Coventry, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Coventry ˈkɒvəntri is a town
in Orleans County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.
" in 2009. This allows the town property tax
rate to be zero. However, the town still pays school taxes.
.
In 1861, the 3rd Vermont Infantry
, Company B, was recruited in part from Coventry.
In 2004, what was billed as the final concert of the band Phish
was held in Coventry on August 14–15. The concert was the single largest gathering of people in the town's history. Some fans had to be turned back due to heavy rains. Even so, with 65,000 attendees Coventry's augmented population was the largest in the state at that time, outranking Burlington
, Vermont
, which had around 39,000 people in the 2000 census.
Dozens of pairs of shoes, sandals and boots were lost due to the thick mud. On Sunday, at the end of the concert, tractors were brought over to help pull cars out of the mud.
, the town has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.7 km2), of which 27.5 square miles (71.1 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (0.80%) is water. It contains the smallest area of any town in the county. However, the city of Newport is smaller in area.
The Black River flows an east-northeasterly course through the central part of the town until it joins the South Bay of Lake Memphremagog
in Newport
. For approximately the last 4.7 miles (7.6 km), the river is part of the state’s South Bay Wildlife Management Area.
South Bay Wildlife Management Area is located mostly in Coventry but also in the adjacent town of Newport
at the southern part of Lake Memphremagog
. This is a large wetland and floodplain forest, red maple and white cedar swamp, along the Black River.
The Barton River
flows through Coventry, east of the Black River, and then into Lake Memphremagog.
of 2000, there were 1,014 people, 379 households, and 286 families residing in the town. The population density
was 36.9 people per square mile (14.3/km2). There were 435 housing units at an average density of 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.30% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 379 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
for the town was $13,788. About 11.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
, which, despite its name, is located within the town of Coventry. It contains two runways of 4000 feet each 05-23, and 18-36.
Vermont municipality
A Vermont municipality is a particular type of New England municipality. It is the basic unit of local government.-Background:Vermont contains 246 incorporated towns and cities. Nine are cities and 237 are towns. Collectively, these 246 municipalities cover the vast majority of, but not all of,...
in Orleans County
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans 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...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.
Local government
A waste system company paid the town about $800,000 in "tipping feesGate fee
A gate fee is the charge levied upon a given quantity of waste received at a waste processing facility.In the case of a landfill it is generally levied to offset the cost of opening, maintaining and eventually closing the site. It may also include any landfill tax which is applicable in the region...
" in 2009. This allows the town property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
rate to be zero. However, the town still pays school taxes.
Town
- Moderator - Jean Maxwell
- Selectman - Mike Marcotte
- Town Clerk - Cynthia Diaz
- Lister - Rick Bickford
- Road Commissioner - David Gallup
School District
- Chair, School Board - Viola Poirier
- Principal - Martha Perron
- Budget - $2,625,755
Etymology
Town was named for the birthplace of one of the founders, Major Elias Buel, who was born in Coventry, ConnecticutCoventry, Connecticut
Coventry is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,504 at the 2000 census. The birthplace of Captain Nathan Hale, Coventry is home to the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is now a museum open to the public....
.
Post bellum
A record exists from 1860, showing that the "Artillery Company" of the 3rd Regiment mustered for annual drill on June 5. An inventory shows they possessed one six pound brass cannon.In 1861, the 3rd Vermont Infantry
3rd Vermont Infantry
The 3rd 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 July 1861 to July 1865...
, Company B, was recruited in part from Coventry.
In 2004, what was billed as the final concert of the band Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
was held in Coventry on August 14–15. The concert was the single largest gathering of people in the town's history. Some fans had to be turned back due to heavy rains. Even so, with 65,000 attendees Coventry's augmented population was the largest in the state at that time, outranking Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, 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...
, which had around 39,000 people in the 2000 census.
Coventry Festival
The Phish concert was a three day event, held near the airport that borders Coventry and Newport. People began arriving early Friday morning and shortly after the roads became congested. On Friday morning, it had rained. The soft land in the parking area had turned to mud. Cars were then turned away. Instead of driving home, they parked their cars on the median of Interstate 91, choosing to walk the rest of the way to the concert.Dozens of pairs of shoes, sandals and boots were lost due to the thick mud. On Sunday, at the end of the concert, tractors were brought over to help pull cars out of the mud.
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 27.7 square miles (71.7 km2), of which 27.5 square miles (71.1 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (0.80%) is water. It contains the smallest area of any town in the county. However, the city of Newport is smaller in area.
The Black River flows an east-northeasterly course through the central part of the town until it joins the South Bay of Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
in Newport
Newport (town), Vermont
Newport is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,511 at the 2000 census. The town is referred to by the United States Postal Service and the media as Newport Center, the name of the main settlement of the town.-Town:...
. For approximately the last 4.7 miles (7.6 km), the river is part of the state’s South Bay Wildlife Management Area.
South Bay Wildlife Management Area is located mostly in Coventry but also in the adjacent town of Newport
Newport (town), Vermont
Newport is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,511 at the 2000 census. The town is referred to by the United States Postal Service and the media as Newport Center, the name of the main settlement of the town.-Town:...
at the southern part of Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog
Lake Memphremagog is a fresh water glacial lake located between Newport, Vermont, United States and Magog, Quebec, Canada. The lake is long with 73 percent of the lake's surface area in Quebec, where it drains into the Magog River. However, three-quarters of its watershed, , is in Vermont. The...
. This is a large wetland and floodplain forest, red maple and white cedar swamp, along the Black River.
The Barton River
Barton River
The Barton River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States.It runs north from Glover through Barton, Brownington, Coventry and drains through Newport into Lake Memphremagog's South Bay.-Course:...
flows through Coventry, east of the Black River, and then into Lake Memphremagog.
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 1,014 people, 379 households, and 286 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 36.9 people per square mile (14.3/km2). There were 435 housing units at an average density of 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.30% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 379 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
Personal income
The median income for a household in the town was $33,487, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,528 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita incomePer 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 $13,788. About 11.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
The Washington Electric Cooperative has four electric generators at Vermont’s largest landfill in Coventry. The methane generation facility provides a third to one half of WEC’s members’ electricity needs. This facility supplies power to 6,000 households and businesses. In 2008, the coop applied to expand the plant to 8 megawatts. This increase is expected to cost $3 million.Airport
The town is served by the Newport State AirportNewport State Airport (Vermont)
Newport State Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Newport, a city in Orleans County, Vermont, United States...
, which, despite its name, is located within the town of Coventry. It contains two runways of 4000 feet each 05-23, and 18-36.