Derby, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Derby is a town
in Orleans County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages
: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center
and Derby Line
. The Town of Derby encompasses the largest area in the county.
, the town has a total area of 57.6 square miles (149.2 km2), of which 49.6 square miles (128.5 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (20.7 km2) (13.87%) is water. The town lies in the northernmost part of Orleans County, forming part of Vermont's border with Canada
, and is otherwise bordered to the east by Holland
, the southeast by Morgan
and Charleston
, the southwest by Coventry
and Brownington
, and to the west by Lake Memphremagog
.
Lake Salem is within the town boundaries. Clyde Pond was formed by damming the Clyde River
.
, Connecticut
.
In the War of 1812
, an expeditionary force of Quebec Eastern Townships' volunteers destroyed a barracks built at Derby with no personnel casualties.
On October 31, 1866, the town erected a granite monument at Derby Center in honor of those who died in the Civil War
. It is inscribed: "In Memory of the Volunteers from Derby, who Lost their Lives in the Great Rebellion, 1861-’65.” It lists the names of fifty-three men from Derby. It is the oldest community memorial to that war in the United States.
The failed town of Salem was annexed to Derby by an act of the legislature of 1880, and took effect March 1, 1881. This increased the land size of Derby so it became the largest in Orleans County.
Like many Orleans County towns, Derby grew in population until 1890, after which the depression (then called "panics") of 1893
affected the local economy and agricultural prices. Population fluctuated until it hit a bottom in 1940. The town has grown steadily since.
In 1917, the city of Newport was formed from portions of the towns of Newport
(the former village of Newport) and Derby (the former village of West Derby).
In 1928, the Canadian Gateway Airport opened off Vermont 111, within walking distance from Derby Center. It was the third airport constructed in the state. The larger and older airport, Burlington, was given the designation of "entry airport" from Canada resulting in the closure of Gateway in 1933.
A Drive-in theater
opened in 1950 and closed in 1985 on the Derby Road (Route 5).
of 2000, there were 4,604 people, 1,832 households, and 1,319 families residing in the town. The population density
was 92.8 people per square mile (35.8/km2). There were 2,258 housing units at an average density of 45.5 per square mile (17.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.57% White, 0.28% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races
, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,832 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
for the town was $17,192. About 8.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
in 1917, the town of Derby was only too happy to let them go. They wanted too many expensive services that the town was not prepared to furnish.
Not so today. New construction is overflowing Newport onto the Newport-Derby Road (US Route 5). Already built are two supermarket
s, Shaw's and Price Chopper. Wal-Mart
received a permit to build a 147000 square feet (13,656.7 m²) store in 2005. They have allowed this permit to lapse. Lowe's
has requested an Act 250 permit for a 112000 sq ft (10,405.1 m²) store. Should Lowe's build, that will be their third store in Vermont. The headquarters of the Community National Bank is located in Derby.
Indoor Recreation of Orleans County
(IROC) was constructed in 2004 and features a sports arena, aquatic center and a multipurpose gymnasium facility that can be utilized for a range of sports, including basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer.
Interstate 91
has two interchanges, and its northern terminus, in Derby.
The Rural Community Transportation
provides buses for general use, four buses north and south during the week from west Newport city to Derby Center, and two buses each way on Saturday. The fare is US 25 cents. These provide special services for the handicapped and the elderly upon request.
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 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages
Village (Vermont)
In the U.S. state of Vermont, villages are named communities located within the boundaries of an incorporated town. Villages may be incorporated or unincorporated....
: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center
Derby Center, Vermont
Derby Center is a village in the town of Derby, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 670 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and Derby Line
Derby Line, Vermont
Derby Line is an incorporated village in the town of Derby in Orleans County, Vermont, United States, slightly north of the 45th parallel, the normal U.S.-Canadian boundary...
. The Town of Derby encompasses the largest area in the county.
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 57.6 square miles (149.2 km2), of which 49.6 square miles (128.5 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (20.7 km2) (13.87%) is water. The town lies in the northernmost part of Orleans County, forming part of Vermont's border with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and is otherwise bordered to the east by Holland
Holland, Vermont
Holland is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 588 at the 2000 census.-Town:* Selectman - Brett Farrow, Ron Patenaude* Town Clerk - Diane Judd* Treasurer - Diane Judd* Delinquent Tax Collector - Diane Judd...
, the southeast by Morgan
Morgan, Vermont
Morgan is the easternmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: Morgan and Morgan Center.-History:The town was named for John Morgan, a landholder....
and Charleston
Charleston, Vermont
Charleston is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 895 at the 2000 census. The town contains three unincorporated villages: Charleston, East Charleston and West Charleston.-Town:* Selectman - Tom Jensen...
, the southwest by Coventry
Coventry, Vermont
Coventry is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Local government:A waste system company paid the town about $800,000 in "tipping fees" in 2009. This allows the town property tax rate to be zero...
and Brownington
Brownington, Vermont
Brownington is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 885 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.4 square miles , of which 28.3 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
, and to the west by 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...
.
Lake Salem is within the town boundaries. Clyde Pond was formed by damming the Clyde River
Clyde River (Vermont)
The Clyde River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States. It is the easternmost of the four major rivers in Orleans County. It is the most powerful of the four within Orleans County, powering several turbines at damsites...
.
Local government
- Moderator - H. Kendrick Young
- Selectmen - Stephen Gendreau (2010), Brian Smith (2010)
- Lister - Tom Roberts
- Budget - $2,124,460
School district
- Director, North Country Union High SchoolNorth Country Union High SchoolNorth Country Union High School , commonly known as North Country or NCU, is a secondary school located in Newport, Vermont. The school is operated by the North Country Supervisory Union school district ....
- Jesse Tatum (2010) - Director - James Erwin (2009)
- Budget - $4,446,922
History
On October 29, 1779, the state of Vermont chartered it to Timothy Andrus and fifty-nine associates, with an area of 23040 acres (93.2 km²). It was named after DerbyDerby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
In the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, an expeditionary force of Quebec Eastern Townships' volunteers destroyed a barracks built at Derby with no personnel casualties.
On October 31, 1866, the town erected a granite monument at Derby Center in honor of those who died in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It is inscribed: "In Memory of the Volunteers from Derby, who Lost their Lives in the Great Rebellion, 1861-’65.” It lists the names of fifty-three men from Derby. It is the oldest community memorial to that war in the United States.
The failed town of Salem was annexed to Derby by an act of the legislature of 1880, and took effect March 1, 1881. This increased the land size of Derby so it became the largest in Orleans County.
Like many Orleans County towns, Derby grew in population until 1890, after which the depression (then called "panics") of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
affected the local economy and agricultural prices. Population fluctuated until it hit a bottom in 1940. The town has grown steadily since.
In 1917, the city of Newport was formed from portions of the towns 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:...
(the former village of Newport) and Derby (the former village of West Derby).
In 1928, the Canadian Gateway Airport opened off Vermont 111, within walking distance from Derby Center. It was the third airport constructed in the state. The larger and older airport, Burlington, was given the designation of "entry airport" from Canada resulting in the closure of Gateway in 1933.
A Drive-in theater
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
opened in 1950 and closed in 1985 on the Derby Road (Route 5).
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 4,604 people, 1,832 households, and 1,319 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 92.8 people per square mile (35.8/km2). There were 2,258 housing units at an average density of 45.5 per square mile (17.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.57% White, 0.28% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% 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 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,832 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
Personal income
As of the census of 2000, The median income for a household in the town was $35,313, and the median income for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $31,120 versus $21,940 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 $17,192. About 8.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Development
When the village of West Derby wanted to merge with its neighbor, the newly created city of NewportNewport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
in 1917, the town of Derby was only too happy to let them go. They wanted too many expensive services that the town was not prepared to furnish.
Not so today. New construction is overflowing Newport onto the Newport-Derby Road (US Route 5). Already built are two supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, Shaw's and Price Chopper. Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
received a permit to build a 147000 square feet (13,656.7 m²) store in 2005. They have allowed this permit to lapse. Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
has requested an Act 250 permit for a 112000 sq ft (10,405.1 m²) store. Should Lowe's build, that will be their third store in Vermont. The headquarters of the Community National Bank is located in Derby.
Indoor Recreation of Orleans County
Indoor Recreation of Orleans County
Indoor Recreation of Orleans County, called IROC, is a not-for-profit recreation center for the people of Orleans County, Vermont. It is located off US 5, the Newport-Derby Road, in Derby, Vermont. The President is Phil White....
(IROC) was constructed in 2004 and features a sports arena, aquatic center and a multipurpose gymnasium facility that can be utilized for a range of sports, including basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer.
Notable people
- Charles Kendall Adams, educator and historian.
- Portus BaxterPortus BaxterPortus Baxter was a banker, farmer, and politician from Vermont, United States.-Early life:Baxter was born in Brownington, Vermont, the son of William and Lydia Baxter. After attending local schools, he completed his education at Norwich Military Academy and the University of Vermont in Burlington...
, banker, politician - Horace ChaseHorace ChaseHorace B. Chase was an American politician who served as mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Chase was born in Vermont, on Christmas Day of 1810 and lived near Derby, Vermont. One of Milwaukee's pioneers, he first arrived in Milwaukee in December 1834, left for Chicago, and returned to settle in...
, mayor of Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. - Josiah GroutJosiah GroutJosiah Grout, Jr. was an American lawyer and politician in the US state of Vermont.Born in Quebec, Canada to Vermonter parents, he served in the American Civil War as a Union Army officer before entering the legal profession after the war...
, 46th Governor of Vermont - Vincent IlluzziVincent IlluzziVincent Illuzzi is an American politician and a Republican member of the Vermont State Senate, representing the Essex-Orleans senate district....
, state senator - Willie JohnstonWillie Johnston (Medal of Honor recipient)William "Willie" Johnston , from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was a drummer boy in Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. His service during the Seven Days retreat in the Peninsula Campaign was exemplary. He was the only drummer in his division to come away with his instrument, by no means a trivial...
, Civil War era Medal of Honor recipient, known as the "Little Drummer Boy".
- William TylerWilliam Tyler (bishop)William Tyler was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Hartford ....
, first Catholic bishop of the Diocese of HartfordRoman Catholic Archdiocese of HartfordThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church of the Latin Rite in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of...
.
Transportation
With 103 miles (165.8 km), Derby has the most miles of road of any town or city in Orleans County. Derby also has the most Class 3 roads (dirt) of any town in Orleans County.Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 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...
has two interchanges, and its northern terminus, in Derby.
The Rural Community Transportation
Rural Community Transportation
Rural Community Transportation is a nonprofit, public bus system headquartered in St. Johnsbury in Caledonia County, Vermont. RCT serves the counties of Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, and Orleans Counties. It provides regular bus routes to member municipalities.It consists of mainly volunteer drivers...
provides buses for general use, four buses north and south during the week from west Newport city to Derby Center, and two buses each way on Saturday. The fare is US 25 cents. These provide special services for the handicapped and the elderly upon request.
External links
- "Indian Joe", 18th century resident
- Local history from the Orleans County Historical Society