Hardwick, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Hardwick 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. The town is a commercial center for the region's farming population.
, General George Washington
ordered construction of the Bayley-Hazen Military Road to provide access into the interior of Vermont. It would prompt the development and settlement of Hardwick and East Hardwick.
The town was granted by the General Assembly
on November 7, 1780, then chartered on August 19, 1781, to Danforth Keyes and 66 others, some of whom were from Hardwick, Massachusetts
. Permanent settlement began in 1793 when several families named Norris arrived from New Hampshire
. By 1859, when the population reached 1,402, the town had several sawmill
s and gristmill
s on the Lamoille River
. There were also two tanneries
. Over the years, other industries would include a woolen
mill, tinware
shop, and carriage
factory.
But the predominant business following the Civil War
was granite
quarry
ing, especially after the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway
opened service through the town and facilitated shipment of stone. While most of the granite was quarried in nearby Woodbury
, the stone was dressed and finished in Hardwick, largely at "Granite Junction", where the rail lines met. Hardwick became known as the "Building Granite Center of the World." By 1906, 1200 people were employed in the industry. Buildings around the country made with Hardwick granite include the Pennsylvania State Capitol
, Chicago City Hall
, Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C.
, as well as numerous city hall
s and custom house
s.
Hardwick Village disincorporated in 1988 and merged with the town.
In 2011, the manager of the municipal electric department was accused of embezzling $1.6 million over a period of 12 years. The FBI investigated and she was charged in federal court
and found guilty.
, the town has a total area of 38.9 square miles (100.7 km2), of which 38.5 square miles (99.8 km2) is land and 0.4 square mile (0.9 km2) (0.93%) is water. Hardwick is drained by the Lamoille River
and its tributaries.
The town is crossed by
Vermont Route 14
,
Vermont Route 15
, and
Vermont Route 16
. It borders the towns of Greensboro
to the northeast, Walden
to the southeast, Woodbury
to the southwest, and Wolcott
to the northwest.
of 2000, there were 3,174 people, 1,216 households, and 854 families residing in the town. The population density
was 82.4 people per square mile (31.8/km2). There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.06% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 1,216 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples
living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
for the town was $14,813. About 10.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
has been an annual event.
On the last weekend in May, Hardwick celebrate Memorial Day with a parade, craft fair, and running race.
:
The town owns the Hardwick Electric Department.
Caledonia County, Vermont
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....
, 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 3,174 at the 2000 census.
It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville. The town is a commercial center for the region's farming population.
History
During the Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
ordered construction of the Bayley-Hazen Military Road to provide access into the interior of Vermont. It would prompt the development and settlement of Hardwick and East Hardwick.
The town was granted by the General Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
on November 7, 1780, then chartered on August 19, 1781, to Danforth Keyes and 66 others, some of whom were from Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about west of the city of Worcester. It had a population of 2,990 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace.- History :...
. Permanent settlement began in 1793 when several families named Norris arrived from 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...
. By 1859, when the population reached 1,402, the town had several sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s and gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s on the 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...
. There were also two tanneries
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
. Over the years, other industries would include a woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
mill, tinware
Tinware
Tinware is any item made of prefabricated tinplate. Usually tinware refers to kitchenware made of tinplate, often crafted by tinsmiths. Many cans used for canned food are tinware as well. Something that is tinned after being shaped and fabricated is not considered tinware.-Properties:Tinware is...
shop, and carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
factory.
But the predominant business following 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...
was 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...
quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
ing, especially after the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway
Portland and Ogdensburg Railway
The Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad was a railroad planned to connect Portland, Maine to Ogdensburg, New York. The plan failed, and in 1880 the Vermont section was reorganized and leased by the Boston & Lowell Railroad. In 1886, the Maine and New Hampshire section was reorganized as the Portland &...
opened service through the town and facilitated shipment of stone. While most of the granite was quarried in nearby Woodbury
Woodbury, Vermont
Woodbury is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 809 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.1 square miles , of which 37.8 square miles is land and 1.3 square miles is water...
, the stone was dressed and finished in Hardwick, largely at "Granite Junction", where the rail lines met. Hardwick became known as the "Building Granite Center of the World." By 1906, 1200 people were employed in the industry. Buildings around the country made with Hardwick granite include the Pennsylvania State Capitol
Pennsylvania State Capitol
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is in downtown Harrisburg. It was designed in 1902 in a Beaux-Arts style with Renaissance themes throughout...
, Chicago City Hall
Chicago City Hall
Chicago City Hall is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. Adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center and the James R...
, Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as well as numerous city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
s and custom house
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
s.
Hardwick Village disincorporated in 1988 and merged with the town.
In 2011, the manager of the municipal electric department was accused of embezzling $1.6 million over a period of 12 years. The FBI investigated and she was charged in federal court
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
and found guilty.
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 38.9 square miles (100.7 km2), of which 38.5 square miles (99.8 km2) is land and 0.4 square mile (0.9 km2) (0.93%) is water. Hardwick is drained by the 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...
and its tributaries.
The town is crossed by
Vermont Route 14Vermont Route 14
Vermont Route 14 is a north–south state highway in northeastern Vermont, United States. It is long and extends from U.S. Route 4 and U.S. Route 5 in White River Junction to Vermont Route 100 in Newport. Between White River Junction and the city of Barre, the route parallels Interstate 89. Vermont...
,
Vermont Route 15Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
, and
Vermont Route 16Vermont Route 16
Vermont Route 16 is a north–south state highway in northern Vermont, United States. The route is long and connects Hardwick to Westmore. It begins at VT 15 in Hardwick and heads northward to U.S. Route 5 in Barton. From Barton, it heads eastward to VT 5A in Westmore...
. It borders the towns of Greensboro
Greensboro, Vermont
Greensboro is the southernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 770 at the 2000 census. The town includes the places of Campbells Corners, East Greensboro, Gebbie Corner, Greensboro Four Corners, Greensboro Bend, The Four Corners, Tolmans Corner, and Burlington...
to the northeast, Walden
Walden, Vermont
Walden 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:...
to the southeast, Woodbury
Woodbury, Vermont
Woodbury is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 809 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.1 square miles , of which 37.8 square miles is land and 1.3 square miles is water...
to the southwest, and Wolcott
Wolcott, Vermont
Wolcott is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for General Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence...
to the northwest.
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 3,174 people, 1,216 households, and 854 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 82.4 people per square mile (31.8/km2). There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.06% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.19% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 1,216 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% 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, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
Personal income
The median income for a household in the town was $33,636, and the median income for a family was $39,278. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $21,732 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 $14,813. About 10.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
A gathering of the Society for Creative AnachronismSociety for Creative Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...
has been an annual event.
On the last weekend in May, Hardwick celebrate Memorial Day with a parade, craft fair, and running race.
Historic places
The town contains five places on 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...
:
- Building at 143 Highland Avenue — 143 Highland Ave. (added May 6, 2000)
- Cobb School — Jct. of Hardwick Town Hwy. 10 (Cobb School Rd.) and Sanborn Cemetery Rd. (added October 30, 1993)
- Downtown Hardwick Village Historic District — Brush St. (added April 10, 2004)
- Downtown Hardwick Village Historic District — Main, Church, Maple and Mill Sts. (added October 30, 1982)
- Hardwick Street Historic District — NE of Hardwick (added July 22, 1979)
Government
The federal government granted the town $492,000 in 2008 to upgrade the water system for fire-fighting purposes after a 2005 fire gutted the Bemis block.The town owns the Hardwick Electric Department.
Notable people
- Catherine Cate CoblentzCatherine Cate CoblentzCatherine Cate Coblentz was an American writer, best known for her children's books in the 1930s and 1940s.- Life and work :...
, writer. - Dorman Bridgman Eaton, lawyer and author.
- Lee E. EmersonLee E. EmersonLee Earl Emerson was the 69th Governor of Vermont. He was born in Hardwick, Vermont, on December 19, 1898, and moved to Barton, Vermont, at the age of 16. He graduated from Barton Academy in 1917, received an A.B. from Syracuse University in 1921 and a LL.B. from George Washington University Law...
, governor of Vermont. - Jim FixxJim FixxJames Fuller Fixx was the author of the 1977 best-selling book, The Complete Book of Running. Best known as Jim Fixx, he is credited with helping start America's fitness revolution, popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging.- Life and work :Born in...
, author and jogging enthusiast. - Thomas J. D. Fuller, congressman.
- David H. NicholsDavid H. NicholsDavid Hopkinson Nichols was the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, United States, serving from 1893 to 1895 under Davis Hanson Waite....
, politician.
Further reading
- A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England; Boston, Massachusetts 1859
- Township information -- Hardwick, Vermont