Vergennes, Vermont

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vergennes, Vermont
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Vergennes


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Vergennes, Vermont


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Vermont
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Addison

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.5
area_land_km2 = 6.2
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 2.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2741
population_density_km2 = 440.6
population_density_sq_mi = 1141.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 59
elevation_ft = 194
latd = 44 |latm = 9 |lats = 56 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 15 |longs = 8 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 05491
area_code = 802
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 50-74650GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1460018GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, in the United States. Bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham, as of the 2000 census the city population was 2,741. It is the smallest of Vermont's nine cities in terms of population (though the city of Winooski covers a smaller area).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (4.00%) is water.

The city's borders form a rectangle, nearly a square. The Otter Creek river travels north through the town. In the middle of town is a tall falls, at 37 feet, with a large, infrequently flooding basin.

History

The City of Vergennes was established in 1788. It is one of the oldest established cities in the United States, and is the smallest in Vermont. The motive of a city form of municipal government is said to have been to provide a vision for building the area as an industrial center. The Otter Creek Falls and close access to the Lake Champlain waterway was thought to be a fertile place for commercial growth.

Industry boomed in the late-nineteenth century, in particular a shipping industry connected to the Champlain Canal and wood-finishing related to lumber imported from Canada. As railways supplanted the canal system, manufacturing declined. An ill-fated railroad spur from Ferrisburgh to the base of the falls proved a failure, with grades too steep for practical operations.

Commercial decline continued in the twentieth century, narrowing down to a few surviving companies; as the twenty-first opened, a group of civic boosters and merchants shined up the downtown area along Main street. The resultant 'boutique Vergennes', catering to tourists and transients, is hampered by centralization of land ownership and resultant escalation of commercial rents.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,741 people, 979 households, and 632 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,141.1 people per square mile (441.0/km²). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 429.6/sq mi (166.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.43% White, 2.01% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 979 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,763, and the median income for a family was $48,155. Males had a median income of $33,669 versus $20,527 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,465. About 8.1% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Vergennes has four schools: Vergennes Union Elementary School, Vergennes Union High School, Champlain Valley Christian School, and Northlands Job Corps Center, which has no affiliation with the former Weeks School [formerly an orphanage and juvenile delinquent home until the late 1970's, in the same facility.]

Vergennes Union High School also offers an alternative public program, the Walden Project, available to area students.

Culture

The city features the Vergennes Opera House, which has weekly events involving the community and special guests, bands, singers, politicians and theater groups.

Notable residents

*Ethan A. Hitchcock, U.S. Army officer and author.
*Frederick E. Woodbridge, Mayor of Vergennes and U.S. Representative

References

External links

* [http://www.vergennes.org/ Vergennes Vermont Official City Website]
*