Strafford, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Strafford is a town in Orange County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 1,045 at the 2000 census. The town of Strafford was created on August 12, 1761 by way of a royal charter
which King George III of England issued to Governor Benning Wentworth
of New Hampshire
. The town was named after the Earl of Strafford
.
Strafford was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene
in 2011.
, the town has a total area of 44.3 square miles (114.8 km2), of which 44.2 square miles (114.5 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.3 km2) (0.25%) is water. The West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River
flows through the town.
of 2000, there were 1,045 people, 420 households, and 296 families residing in the town. The population density
was 23.6 people per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 12.3 per square mile (4.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.47% White, 0.19% African American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 420 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,711, and the median income for a family was $52,596. Males had a median income of $31,481 versus $24,808 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,267. About 3.6% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Justin Smith Morrill
, US Representative and Senator, known as the chief sponsor and author of the Land Grant College Acts was born in Strafford. His Gothic Revival Homestead is one of the Vermont State-Owned Historic Sites. http://www.HistoricVermont.org/Morrill
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 1,045 at the 2000 census. The town of Strafford was created on August 12, 1761 by way of a royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
which King George III of England issued to 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...
of 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...
. The town was named after the Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford is a title that has been created three times in English and British history.The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1640 for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, the close advisor of King Charles I...
.
Strafford was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
in 2011.
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 44.3 square miles (114.8 km2), of which 44.2 square miles (114.5 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.3 km2) (0.25%) is water. The West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River
Ompompanoosuc River
The Ompompanoosuc River is a river, about 25 mi long, in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
flows through the town.
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 1,045 people, 420 households, and 296 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 23.6 people per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 12.3 per square mile (4.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.47% White, 0.19% African American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,711, and the median income for a family was $52,596. Males had a median income of $31,481 versus $24,808 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 $22,267. About 3.6% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Justin Smith Morrill
Justin Smith Morrill
Justin Smith Morrill was a Representative and a Senator from Vermont, most widely remembered today for the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act that established federal funding for establishing many of the United States' public colleges and universities...
, US Representative and Senator, known as the chief sponsor and author of the Land Grant College Acts was born in Strafford. His Gothic Revival Homestead is one of the Vermont State-Owned Historic Sites. http://www.HistoricVermont.org/Morrill
Notable people
- Edmund "Tad" CoffinEdmund CoffinEdmund "Tad" Sloane Coffin is a saddlemaker and equestrian. Coffin won two gold medals in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal riding Bally Cor. He grew up on Long Island, then moved with his family to Strafford, Vermont, and now lives in Virginia. He is also the nephew of William Sloane...
, saddle maker and Olympic equestrian. - William Sloane CoffinWilliam Sloane CoffinWilliam Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
, clergyman and activist. - Justin Smith MorrillJustin Smith MorrillJustin Smith Morrill was a Representative and a Senator from Vermont, most widely remembered today for the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act that established federal funding for establishing many of the United States' public colleges and universities...
, congressman and senator.