Hardwick, Vermont

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hardwick, Vermont
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = from Buffalo Mountain


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Hardwick, Vermont


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

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

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 100.7
area_land_km2 = 99.8
area_water_km2 = 0.9
area_total_sq_mi = 38.9
area_land_sq_mi = 38.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.4

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3174
population_density_km2 = 31.8
population_density_sq_mi = 82.4

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 408
elevation_ft = 1339
latd = 44 |latm = 31 |lats = 5 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 20 |longs = 59 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 05843
area_code = 802
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 50-31825GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1462115GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Hardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census.

Hardwick contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville. [ [http://home.att.net/%7Elocal_history/Caledonia-Co-VT.htm Caledonia County, Vermont Local History and Genealogy ] ]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.9 square miles (100.7 km²), of which, 38.5 square miles (99.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (0.93%) is water.

The town of Hardwick is a commercial center for the region's farming population. [http://www.vermont-towns.org/hardwick/hardwick.htm retrieved on June 15, 2007]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,174 people, 1,216 households, and 854 families residing in the town. The population density was 82.4 people per square mile (31.8/km²). There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 36.5/sq mi (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.06% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 1,216 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,636, and the median income for a family was $39,278. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $21,732 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,813. About 10.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Since the late 19th century, Hardwick has served as an industrial center. Hardwick was once known as the "Building Granite Center of the World." [http://www.vermont-towns.org/hardwick/hardwick.htm] Buildings around the country made with Hardwick granite include: Pennsylvania State Capitol, Chicago City Hall, Old Post Office Building (Washington, D.C.), and other city halls in America.

During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington ordered the construction of the Bayley-Hazen Military Road. The road provided access to the interior of Vermont, and aided in the development and settlement of Hardwick and East Hardwick.

The town contains five places on the National Register of Historic Places:
# Building at 143 Highland Avenue — 143 Highland Ave. (added May 6, 2000)
# Cobb School — Jct. of Hardwick Town Hwy. 10 (Cobb School Rd.) and Sanborn Cemetery Rd. (added October 30, 1993)
# Downtown Hardwick Village Historic Diistrict — Brush St. (added April 10, 2004)
# Downtown Hardwick Village Historic District — Main, Church, Maple and Mill Sts. (added October 30, 1982)
# Hardwick Street Historic District — NE of Hardwick (added July 22, 1979)

Events

*Hardwick annually hosts a gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism

Notable residents

*Dorman Bridgman Eaton, lawyer and author of the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883.
* Lee E. Emerson, 69th Governor of the State of Vermont, was born here
* Jim Fixx, the original nationally known guru of jogging in the 1970s, nearly destroyed this exercise for Americans of the time when he died near Hardwick of a sudden heart attack in 1984, just after a run. A monument stands to his memory in Hardwick Memorial Park.
*David H. Nichols, Colorado Lieutenant Governor, Mexican-War Veteran, Hardwick, VT native.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.hardwickvtarea.com/hardwick/ Hardwick Vermont Official Town Website]
* [http://hazenunion.org Hazen Union School]