a household in the town was $27,375, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $18,958 for females. The per capita incomePer 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 $14,522. About 7.8% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 3.8% of those sixty five or over.