Chester, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census. The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire
Governor Benning Wentworth
as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were not met and the town was re-chartered as New Flamstead in 1761. In 1766 a patent was issued by New York that changed the name of the town to Chester, after George Augustus Frederick, the Earl of Chester and the eldest son of King George III
. But the governing authority of Chester reverted to the 1761 charter by an act of the Vermont legislature, although it left the name "Chester" in place. 2011 is the 250th anniversary of the town.
. This section of the town is located along Vermont Route 103
in North Chester, across the Williams River
from Chester Center. It is known for the many houses made of local granite
, and is a popular tourist destination.
Chester's Registered Historic sites:
, the town has a total area of 55.9 square miles (144.9 km2), of which 55.9 square miles (144.8 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.09%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,044 people, 1,296 households, and 861 families residing in the town. The population density
was 54.5 people per square mile (21.0/km2). There were 1,611 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.75% White, 0.33% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,296 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,417, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $32,744 versus $26,114 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,661. About 3.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
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 3,044 at the 2000 census. The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were not met and the town was re-chartered as New Flamstead in 1761. In 1766 a patent was issued by New York that changed the name of the town to Chester, after George Augustus Frederick, the Earl of Chester and the eldest son of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. But the governing authority of Chester reverted to the 1761 charter by an act of the Vermont legislature, although it left the name "Chester" in place. 2011 is the 250th anniversary of the town.
Attractions
Chester is famous for its "stone village", listed in the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. This section of the town is located along Vermont Route 103
Vermont Route 103
Vermont Route 103 is a north–south state highway in southern Vermont, United States. It runs from Rockingham in the east to Clarendon near Rutland in the west...
in North Chester, across the Williams River
Williams River (Vermont)
The Williams River is a river in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River. Its watershed covers 117 square miles; land use is about 80% forested and 4% agricultural, and the upper river supports wild brook trout and brown trout ....
from Chester Center. It is known for the many houses made of local 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...
, and is a popular tourist destination.
Chester's Registered Historic sites:
- Chester Village Historic District — Roughly bounded by Lovers Lane Brook, Maple St., Williams River, Middle Branch & Lovers Lane (added September 8, 1985)
- Greenwood House — VT 103 (added December 1, 1985)
- Jeffrey House — North St. (added July 13, 1974)
- Stone Village Historic District — Both sides of VT 103 (added June 17, 1974)
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 55.9 square miles (144.9 km2), of which 55.9 square miles (144.8 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.09%) is water.
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 3,044 people, 1,296 households, and 861 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 54.5 people per square mile (21.0/km2). There were 1,611 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.75% White, 0.33% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% 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 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,296 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,417, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $32,744 versus $26,114 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 $19,661. About 3.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Fernando C. BeamanFernando C. BeamanFernando Cortez Beaman was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan during and after the American Civil War....
, Michigan congressman. - Paul BremerL. Paul BremerLewis Paul "Jerry" Bremer III is an American diplomat. He is most notable for being the U.S. Administrator to Iraq charged with overseeing the country's occupation after the 2003 invasion. In his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, he reported primarily to the U.S. Secretary of...
, Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq. - Merritt A. EdsonMerritt A. EdsonMajor General Merritt Austin Edson , known as "Red Mike", was a general in the United States Marine Corps. Among the decorations he received was the Medal of Honor, two Navy Crosses, the Silver Star, and two Legions of Merit...
, Marine Corps general. - James Robinson GravesJames Robinson GravesJames Robinson Graves was a US Baptist preacher, publisher, evangelist, debater, author, and editor. He was born in Chester, Vermont, the son of Z. C. Graves, and died in Memphis, Tennessee. His remains are interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.Though raised in a Congregational background, he...
, Baptist preacher, publisher, and author. - Thomas B. MarshThomas B. MarshThomas Baldwin Marsh was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served as the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1835 to 1839...
, Latter Day Saint leader, original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.
External links
- Chester Vermont Government Official Town Web Site
- Chester Vermont community, tourism and business information. Learn all about this Victorian village here: http://www.chestervermont.org/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/sets/72157624691264104/with/4877003689/