Searsburg, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Searsburg is a town
in Bennington County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 96 at the 2000 census.
Searsburg is the home of a six megawatt wind turbine
farm owned by Green Mountain Power. The town officers have supported the electrical generating station consisting of multiple towers atop a ridgeline in a prime black bear mating habitat. There is a massive expansion proposed for the generating station. Seventeen 410' tall turbines would be located within the Green Mountain National Forest and enclose most of the higher altitudes of the town. In 2007, town residents voted overwhelmingly to oppose the expansion. In 2008, after developers promised to compensate the town monetarily, the town residents voted in favor of the project.
, the town has a total area of 21.6 square miles (55.9 km²), of which 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.19%) is water.
of 2000, there were 96 people, 40 households, and 24 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4.5 people per square mile (1.7/km²). There were 87 housing units at an average density of 4.0 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.
There were 40 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples
living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 152.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $25,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,472. There were 10.0% of families and 17.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 12.9% of under eighteens and 35.7% of those over 64.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Bennington 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 96 at the 2000 census.
Searsburg is the home of a six megawatt wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
farm owned by Green Mountain Power. The town officers have supported the electrical generating station consisting of multiple towers atop a ridgeline in a prime black bear mating habitat. There is a massive expansion proposed for the generating station. Seventeen 410' tall turbines would be located within the Green Mountain National Forest and enclose most of the higher altitudes of the town. In 2007, town residents voted overwhelmingly to oppose the expansion. In 2008, after developers promised to compensate the town monetarily, the town residents voted in favor of the project.
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 21.6 square miles (55.9 km²), of which 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.19%) 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 96 people, 40 households, and 24 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 4.5 people per square mile (1.7/km²). There were 87 housing units at an average density of 4.0 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.
There were 40 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% 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, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 152.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $25,250 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 $10,472. There were 10.0% of families and 17.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 12.9% of under eighteens and 35.7% of those over 64.
Third-party support
Searsburg has a history of unusually good showings for third-party candidates in Presidential elections.- In 1992, Searsburg was one of four Vermont towns to support Reform candidate H. Ross Perot, who received 14 votes. Democrat Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Republican Bush tied with 12 votes, with Marxist New Alliance PartyNew Alliance PartyThe New Alliance Party was an American political party formed in New York City in 1979. Its immediate precursor was an umbrella organization known as the Labor Community Alliance for Change, whose member groups included the coalition of Grass Roots Women and the New York City Unemployed and...
member Lenora FulaniLenora FulaniLenora Branch Fulani is an American psychologist, psychotherapist, and political activist. She may be best known for her presidential campaigns and development of youth programs serving minority communities in the New York City area...
receiving one vote. - In 1996, the town gave 45 percent to Clinton, with Perot polling at a significantly above-average 39 percent, but lost to Bill Clinton, with Republican Bob DoleBob DoleRobert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
coming in a distant third. - In 2000, Libertarian Harry BrowneHarry BrowneHarry Browne was an American libertarian writer, politician, and free-market investment analyst. He ran for President of the United States as the nominee of the Libertarian Party in 1996 and 2000....
won Searsburg with 51 percent. Democrat Al GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
polled at 40 percent, and Nader received 9 percent. Notably, Republican George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received no votes. Browne's victory was particularly unusual, because he polled at under half a percent statewide. - In 2004, however, third-party candidates received only 4 percent (one vote each for Nader and Libertarian Michael BadnarikMichael BadnarikMichael J. Badnarik is an American software engineer, political figure, and former radio talk show host. He was the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2004 elections, and placed fourth in the race, behind independent candidate Ralph Nader...
). Democrat John KerryJohn KerryJohn Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
defeated Bush, 30 votes to 22. - In 2008, Searsburg was one of only three* towns in Vermont to vote in favor of John McCain over Barack Obama (32 - 26)
External links
- History of Searsburg Vermont
- Green Mountain Power Searsburg Wind Power pages
- Photos of Searsburg Wind Farm
- http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/2008GEUSPres.pdf