Pittsfield, Vermont

Pittsfield, Vermont
Town

Bird's-eye view of Pittsfield c. 1910

Pittsfield, Vermont
Coordinates: 43°46′7″N 72°49′53″W / 43.76861°N 72.83139°W / 43.76861; -72.83139Coordinates: 43°46′7″N 72°49′53″W / 43.76861°N 72.83139°W / 43.76861; -72.83139
Country United States
State Vermont
County Rutland
Chartered 1781
Area
 • Total 20.1 sq mi (51.9 km2)
 • Land 20.1 sq mi (51.9 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 891 ft (272 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 546
 • Density 27/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 05762
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-55450[1]
GNIS feature ID 1462173[2]

Pittsfield is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 546 at the 2010 census.[3] It is site of the annual Pittsfield Snowshoe Race.

History

A Pittsfield farmhouse c. 1915

Granted on November 8, 1780, the town was chartered on July 29, 1781, to Samuel Wilcox and 129 others. Pittsfield was named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which itself had been named in honor of William Pitt. It was first settled in 1786. The town proved suitable for grazing livestock because of its mountainous terrain.[4] Indeed, in the 19th-century, humorists attributed the invention of the one-legged milking stool to Pittsfield, "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."[5]

The Farmhouse pictured in this 1915 Postcard to the left still stands and was converted in 1960 to The Fleur De Lis Lodge, for travelers and skiers to stay. Six rooms remain in the original farmhouse, while seven more rooms were added to the new section above the great room.

Pittfield was one of thirteen Vermont towns isolated by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2), all land. Set among the Green Mountains, Pittsfield is drained by the Tweed River, a tributary of the White River.

The town is crossed by Vermont Route 100.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179049—
1800164234.7%
1810338106.1%
182045334.0%
183050511.5%
184061521.8%
1850512−16.7%
1860493−3.7%
1870482−2.2%
188055515.1%
1890468−15.7%
1900435−7.1%
1910402−7.6%
1920343−14.7%
1930256−25.4%
19402591.2%
1950225−13.1%
196025412.9%
1970249−2.0%
198039659.0%
1990389−1.8%
20004279.8%
201054627.9%
Est. 2014543[7]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 427 people, 190 households, and 120 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.3 people per square mile (8.2/km2). There were 393 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.23% Asian, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 190 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,667, and the median income for a family was $47,000. Males had a median income of $29,306 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,837. About 1.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable events

In August 2011, Pittsfield become known as one of the most isolated Vermont towns when Tropical Storm Irene destroyed parts of Vermont Route 100 between Killington and Bethel, preventing vehicle travel in and out of the town for weeks. The Giorgetti Covered Bridge was completely destroyed by flood waters, along with 8 homes. As with so many other towns in the area, the geography of this small village has changed significantly; this flood has been compared to the Great Vermont Flood of 1927.

Site of interest

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Pittsfield town, Vermont". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  4. ↑ Hayward's New England Gazetteer of 1839
  5. ↑ A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England; Boston, Massachusetts 1859
  6. ↑ Floodwaters From Storm Isolate 13 Vermont Towns, The New York Times
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
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