Vernon, Vermont

Vernon, Vermont
—  Town  —
Vernon, Vermont
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Vermont
County Windham
Area
 • Total 20.0 sq mi (51.8 km2)
 • Land 19.4 sq mi (50.2 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation 325 ft (99 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 2,141
 • Density 110.5/sq mi (42.7/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 05354
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-74800[1]
GNIS feature ID 1462234[2]
Website www.vernon-vt.org

Vernon is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census. Vernon is the home of Vermont Yankee, Vermont's only nuclear power plant.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (51.8 km2), of which 19.4 square miles (50.2 km2) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.6 km2) (3.15%) is water.

History

Fort Bridgman, in Vernon, was burned in 1755, a casualty of the French and Indian War.[3]

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,141 people, 741 households, and 574 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.5 people per square mile (42.7/km2). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 40.5 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.60% White, 0.28% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 741 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,688, and the median income for a family was $55,625. Males had a median income of $35,845 versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,720. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Vermont Yankee

The town's website states the local government's position with regard to Vermont Yankee:

'Vernon is also proud to be the home of Vermont's only nuclear power plant, Entergy-Vermont Yankee (or VY to the residents), a company that has been a good neighbor, watching out for the residents of the Town as well as the State.'

—Town of Vernon Website, [4]

Vernon has discussed seceding from Vermont to New Hampshire or to Massachusetts if Vermont legislators impose taxes on Vermont Yankee, or attempt to take away Vermont Yankee's operating permit, which is up for renewal in 2012.[5] Vernon was once part of the town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire; accordingly, it has been claimed that this would be a return to a historical norm, rather than an unprecedented shift.[5]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ "Town of Vernon, Vermont - Local Information". Website. Town of Vernon, VT, USA. http://www.vernon-vt.org/localinfo.html. Retrieved 2011-12-21. 
  5. ^ a b "Vermont Town Talks About Secession: Upset Over Vermont Yankee Tax, Some Want Out". WPTZ TV 5 (Associated Press). 2007-05-08. http://www.wptz.com/news/13307989/detail.html. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 

External links