Caledonia County, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Vermont
. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury
.
The county was given the Latin
name for Scotland
, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there.
, the county has a total area of 658 square miles (1,704.2 km²), of which 651 square miles (1,686.1 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (1.06%) is water.
Caledonia is the most populated county of the three in the Northeast Kingdom
. However, it is the smallest in area of the three.
The county has a number of brooks and rivers. The Connecticut River
runs along the southeast and forms one of the eastern boundaries of the county. The northern towns are drained by the head branches of the Passumpsic River
, which is the largest in the county. It flows south and empties into the Connecticut River in Barnet. There are the Wells, Stevens and Joe's Rivers in the south. In the west the head waters of the Winooski
and Lamoille River
s. There are about twenty lakes and ponds in the county. The largest are Harvey's Lake, in Barnet; Wells River and Lund's Ponds, in Groton; Cole's Pond, in Walden; Clark's and Center Ponds, in Newark; and Stile's Pond, in Waterford. There are falls at different places on the Connecticut, Passumpsic, Wells and Joe's Rivers. Stevens River, near its mouth, falls 80 feet (24.4 m) in a distance of 20 rods (100.6 m). Some of the water power has been harnessed for electricity.
There are sulphur springs in Wheelock, Haynesville, in Hardwick; and in St. Johnsbury, near the Moose River.
district. There is argillaceous
slate
running through Waterford and Kirby, which narrows in Burke.
Waterford had a lot of talc
. This belongs to the gold bearing formations. Specimens of gold were found in town, and iron and copper pyrites in veins. But none in commercial quality. In Waterford there was an outcrop of slate that was quarried for roofing. Kirby Mountain, in Kirby, was largely granite of commercial quality.
Ryegate had 300 acres (121.4 ha) granite on the south and west sides of Blue Mountain. The granite was created by volcanic action. This was a medium colored granite of commercial grain and texture. It was quarried in the 19th century. It lay in sheets 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 10 feet (3 m) or 15 feet (4.6 m).
Perhaps the most widely known monument locally using this granite was the soldiers monument at Peacham, Vt. Monuments from this granite exist all over the country. This was one of the best quality quarries in the country in the 19th century.
The presence of Kame terraces
in the country are of interest in connection with the drift
that gave the Northeast Kingdom its soil, and its surface stones and boulders. These terraces have beds of sand and clay from which bricks were once manufactured.
Based on research by Edward Hitchcock
two or three basins can be identified based on a larger number of interconnected terraces in the Passumpsic River Valley.
The first extends from the mouth of the Passumpsic River in Barnet, to the northwest corner of the town of Waterford, on the railroad. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long. The river runs through a narrow valley in Barnet, a gorge with no terraces. Narrow terraces in the Town of Passumpsic expand and form a basin. The fourth terrace on the west side of the river is part of the next basin, which is in St. Johnsbury and Lyndon. St. Johnsbury Village is on this high terrace which is called "St. Johnsbury Plain". The base of the terraces at St. Johnsbury is composed of clay. The same terrace occurs on both sides of the river valley beyond Lyndon. There are lower terraces at intervals.
Lyndonville has a high terrace. This may have once extended across the valley to form the end of a basin. Its lower strata are clayey, and are folded and curved. West of this terrace the level is lower. There is the course of a former river bed which ran towards the east. At the upper village of Lyndon the first terrace is about 1 miles (1.6 km) wide. There is a lot of sand and fine gravel adjoining.
Every stream from either side of the valley has its large terraces to correspond with those of the Passumpsic River. It is a characteristic of these terraces that they are large while their quantity is small. The count never exceeds five which is unusual.
The third basin includes the east branch of the Passumpsic River which runs through the Town of Burke. In East Burke there are several terraces. Near the village there are four on the west side, and two on the east side. Above East Burke the valley rises so that its bottom appears like a terrace. Its steep slope crosses the valley at right angles. There are indistinct terraces on its sides. Since the valley seems to be too wide to correspond with the size of the river, the valley may have been formed by water from unknown sources in prehistoric times.
Caledonia has more muck
deposits than any other county in the state. This was once thought to be profitable for farmers.
.
Rogers' Rangers
were forced to retreat through the county following their attack on Saint-Francis, Quebec
in 1759. To confound their avenging pursuers, they had split up. One group came south over the summit into the Passumpsic River
Valley.
Vermont was divided into two counties in March, 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, located about where they are now. The northern remainder was called Orange county. This latter tract nearly corresponded with the old New York county of Gloucester, organized by that province March 16, 1770, with Newbury as the shire town.
On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans. There is a supposition that the county was called Caledonia
, to commemorate the large number of Scottish settlers.
Caledonians joined the Union Army in response to a call for volunteers. In September 1861, they joined the Vermont 6th Vermont Infantry
, and helped fill out Companies B, D and E. The regiment ultimately became part of the First Vermont Brigade.
In 2008, the county was declared a federal disaster area as the result of storms and flooding which occurred on July 18.
In 2007, median property taxes in the county were $2,278, placing it 265 out of 1,817 counties in the nation with populations over 20,000.
of 2000, there were 29,702 people, 11,663 households, and 7,895 families residing in the county. The population density
was 46 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 14,504 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White
, 0.29% Black
or African American
, 0.55% Native American
, 0.37% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.23% from other races
, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 19.0% were of English
, 15.1% French
, 12.3% American
, 11.7% Irish
, 9.0% French Canadian
, 5.7% Scottish
and 5.1% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English
and 2.3% French
as their first language.
There were 11,663 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,800, and the median income for a family was $42,215. Males had a median income of $30,438 versus $21,973 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.
An estimated 3,100 military veterans reside in the county.
As of the year 2000, Association of Religion Data Archives
reported that the largest denominational group in Caledonia County was the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church reported the largest number of adherents (at 7,588), followed by the United Methodist Church reporting 1,387 adherents, and United Church of Christ
, reporting 1,183 adherents. From 1980 to 2000, and from 1990 to 2000, the religious body that increased the most in number of adherents was the Catholic Church.
* 'Incorporated villages are census divisions and provide additional services. They remain part of the towns they are in.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Vermont
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...
. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
.
The county was given the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there.
Geography
According to the U.S. 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 county has a total area of 658 square miles (1,704.2 km²), of which 651 square miles (1,686.1 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (1.06%) is water.
Caledonia is the most populated county of the three in the Northeast Kingdom
Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties and having a population of 62,438. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former...
. However, it is the smallest in area of the three.
The county has a number of brooks and rivers. The Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
runs along the southeast and forms one of the eastern boundaries of the county. The northern towns are drained by the head branches of the Passumpsic River
Passumpsic River
The Passumpsic River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, in Vermont. Though primarily a Caledonia County river, it is the only river to flow through all three counties of the Northeast Kingdom.- Course :...
, which is the largest in the county. It flows south and empties into the Connecticut River in Barnet. There are the Wells, Stevens and Joe's Rivers in the south. In the west the head waters of the Winooski
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
and Lamoille River
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
s. There are about twenty lakes and ponds in the county. The largest are Harvey's Lake, in Barnet; Wells River and Lund's Ponds, in Groton; Cole's Pond, in Walden; Clark's and Center Ponds, in Newark; and Stile's Pond, in Waterford. There are falls at different places on the Connecticut, Passumpsic, Wells and Joe's Rivers. Stevens River, near its mouth, falls 80 feet (24.4 m) in a distance of 20 rods (100.6 m). Some of the water power has been harnessed for electricity.
There are sulphur springs in Wheelock, Haynesville, in Hardwick; and in St. Johnsbury, near the Moose River.
Geology
Underlying the county is mostly in calciferous mica schistSchist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
district. There is argillaceous
Argillaceous minerals
Argillaceous minerals may appear silvery upon optical reflection and are minerals containing substantial amounts of clay-like components . Argillaceous components are fine-grained aluminosilicates, and more particularly clay minerals such as kaolinite, montmorillonite-smectite, illite, and...
slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
running through Waterford and Kirby, which narrows in Burke.
Waterford had a lot of talc
Talc
Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg34 or Mg3Si4O102. In loose form, it is the widely-used substance known as talcum powder. It occurs as foliated to fibrous masses, its crystals being so rare as to be almost unknown...
. This belongs to the gold bearing formations. Specimens of gold were found in town, and iron and copper pyrites in veins. But none in commercial quality. In Waterford there was an outcrop of slate that was quarried for roofing. Kirby Mountain, in Kirby, was largely granite of commercial quality.
Ryegate had 300 acres (121.4 ha) granite on the south and west sides of Blue Mountain. The granite was created by volcanic action. This was a medium colored granite of commercial grain and texture. It was quarried in the 19th century. It lay in sheets 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 10 feet (3 m) or 15 feet (4.6 m).
Perhaps the most widely known monument locally using this granite was the soldiers monument at Peacham, Vt. Monuments from this granite exist all over the country. This was one of the best quality quarries in the country in the 19th century.
The presence of Kame terraces
Kame
A kame is a geological feature, an irregularly shaped hill or mound composed of sand, gravel and till that accumulates in a depression on a retreating glacier, and is then deposited on the land surface with further melting of the glacier...
in the country are of interest in connection with the drift
Drift (geology)
In geology, drift is the name for all material of glacial origin found anywhere on land or at sea , including sediment and large rocks...
that gave the Northeast Kingdom its soil, and its surface stones and boulders. These terraces have beds of sand and clay from which bricks were once manufactured.
Based on research by Edward Hitchcock
Edward Hitchcock
Edward Hitchcock was a noted American geologist and the third President of Amherst College .-Life:...
two or three basins can be identified based on a larger number of interconnected terraces in the Passumpsic River Valley.
The first extends from the mouth of the Passumpsic River in Barnet, to the northwest corner of the town of Waterford, on the railroad. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long. The river runs through a narrow valley in Barnet, a gorge with no terraces. Narrow terraces in the Town of Passumpsic expand and form a basin. The fourth terrace on the west side of the river is part of the next basin, which is in St. Johnsbury and Lyndon. St. Johnsbury Village is on this high terrace which is called "St. Johnsbury Plain". The base of the terraces at St. Johnsbury is composed of clay. The same terrace occurs on both sides of the river valley beyond Lyndon. There are lower terraces at intervals.
Lyndonville has a high terrace. This may have once extended across the valley to form the end of a basin. Its lower strata are clayey, and are folded and curved. West of this terrace the level is lower. There is the course of a former river bed which ran towards the east. At the upper village of Lyndon the first terrace is about 1 miles (1.6 km) wide. There is a lot of sand and fine gravel adjoining.
Every stream from either side of the valley has its large terraces to correspond with those of the Passumpsic River. It is a characteristic of these terraces that they are large while their quantity is small. The count never exceeds five which is unusual.
The third basin includes the east branch of the Passumpsic River which runs through the Town of Burke. In East Burke there are several terraces. Near the village there are four on the west side, and two on the east side. Above East Burke the valley rises so that its bottom appears like a terrace. Its steep slope crosses the valley at right angles. There are indistinct terraces on its sides. Since the valley seems to be too wide to correspond with the size of the river, the valley may have been formed by water from unknown sources in prehistoric times.
Caledonia has more muck
Muck (soil)
Muck is a soil made up primarily of humus from drained swampland. It is known as black soil in The Fens of eastern England, where it was originally mainly fen and bog. It is used there, as in the United States, for growing specialty crops such as onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes...
deposits than any other county in the state. This was once thought to be profitable for farmers.
Adjacent counties
- Orleans County, VermontOrleans County, VermontOrleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
- north - Essex County, VermontEssex County, VermontEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
- northeast - Grafton County, New HampshireGrafton County, New HampshireGrafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
- south - Washington County, VermontWashington County, VermontWashington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
- southwest - Orange County, Vermont - southwest
- Lamoille County, Vermont - west
History
The county shares the same pre-Columbian history with the Northeast KingdomNortheast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties and having a population of 62,438. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former...
.
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...
were forced to retreat through the county following their attack on Saint-Francis, Quebec
Saint-François, Quebec
Saint-François is the second largest neighbourhood of Laval, Quebec, Canada, after Duvernay. It was a separate city until the municipal mergers on August 6, 1965.Agriculture occupies most of the land area....
in 1759. To confound their avenging pursuers, they had split up. One group came south over the summit into the Passumpsic River
Passumpsic River
The Passumpsic River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, in Vermont. Though primarily a Caledonia County river, it is the only river to flow through all three counties of the Northeast Kingdom.- Course :...
Valley.
Vermont was divided into two counties in March, 1778. In 1781 the legislature divided the northernmost county, Cumberland, into three counties: Windham and Windsor, located about where they are now. The northern remainder was called Orange county. This latter tract nearly corresponded with the old New York county of Gloucester, organized by that province March 16, 1770, with Newbury as the shire town.
On November 5, 1792, the legislature divided Chittenden and Orange counties into six separate counties, as follows: Chittenden, Orange, Franklin, Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans. There is a supposition that the county was called Caledonia
Caledonia
Caledonia is the Latinised form and name given by the Romans to the land in today's Scotland north of their province of Britannia, beyond the frontier of their empire...
, to commemorate the large number of Scottish settlers.
Caledonians joined the Union Army in response to a call for volunteers. In September 1861, they joined the Vermont 6th Vermont Infantry
6th Vermont Infantry
The 6th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from October 1861 to June 1865. It was a member of the Vermont Brigade.The...
, and helped fill out Companies B, D and E. The regiment ultimately became part of the First Vermont Brigade.
In 2008, the county was declared a federal disaster area as the result of storms and flooding which occurred on July 18.
Government
As in all Vermont counties, there is a small executive function which is mostly consolidated at the state level. Remaining county government is judicial. There are no "county taxes."In 2007, median property taxes in the county were $2,278, placing it 265 out of 1,817 counties in the nation with populations over 20,000.
Elections
| Year | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60.4% 8,900 | 37.1% 5,472 |
| 2004 | 50.0% 7,106 | 47.6% 6,765 |
| 2000 | 43.0% 5,859 | 49.5% 6,746 |
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 29,702 people, 11,663 households, and 7,895 families residing in the county. 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 46 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 14,504 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White
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...
, 0.29% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.55% Native American
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...
, 0.37% Asian
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...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.23% 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 1.07% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 19.0% were of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 15.1% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, 12.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 11.7% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.0% French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
, 5.7% Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
and 5.1% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 2.3% French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as their first language.
There were 11,663 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% 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, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,800, and the median income for a family was $42,215. Males had a median income of $30,438 versus $21,973 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 county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.
An estimated 3,100 military veterans reside in the county.
As of the year 2000, Association of Religion Data Archives
Association of religion data archives
The Association of Religion Data Archives is a free source of online information related to American and international religion. Founded as the American Religion Data Archive in 1997, and online since 1998, the archive was initially targeted at researchers interested in American religion...
reported that the largest denominational group in Caledonia County was the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church reported the largest number of adherents (at 7,588), followed by the United Methodist Church reporting 1,387 adherents, and United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
, reporting 1,183 adherents. From 1980 to 2000, and from 1990 to 2000, the religious body that increased the most in number of adherents was the Catholic Church.
Major Routes
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Interstate 91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England... -
Interstate 93Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91... -
U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada... -
U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St... -
U.S. Route 302U.S. Route 302U.S. Route 302 is a spur of U.S. Route 2. It currently runs 171 miles north from Portland, Maine, at U.S. Route 1, to Montpelier, Vermont, at US 2...
Cities, towns, and villages*
There are seventeen towns in the county:- BarnetBarnet, VermontBarnet is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,690 at the 2000 census. Barnet contains the locations of Barnet Center, East Barnet, McIndoe Falls, Mosquitoville, Passumpsic and West Barnet.-Geography:...
- BurkeBurke, VermontBurke is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,571 at the 2000 census. The town contains the villages of East Burke, West Burke and Burke Hollow.-Geography:...
- West BurkeWest Burke, VermontWest Burke is a village in the town of Burke, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 364 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(a village of Burke)
- West Burke
- DanvilleDanville, VermontDanville is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. It was named for the 18th-century French cartographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville...
- GrotonGroton, VermontGroton is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 876 at the 2000 census. It contains the places Groton Pond, Rickers Mills, Rickers and West Groton.-Geography:...
- HardwickHardwick, VermontHardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census.It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville...
- East Hardwick (an unincorporated village of Hardwick)
- Hardwick (an unincorporated village of Hardwick)
- Mackville (an unincorporated village of Hardwick)
- KirbyKirby, VermontKirby is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 456 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles , of which 24.4 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
- LyndonLyndon, VermontLyndon is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,448 at the 2000 census. Lyndon is the home of Lyndon State College. The town contains one incorporated village, Lyndonville and three unincorporated villages: Lyndon, Lyndon Center, and East Lyndon.Lyndon is the...
- LyndonvilleLyndonville, VermontLyndonville is a village in the town of Lyndon, in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. Lyndonville's population was 1,227 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- an incorporated village - Lyndon Center - unincorporated village
- Lyndon - unincorporated village
- East Lyndon - unincorporated village
- Lyndonville
- NewarkNewark, VermontNewark is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 470 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.2 square miles , of which 36.8 square miles is land and 0.4 square mile is...
- PeachamPeacham, VermontPeacham is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 665 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.7 square miles , of which 46.7 square miles is land and 0.9 square mile is...
- RyegateRyegate, VermontRyegate is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,150 at the 2000 census. The town contains the villages of South Ryegate, East Ryegate, and Ryegate Corner.-History:...
- South Ryegate - incorporated village
- East Ryegate - unincorporated village
- Ryegate Corner - unincorporated village
- SheffieldSheffield, VermontNot to be confused with the city of Sheffield in the UK, or Sheffield, Massachusetts.Sheffield is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States...
- St. JohnsburySt. Johnsbury, VermontSt. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
- St. Johnsbury Center - an unincorporated village of St. Johnsbury
- StannardStannard, VermontStannard is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 185 at the 2000 census. The town has no paved roads.-Geography:...
- SuttonSutton, VermontSutton is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,001 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.4 square miles , of which 38.3 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
- WaldenWalden, VermontWalden is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 782 at the 2000 census. The community has no ZIP code of its own; mail is routed through the West Danville and East Hardwick post offices.-Geography:...
- WaterfordWaterford, VermontWaterford is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called Littleton but the name was changed to Waterford in 1797.-Geography:...
- WheelockWheelock, VermontWheelock is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 621 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.8 square miles , of which 39.6 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is...
See also
- Historical U.S. Census Totals for Caledonia County, VermontHistorical U.S. Census totals for Caledonia County, VermontThis article shows U.S. Census totals for Caledonia County, Vermont, broken down by municipality, from 1900 to 2000.Like most areas of New England, Caledonia County is entirely divided into incorporated municipalities...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Caledonia County, Vermont