Lowell, Vermont

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Town
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Located in Orleans County, Vermont

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mapsize1 = 195px
map_caption1 = Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Vermont
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Orleans
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established_title = Chartered
established_date = February 7, 1791
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 145.2
area_land_km2 = 145.1
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 56.1
area_land_sq_mi = 56.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_percent =
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 738
population_density_km2 = 5.1
population_density_sq_mi = 13.2
population_blank1_title = Households
population_blank1 = 270
population_blank2_title = Families
population_blank2 = 204
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 44 |latm = 47 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 26 |longs = 58 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 287
elevation_ft = 996
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 05847
area_code = 802
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 50-40525GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1462137GR|3
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Lowell is the westernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census.

Local Government

Town

*Treasurer - Pam Tetreault [Pion is re-elected as road commissioner,"The Chronicle", March 7, 2007, page 35]
*Road Commissioner - Reginald Pion

chool District

*Budget - $1,199,600

*Principal - Scott Boskind

* School Board Members - Steven Mason, Chair - Tammy Blanchard, Member - Ray Ostiguy, Member

Lowell Graded School offers Pre-K - 8. There are 119 students. 56 students from Lowell attend North Country Union High School. [cite book | author = |title = Spotlight on Lowell | publisher = the Chronicle | date = June 13, 2007]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.1 square miles (145.2 km²), of which, 56.0 square miles (145.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.11%) is water.

The Lowell (chrysotile) quarry on Belvidere Mountain was the last asbestos mine to operate in the Eastern U.S. It closed in 1993. [ [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1189/pdf/Plate.pdf Plate.ai ] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 738 people, 270 households, and 204 families residing in the town. The population density was 13.2 people per square mile (5.1/km²). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 7.2/sq mi (2.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 1.22% African American, 0.68% Native American, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 270 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,969, and the median income for a family was $29,408. Males had a median income of $25,446 versus $21,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,404. About 18.8% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

Lowell was chartered in 1787 by Governor Thomas Chittendon to John Kelley in 1787, for whom it was named Kellyvale. The first people other than the native Americans to come to Lowell was in 1778 when the area was surveyed preparatory to Col. John Hazen constructing a road to Canada for military purposes. This road was abandoned at what is now named Hazen’s Notch on Route 58.

The first settler was Major Caldwell and family from Barre, Massachusetts in 1806. The town was formally organized in 1812, the same year the first school began with twelve students.

In 1831 the name was changed to Lowell. Where this name comes from remains uncertain.

People came and started families and the town quickly grew, going from 144 people in 1820 with an average age of 17 to 413 in 1840 with an average age if 12. By 1840 Churches had been built and Methodist, Congregational, Baptist and Roman Catholic services were being held.

During the first half of the nineteenth century the population inflow was predominately from other states of the US. In the second half the new arrivals were more often foreign born - from Ireland and from French speaking Canada. By 1870 the population was 944 and it reached it’s peak in 1890 when it stood at 1,178. Farming and lumber were its main economic base. Dairy products and hardwood were both exported to other states. Lumber exports stopped by 1930. Farming has suffered a slow but steady decline since 1930 or so. Consistent with all of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Lowell lost population thru out the twentieth century, only reversing the trend in the mid ‘80’s.

The asbestos mine in Lowell was of economic importance from the 1940’s to the mid 80’s. In the mid-1940s, the Belvidere mines produced more than 90% of all U.S. asbestos. [cite book | author = |title = An asbestos timeline | publisher = Burlington Free Press | date = July 29, 2008] It closed in 1992.

The Shortsleve Mink Farm was located here.

Today Lowell has a stable, slowly expanding population. A small number of the residents are still in agriculture but most commute to work. A few are engaged in home based occupations.

Notable residents

*John C. Caldwell, teacher, diplomat and Union general in the American Civil War.

Footnotes

References

* Proceedings of the Orleans County (Vermont) Historical Society, 1913 U. S. Census
* History of the Town of Lowell, Helen Gelo, 1976,Lowell, Vermont

External links

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