Waitsfield, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Waitsfield is a town
in Washington County
, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782. It was named for General Benjamin Wait
, the town's founder.
, the town has a total area of 26.9 square miles (69.7 km2), of which 26.9 square miles (69.7 km2) is land and 0.04% is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,659 people, 734 households, and 485 families residing in the town. The population density
was 61.7 people per square mile (23.8/km2). There were 908 housing units at an average density of 33.7 per square mile (13.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.23% White, 0.96% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 734 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,577, and the median income for a family was $54,868. Males had a median income of $31,827 versus $27,260 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,209. About 3.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
and Vermont Crossroads Press both originated in Waitsfield. Vermont Crossroads Press would publish "The Adventures of You Series", which later became the Choose Your Own Adventure
series of children's books by Bantam Books
. The town's economy is based mostly around the two nearby ski resorts, Sugarbush Resort
and Mad River Glen
.
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 Washington County
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
, 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 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782. It was named for General Benjamin Wait
Benjamin Wait
Benjamin Wait was a Canadian businessman and author.Benjamin Wait's father came to Upper Canada from Vermont in the early 19th century, settling first in Markham Township, where Benjamin was born, and then at Black Creek. In the early 1830s Benjamin opened a sawmill at York on the Grand River. His...
, the town's founder.
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 26.9 square miles (69.7 km2), of which 26.9 square miles (69.7 km2) is land and 0.04% is water.
Demographics
Census
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 1,659 people, 734 households, and 485 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 61.7 people per square mile (23.8/km2). There were 908 housing units at an average density of 33.7 per square mile (13.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.23% White, 0.96% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.30% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 734 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,577, and the median income for a family was $54,868. Males had a median income of $31,827 versus $27,260 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 $24,209. About 3.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Bill Parker, artist and inventor.
- Grace Potter, musician.
- Edmund Rice, politician.
- Henry Mower Rice, politician.
Economy
Green Mountain Coffee RoastersGreen Mountain Coffee Roasters
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is a publicly-traded brand of coffee based at Waterbury in the U.S. state of Vermont. The brand specializes in organic, fair trade, and specialty gourmet coffees. Keurig is a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., and sells many of their...
and Vermont Crossroads Press both originated in Waitsfield. Vermont Crossroads Press would publish "The Adventures of You Series", which later became the Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's gamebooks where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. The series was based on a...
series of children's books by Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
. The town's economy is based mostly around the two nearby ski resorts, Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres total, 578 acres skiable, 53 miles of trails, and 16 ski lifts...
and Mad River Glen
Mad River Glen
Mad River Glen is a ski area in Fayston, Vermont. Its terrain has been ranked by SKI magazine as the most challenging on the east coast of the United States. Located within the Green Mountain range, it sits in the Mad River Valley, close to the larger Sugarbush Resort...
.