Brattleboro, Vermont

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Brattleboro, Vermont
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Brattleboro, Vermont
Downtown Brattleboro, as seen looking West from Mount Wantastiquet.
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Downtown Brattleboro, as seen looking West from Mount Wantastiquet.

Brattleboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 12,005 at the 2000 census. Brattleboro was chartered on December 26, 1753, and is located in the southeast corner of Vermont. The town is situated along the Connecticut River, at the mouth of the West River.[1] It is the headquarters of the Holstein Association.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 84.0 km² (32.5 mi²). 82.9 km² (32.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.42%) is water.

[edit] Topography

The town largely rests in what is known as the Connecticut River Valley. Along the eastern edge is the Connecticut River. Surrounding it to the North, West, and South are an extensive network of hills and mountains.

[edit] Development

The town's most densely populated area is downtown at the very bottom of the valley. Because of the area's very hilly terrain, and relatively little flat land, residents have had to build houses practically on top of each other and on steep grades. This topography has helped to create an urban atmosphere.

In the post-War era, suburban development has led to development beyond the traditional downtown areas and into the west, south, and north of the township. The southern section of the town is predominantly one or two family houses with a mix of triple deckers. Commercial and industrial operations play a relatively minor role in this section of town, with heavy concentration on the U.S. Route 5/Canal Street artery that cuts through the area. The town's high school and the Regional Career Center are also located in this section.

The western section of town, which formally became a village in 2005, is also mostly residential, with the state's largest mobile home park and a few large planned developments.

The northern section of Brattleboro came into its current state during the strip development era of the 1960's and 1970's. The area has almost no residential development and is dominated by large commercial and industrial establishments along Putney Road. There are roughly seven major hotels within a short distance of each other, with national names like Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, Motel 6, America's Best Inn (formerly Days Inn) and a number of local hotel/motel establishments. C&S Wholesale Grocers made its headquarters in this section until moving to Keene, New Hampshire in (year needed); because of close proximity to Interstate 91, C&S has kept a major portion of its shipping operations in Brattleboro.

Beyond the major sections of the town listed above are what is known to locals as the "outskirts of Brattleboro". These areas have a decidedly untouched rural feel with very little housing development and boast the last few farms left in Brattleboro after the collapse of the dairy industry in the 1970's. At its peak Brattleboro had over 170 farms. [citation needed] There are now only nine left.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 12,005 people, 5,364 households, and 2,880 families residing in the town. The population density was 144.9/km² (375.3/mi²). There were 5,686 housing units at an average density of 68.6/km² (177.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.06% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.

There were 5,364 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,997, and the median income for a family was $44,267. Males had a median income of $31,001 versus $25,329 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,554. About 9.2% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Due to its close proximity to other east coast cities, Brattleboro has seen an explosion in its ethnic population in recent years. The ethnic population (non-white and single race, with Hispanic included) comprises 3.4% of the population according to the 2000 U.S. Census. While this percentage would seem small to any major U.S. city, it is considered decidedly high for a predominantly white state and puts Brattleboro second to Vermont's largest city, Burlington, which has also seen an increase its ethnic population. This large ethnic influence has given Brattleboro the most diverse establishments and insitutions of any city in the state.

[edit] Government

Brattleboro's citizens are represented by a Select Board and Town Manager. Five members are elected to fill three one year seats and two three year seats. The Select Board, in cooperation with the Town Manager, are in charge of addressing all general public issues brought to them, concerning the town. The select board members as of 2005 are Stephen A. Steidel, Chair, Greg Worden, Vice Chair, Kevin J. Yager, Clerk, B. Spoon Agave, and Harold Dompier (appointed by Select Board to fill Joerg Mayer's final year of a 3 year term). The current town manager, as of 2006, is Jerry Remillard, of Putney, Vermont. What makes the Town Manager form of government so unique is that, unlike a mayor who is elected for a term, the Town Manager is appointed by the Selectboard and rules for life or until resignation or impeachment.[citation needed]

The town has three districts and representatives from those districts get together on Town Meeting Day to discuss and vote on issues.

The town is home to the Brattleboro Reformer, a daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 11,000.

[edit] Shopping and dining

Vermont is a popular weekend getaway among wealthy New York and Connecticut tourists[citations needed]. Brattleboro, being the first major town over the Vermont border on Interstate 91, offers a mix of a rural atmosphere and urban amenities such as a large number of hotels. Celebrities who have visited Brattleboro[citation needed] include Johnny Depp, Whoopi Goldberg and Nicole Kidman.

Notable restaurants include Capers, Peter Havens, 39 Main, Max's, the superlative T.J. Buckley's and the Metropolis Wine bar which has martinis and an extensive wine list.

A local, affordable favorite is the Chelsea Royal Diner, where locals can get a "two-dolla-holla," a $2 breakfast special early in the morning. There is also a "creamie" (soft serve ice cream) stand, which is crowded every summer night. Also noteworthy is Top Of The Hill BBQ, offering a wide array of grill-centric menu items such as pulled pork, ribs, and more interesting combinations (ie, a burger with grilled onions and peppers, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing).

Brattleboro is a host to a number of art galleries and stores including Vermont Artisan Design, the largest store of original artworks in the area.

The Brattleboro Food Cooperative, a natural foods store and deli holds the claim of being the state's first certified organic retailer.

[edit] Transportation

Rail
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, operates its Vermonter daily through Brattleboro, between Washington, DC and St. Albans, Vermont.

Bus
The Moover operates throughout the town between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. as the towns daily local transportation system. Bus services also run daily between Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont as well as Brattleboro and Whitingham, Vermont.

Vermont Transit runs a larger, regional and national based bus system out of a station in North Brattleboro.

[edit] Trivia

Brattleboro's indecent exposure law only prohibits nudity "done to promote sexual gratification." This has lead to some young people adopting an openly naturist lifestyle.

The Brattleboro postmaster issued the first postal stamps in the United States in 1846.[citation needed]

Brattleboro was the home of the first person ever to receive a Social Security Benefit Check. It was issued on January 31, 1940 to Ida Fuller. Her check number was 00-000-001 and it was for $22.54. [1]

Brattleboro is home to the New England Youth Theatre, located on Main Street

[edit] Literary

Brattleboro is the setting for much of H. P. Lovecraft's story "The Whisperer in Darkness".

The first American edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was printed in Brattleboro.

Brattleboro is mentioned repeatedly in David Foster Wallace's novel Infinite Jest. From page 901: “C.T. was the infant son she’d brought to the new union, his father a ne’er-do-well killed in a freak accident playing competitive darts in a Brattleboro tavern just as they were trying to adjust the obstetric stirrups for the achondroplastic Mrs. Tavis’s labor and delivery.”

Brattleboro's first bookstore opened in 1795.

The first bible to be printed in Vermont was printed in Brattleboro, in 1812.

Brattleboro was home to revolutionary era playwright Royall Tyler.

The Annual Brattleboro Literary Festival has been held every fall since 2001.

The popular Joe Gunther mystery series written by Archer Mayor is largely set in Brattleboro.

"A Peasant of West Brattleboro" (1987) by David Chase is a collection of his columns from the Brattleboro Reformer.

[edit] Notable current and historical residents

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ DeLorme (1996). Vermont Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-016-9
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