Weston, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Weston is a town in Windsor County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 630 at the 2000 census. Home to the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, it includes the villages of Weston and the Island.
called West Town. Because Markham and Terrible mountains blocked travel between the town's halves, it was set off and incorporated on October 26, 1799 by the legislature
. Set among the Green Mountains
, the terrain
is very rough and mountainous, but the intervales provided good soil
for agriculture
and pasturage. A second village grew at the canal
cut to divert the West River
to power watermill
s. Called the Island, it developed into a small mill town
.
By 1859, when Weston's population was 950, industries included ten sawmill
s, a gristmill
, two tanneries
, one wood turning mill, one machine shop, one axe
shop, one carding
machine, in addition to shops for blacksmith
s, carpenter
s, tinsmith
s, wheelwright
s and shoemakers
. Vermont's oldest professional theatre, the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, was founded in 1935. The Vermont Country Store
, a catalogue, retail, and e-commerce business, was established here in 1946 by Vrest and Ellen Orton.
, the town has a total area of 35.2 square miles (91.1 km2), of which 35.1 square miles (90.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.23%) is water. The West River
flows through the town.
Weston is crossed by Vermont Route 100
.
of 2000, there were 630 people, 283 households, and 174 families residing in the town. The population density
was 18.0 people per square mile (6.9/km2). There were 537 housing units at an average density of 15.3 per square mile (5.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.98% White, 0.32% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.63% Asian, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 283 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,792, and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $38,250 versus $24,167 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $36,546. About 2.5% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
(Major Flood due to Tropical storm Irene)
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 630 at the 2000 census. Home to the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, it includes the villages of Weston and the Island.
History
Weston was originally the western part of AndoverAndover, Vermont
Andover is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 496 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.8 square miles , of which 28.8 square miles are land and 0.03% is water.-Demographics:As of...
called West Town. Because Markham and Terrible mountains blocked travel between the town's halves, it was set off and incorporated on October 26, 1799 by the legislature
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
. Set among the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
, the terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
is very rough and mountainous, but the intervales provided good soil
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and pasturage. A second village grew at the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
cut to divert the West River
West River (Vermont)
The West River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, about long, in southern Vermont in the United States. According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Wantastiquet" and as "Waters of the Lonely Way"...
to power watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s. Called the Island, it developed into a small mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
.
By 1859, when Weston's population was 950, industries included ten sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, a gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, two tanneries
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
, one wood turning mill, one machine shop, one axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
shop, one carding
Carding
Carding is a mechanical process that breaks up locks and unorganised clumps of fibre and then aligns the individual fibres so that they are more or less parallel with each other. The word is derived from the Latin carduus meaning teasel, as dried vegetable teasels were first used to comb the raw wool...
machine, in addition to shops for blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
s, carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s, tinsmith
Tinsmith
A tinsmith, or tinner or tinker or tinplate worker, is a person who makes and repairs things made of light-coloured metal, particularly tinware...
s, wheelwright
Wheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
s and shoemakers
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
. Vermont's oldest professional theatre, the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, was founded in 1935. The Vermont Country Store
Vermont Country Store
The Vermont Country Store, Inc. is an American catalogue, retail, and e-commerce business based in Vermont, with stores in Weston and Rockingham, company headquarters in Manchester, and a distribution facility and customer service center in North Clarendon, near Rutland...
, a catalogue, retail, and e-commerce business, was established here in 1946 by Vrest and Ellen Orton.
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 35.2 square miles (91.1 km2), of which 35.1 square miles (90.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.23%) is water. The West River
West River (Vermont)
The West River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, about long, in southern Vermont in the United States. According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Wantastiquet" and as "Waters of the Lonely Way"...
flows through the town.
Weston is crossed by Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100
Vermont Route 100 is a north–south state highway in Vermont, United States. Running through the center of the state, it travels nearly the entire length of Vermont and is long...
.
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 630 people, 283 households, and 174 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 18.0 people per square mile (6.9/km2). There were 537 housing units at an average density of 15.3 per square mile (5.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.98% White, 0.32% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.63% Asian, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 283 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,792, and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $38,250 versus $24,167 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 $36,546. About 2.5% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
(Major Flood due to Tropical storm Irene)
- Vermont Country StoreVermont Country StoreThe Vermont Country Store, Inc. is an American catalogue, retail, and e-commerce business based in Vermont, with stores in Weston and Rockingham, company headquarters in Manchester, and a distribution facility and customer service center in North Clarendon, near Rutland...
Notable people
- Aaron H. CraginAaron H. CraginAaron Harrison Cragin was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire. Born in Weston, Vermont, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in Albany, New York in 1847 and commenced practice in Lebanon, New Hampshire...
, congressman and senator. - Joseph A. GilmoreJoseph A. GilmoreJoseph Albree Gilmore was an American railroad superintendent from Concord, New Hampshire. He was a member of the New Hampshire state senate, and was its president in 1859. Born in 1811 in Weston, Vermont, he served two terms as Governor during the Civil War...
, railroad superintendent and governor. - Sam LloydSam Lloyd (actor)Samuel "Sam" Lloyd, Jr. is an American actor and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of beaten down lawyer Ted Buckland on the American comedy-drama Scrubs....
, television actor. - Hiram Sanford StevensHiram Sanford StevensHiram Sanford Stevens was a Delegate from the Territory of Arizona.Born in Weston, Vermont, Stevens received a limited education and became a farmer. In 1851 enlisted in Company I, First United States Dragoons for service in New Mexico. He participated in engagements against the Apaches in 1852...
, congressman.