Washington County, Vermont

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Washington County, Vermont
File:Montpelier courthouse 6.JPG
Washington County Courthouse
Map of Vermont highlighting Washington County
Location in the U.S. state of Vermont
Map of the United States highlighting Vermont
Vermont's location in the U.S.
Founded 1811
Shire Town Montpelier
Largest city Barre
Area
 • Total 695 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Land 687 sq mi (1,779 km2)
 • Water 8.2 sq mi (21 km2), 1.2%
Population
 • (2014) 58,998
 • Density 85.8/sq mi (33/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont, named after George Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,534,[1] making it the third-most populous county in Vermont, but the second-least populous capital county in the nation, after Hughes County, South Dakota. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital.[2] The county was created in 1810 as Jefferson County and organized the following year.[3]

Washington County comprises the Barre, VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of Vermont was located in Washington County, in the town of Warren.[4]

History

Washington County is one of several Vermont counties created from land ceded by the state of New York on January 15, 1777 when Vermont declared itself to be a distinct state from New York.[5][6][7] The land originally was contested by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Netherland, but it remained undelineated until July 20, 1764 when King George III established the boundary between New Hampshire and New York along the west bank of the Connecticut River, north of Massachusetts and south of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude. New York assigned the land gained to Albany County.[8][9] On March 12, 1772 Albany County was partitioned to create Charlotte County,[10] and this situation remained until Vermont's independence from New York and Britain.

Washington County was originally established as Jefferson County in 1810 from parts of Caledonia County, Chittenden County, and Orange County. In 1814, it was renamed Washington County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 695 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 687 square miles (1,780 km2) is land and 8.2 square miles (21 km2) (1.2%) is water.[11]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 14,113
1830 21,378 51.5%
1840 23,506 10.0%
1850 24,654 4.9%
1860 27,612 12.0%
1870 26,520 −4.0%
1880 25,404 −4.2%
1890 29,606 16.5%
1900 36,607 23.6%
1910 41,702 13.9%
1920 38,921 −6.7%
1930 41,733 7.2%
1940 41,546 −0.4%
1950 42,870 3.2%
1960 42,860 0.0%
1970 47,659 11.2%
1980 52,393 9.9%
1990 54,928 4.8%
2000 58,039 5.7%
2010 59,534 2.6%
Est. 2014 58,998 [12] −0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 58,039 people, 23,659 households, and 15,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 27,644 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.05% White, 0.47% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.7% were of English, 12.2% Irish, 12.1% French, 9.1% French Canadian, 8.7% American, 7.3% Italian, 6.4% German and 5.2% Scottish ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.3% spoke English, 2.7% French and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 23,659 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.40% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,972, and the median income for a family was $51,075. Males had a median income of $33,181 versus $26,369 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,113. About 5.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Elections

Presidential election results[18]
Year Democrat Republican
2012 69.4% 20,351 27.6% 8,093
2008 69.3% 22,324 28.4% 9,129
2004 61.0% 19,177 36.4% 11,461
2000 51.4% 15,281 38.5% 11,448

Communities

Cities

Towns

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Villages

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

See also

References

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  5. Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. P. 70-73.
  6. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 64.
  7. Williamson, Chilton. Vermont in Quandary: 1763-1825. Growth of Vermont series, Number 4. Montpelier: Vermont Historical Series, 1949. PP. 82-84; map facing 95, 100-102, 112-113.
  8. Slade, William, Jr., comp. Vermont State Papers: Being a collection of Records and Documents Connected with the Assumption and Establishment of Government by the People of Vermont, Together with the Journal of the Council of Safety, the First Constitution, the Early Journals of the General Assembly, and the Laws from the Year 1779 to 1786, Inclusive. Middlebury, 1823. pp.13-19.
  9. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, DC; Government Printing Office, 1976. The Standard Compilation for its subject. P. 63.
  10. New York Colonial Laws, Chapter 1534; Section 5; Paragraph 321)
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External links

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