Bethel, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Bethel is a town in Windsor County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 1,968 at the 2000 census. The town includes the locations of Bethel-Gilead, East Bethel, Lilliesville, Lympus (formerly Olympus), and West Bethel. Bethel is best known for being the source of Bethel White granite
which has been used to build Union Station (Washington, DC) and the National Museum of Natural History
. Bethel was the first town created by the independent Republic of Vermont in 1779 and was named after the biblical village of Bethel
.
, the town has a total area of 45.4 square miles (117.7 km2), of which 45.3 square miles (117.3 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.4 km2) (0.31%) is water.
had named the place Beth-el (House of God). Chase's associates were so impressed that they named the town the same.
of 2000, there were 1,968 people, 817 households, and 548 families residing in the town. The population density
was 43.4 people per square mile (16.8/km2). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 21.1 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races
, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.
There were 817 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,141, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,109 versus $21,829 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,577. About 7.9% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
, Hancock
, Pittsfield
, Rochester
, and Stockbridge
.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,968 at the 2000 census. The town includes the locations of Bethel-Gilead, East Bethel, Lilliesville, Lympus (formerly Olympus), and West Bethel. Bethel is best known for being the source of Bethel White granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
which has been used to build Union Station (Washington, DC) and the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
. Bethel was the first town created by the independent Republic of Vermont in 1779 and was named after the biblical village of Bethel
Bethel
Bethel was a border city described in the Hebrew Bible as being located between Benjamin and Ephraim...
.
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 town has a total area of 45.4 square miles (117.7 km2), of which 45.3 square miles (117.3 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.4 km2) (0.31%) is water.
Etymology
Dudley Chase, a grantee, awoke in town one morning and told of having dreamed of the Biblical story of Jacob sleeping in a field with a stone for a pillow. In the biblical story, JacobJacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
had named the place Beth-el (House of God). Chase's associates were so impressed that they named the town the same.
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 1,968 people, 817 households, and 548 families residing in the town. 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 43.4 people per square mile (16.8/km2). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 21.1 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% 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 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.
There were 817 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
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...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,141, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,109 versus $21,829 for females. The per capita income
Per 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 town was $17,577. About 7.9% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Residents of Bethel in grades K-6 attend Bethel Elementary School. Students in Grades 7-12 attend Whitcomb Junior/Senior High School, which is part of the Windsor Northwest Supervisory Union (#50) and serves the towns of Bethel, GranvilleGranville, Vermont
Granville is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 303 at the 2000 census. The town was originally called Kingston but was renamed in 1834....
, Hancock
Hancock, Vermont
Hancock is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for John Hancock. The population was 382 at the 2000 census. Hancock is home to the Middlebury College Snow Bowl and contains Middlebury Gap....
, Pittsfield
Pittsfield, Vermont
Pittsfield is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 546 at the 2010 census. It is site of the annual Pittsfield Snowshoe Race.-History:...
, Rochester
Rochester, Vermont
Rochester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,171 at the 2000 census. Rochester is home to the Quarry Hill Creative Center...
, and Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Vermont
Stockbridge is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 674 at the 2000 census.Stockbridge was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011.-Geography:...
.