Winooski, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Winooski is a city in Chittenden County
, Vermont
, in the United States
. Located at the mouth of the Winooski River
, as of the 2010 census the city population was 7,267. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area.
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (5.30%) is water.
native Americans came to what is now the city. The prehistoric campground for this transient group is one of Vermont's significant archaeological sites. Other native people came to Winooski in the years that followed.
processing.
In the early 1770s Ira Allen
constructed a blockhouse on the Winooski (then "Onion") River which served both as a fort and as general store and office for the land-speculating "Onion River Company." "Fort Frederick" was never used for defense, but its presence increased the value of Onion River property and promoted settlement.
In the late 1830s the Burlington Mill Company used the rivers power for the manufacture of yarns and cloth.
purchased the failing Burlington Mills in 1901 restoring a measure of economic growth to the area. This success eventually led Winooski to incorporate as a city in 1922, breaking away from the town of Colchester
.
The mills closed in 1954, resulting in two decades of economic problems for the city. In the 1980s, two old mills were converted into commercial, office, and apartment space, helping to revitalize the area.
In 1979, the city researched the construction of a dome over the entire city of Winooski, to reduce heating costs during the winter. The proposed dome would have been 200 feet (61 m) at the center, and internal combustion engines would have been banned. Though the dome was never built, to this day the city's planner defends the concept, insisting "Economically, it's a slam dunk," and adding "You could have had year-round fly-fishing."
In 2008, the city dismissed their city manager of 11 months, while he was still an "at-will" employee. His contract had been scheduled for three years.
of 2000, there were 6,561 people, 2,944 households, and 1,466 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,586.1 people per square mile (1,771.5/km2). There were 3,015 housing units at an average density of 2,107.5 per square mile (814.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.55% White, 1.25% African American, 0.52% Native American, 5.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races
, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population. 36% of the population are of French and French Canadian ancestry, 13% Irish, 8% English, and 5% Italian or German.
There were 2,944 households, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were couples living together and joined in either marriage
or civil union
, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.2% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
for the city was $17,208. About 10.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
. Their new headquarters is a large part of the city's downtown redevelopment project.
Chittenden 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...
, 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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located at the mouth of the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
, as of the 2010 census the city population was 7,267. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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 city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (5.30%) is water.
Etymology
The word "winooski" comes from the language of the Abenaki tribe, and means "this is where the wild onions grow".Pre-columbian
5000 years ago a single family of paleolithicPaleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
native Americans came to what is now the city. The prehistoric campground for this transient group is one of Vermont's significant archaeological sites. Other native people came to Winooski in the years that followed.
Colonial
Situated on a main travel route, Winooski most likely started out as a trading city. With a set of waterfalls to assist the growth of industry, it soon became a center for woolWool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
processing.
In the early 1770s Ira Allen
Ira Allen
Ira Allen was one of the founders of Vermont, and leaders of the Green Mountain Boys; and was the brother of Ethan Allen.-Biography:...
constructed a blockhouse on the Winooski (then "Onion") River which served both as a fort and as general store and office for the land-speculating "Onion River Company." "Fort Frederick" was never used for defense, but its presence increased the value of Onion River property and promoted settlement.
Post-colonial
After the Revolutionary War, Ira Allen built a dam across the river with a sawmill at each end.In the late 1830s the Burlington Mill Company used the rivers power for the manufacture of yarns and cloth.
Modern times
The American Woolen CompanyAmerican Woolen Company
The American Woolen Company was established in 1899 under the leadership of William M. Wood and his father-in-law Frederick Ayer through the consolidation of eight financially troubled New England woolen mills. At the company's height in the 1920s, it owned and operated 60 woolen mills across New...
purchased the failing Burlington Mills in 1901 restoring a measure of economic growth to the area. This success eventually led Winooski to incorporate as a city in 1922, breaking away from the town of Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
.
The mills closed in 1954, resulting in two decades of economic problems for the city. In the 1980s, two old mills were converted into commercial, office, and apartment space, helping to revitalize the area.
In 1979, the city researched the construction of a dome over the entire city of Winooski, to reduce heating costs during the winter. The proposed dome would have been 200 feet (61 m) at the center, and internal combustion engines would have been banned. Though the dome was never built, to this day the city's planner defends the concept, insisting "Economically, it's a slam dunk," and adding "You could have had year-round fly-fishing."
In 2008, the city dismissed their city manager of 11 months, while he was still an "at-will" employee. His contract had been scheduled for three years.
Public safety
In 2008, property crimes increased by 68.8%. Overall, the number of crimes rose 50.8% to 807 incidents.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 6,561 people, 2,944 households, and 1,466 families residing in the city. 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 4,586.1 people per square mile (1,771.5/km2). There were 3,015 housing units at an average density of 2,107.5 per square mile (814.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.55% White, 1.25% African American, 0.52% Native American, 5.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% 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 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population. 36% of the population are of French and French Canadian ancestry, 13% Irish, 8% English, and 5% Italian or German.
There were 2,944 households, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were couples living together and joined in either marriage
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...
or civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.2% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
Personal income
The median income for a household in the city was $30,592, and the median income for a family was $38,551. Males had a median income of $30,257 versus $21,168 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 city was $17,208. About 10.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
Winooski hosts the headquarters of VSAC, the Vermont Student Assistance CorporationVermont Student Assistance Corporation
The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit public corporation that was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to provide citizens of Vermont with the information and financial resources they need to pursue education or training beyond high school...
. Their new headquarters is a large part of the city's downtown redevelopment project.