| Hardwick, Vermont | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| North Main Street | |
| Hardwick, Vermont | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Caledonia |
| Chartered | 1781 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 38.9 sq mi (100.7 km2) |
| • Land | 38.5 sq mi (99.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,339 ft (408 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,174 |
| • Density | 82.4/sq mi (31.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 05843, 05836 (in East Hardwick) |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-31825[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462115[2] |
| Website | Hardwick, VT |
Hardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville.[3] The town is a commercial center for the region's farming population.[4]
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During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington ordered construction of the Bayley-Hazen Military Road to provide access into the interior of Vermont. It would prompt the development and settlement of Hardwick and East Hardwick. The town was granted by the General Assembly on November 7, 1780, then chartered on August 19, 1781, to Danforth Keyes and 66 others, some of whom were from Hardwick, Massachusetts. Permanent settlement began in 1793 when several families named Norris arrived from New Hampshire. By 1859, when the population reached 1,402, the town had several sawmills and gristmills on the Lamoille River. There were also two tanneries. Over the years, other industries would include a woolen mill, tinware shop, and carriage factory.
But the predominant business following the Civil War was granite quarrying, especially after the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway opened service through the town and facilitated shipment of stone. While most of the granite was quarried in nearby Woodbury, the stone was dressed and finished in Hardwick, largely at "Granite Junction", where the rail lines met.[5] Hardwick became known as the "Building Granite Center of the World."[6] By 1906, 1200 people were employed in the industry. Buildings around the country made with Hardwick granite include the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Chicago City Hall, Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C., as well as numerous city halls and custom houses.
Hardwick Village disincorporated in 1988 and merged with the town.[7]
In 2011, the manager of the municipal electric department was accused of embezzling $1.6 million over a period of 12 years. The FBI investigated and she was charged in federal court and found guilty.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.9 square miles (100.7 km2), of which 38.5 square miles (99.8 km2) is land and 0.4 square mile (0.9 km2) (0.93%) is water. Hardwick is drained by the Lamoille River and its tributaries.
The town is crossed by Vermont Route 14, Vermont Route 15, and Vermont Route 16. It borders the towns of Greensboro to the northeast, Walden to the southeast, Woodbury to the southwest, and Wolcott to the northwest.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,174 people, 1,216 households, and 854 families residing in the town. The population density was 82.4 people per square mile (31.8/km2). There were 1,407 housing units at an average density of 36.5 per square mile (14.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.06% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 1,216 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,636, and the median income for a family was $39,278. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $21,732 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,813. About 10.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
There are four significant agribusinesses active in the town.[9]
A gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism has been an annual event.
On the last weekend in May, Hardwick celebrate Memorial Day with a parade, craft fair, and running race.
The town contains five places on the National Register of Historic Places:
The federal government granted the town $492,000 in 2008 to upgrade the water system for fire-fighting purposes after a 2005 fire gutted the Bemis block.[10]
The town owns the Hardwick Electric Department.[11]
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