Wilder, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Wilder is an unincorporated village
and census-designated place
(CDP) within the town
of Hartford
in Windsor County, Vermont
. It is the location of the Wilder Dam on the Connecticut River
. The population of the CDP was 1,636 at the 2000 census.
developed in part by Charles Wilder, owner of a local paper mill
in the 1880s. One feature of Wilder's plan was an orderly street plan in which streets were laid out at right angles, with several of the streets named after trees. The village was renamed in honor of Charles Wilder in 1897.
As of the earliest years of the 20th century, the local paper mill was operated by International Paper
and Wilder boasted a railroad station, a post office
, several retail stores, and electric street light
ing. An iron bridge contributed by Charles Wilder spanned the Connecticut River at Wilder. The bridge, the paper mill, and the dam that supplied power to the mill were all demolished in 1950 for the construction of Wilder Dam.
The Wilder Village Historic District
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1999. The district covers 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) and contains 203 contributing resources
. It includes examples of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style architecture with houses dating from the late 19th century to the 1950s. Streets included in the district include Norwich, Passumpsic, and Horseshoe Avenues, and Chestnut, Gillette, Fern, Hawthorn, Locust and Division Streets.
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.1 km2 (0.8 mi²), of which 2.1 km2 (0.8 mi2) is land and 1.22% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,636 people, 690 households, and 445 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2,003.4/mi2 (770.3/km2). There were 710 housing units at an average density of 869.5/mi2 (334.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.64% White, 0.37% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 690 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.7% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,238, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $35,833 versus $28,250 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $21,802. About 4.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
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....
and census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) within the town
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...
of Hartford
Hartford, Vermont
Hartford is a town in Windsor County in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is located on the New Hampshire border, at the intersection of Interstates 89 and 91. It is the site of the confluence of the White River and the Connecticut River; the Ottauquechee River also flows through the town...
in Windsor 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...
. It is the location of the Wilder Dam on the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. The population of the CDP was 1,636 at the 2000 census.
History
The village, originally known as Olcott Falls, is unique as an early planned communityPlanned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
developed in part by Charles Wilder, owner of a local paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
in the 1880s. One feature of Wilder's plan was an orderly street plan in which streets were laid out at right angles, with several of the streets named after trees. The village was renamed in honor of Charles Wilder in 1897.
As of the earliest years of the 20th century, the local paper mill was operated by International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
and Wilder boasted a railroad station, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, several retail stores, and electric street light
Street light
A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
ing. An iron bridge contributed by Charles Wilder spanned the Connecticut River at Wilder. The bridge, the paper mill, and the dam that supplied power to the mill were all demolished in 1950 for the construction of Wilder Dam.
The Wilder Village Historic District
Wilder Village Historic District
Wilder Village Historic District is a historic district in the village of Wilder in the town of Hartford, Vermont, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999....
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National 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...
in 1999. The district covers 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) and contains 203 contributing resources
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
. It includes examples of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style architecture with houses dating from the late 19th century to the 1950s. Streets included in the district include Norwich, Passumpsic, and Horseshoe Avenues, and Chestnut, Gillette, Fern, Hawthorn, Locust and Division Streets.
Geography
Wilder is adjacent to the Connecticut River and immediately north of the village of White River Junction. The CDP is bounded on the west by Interstate 91Interstate 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...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 2.1 km2 (0.8 mi²), of which 2.1 km2 (0.8 mi2) is land and 1.22% 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 1,636 people, 690 households, and 445 families residing in the CDP. 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 2,003.4/mi2 (770.3/km2). There were 710 housing units at an average density of 869.5/mi2 (334.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.64% White, 0.37% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.18% 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 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 690 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.7% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,238, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $35,833 versus $28,250 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 CDP was $21,802. About 4.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.