Clarendon is a town in
Rutland County
Rutland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,572, making it the second-most populous county in Vermont. Its county seat and most populous municipality is the city of Rutland ...
,
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...
, United States. The population was 2,412 at the
2020 census.
Clarendon spans
U.S. Route 7 and is split by the highway, the
Cold River and
Mill River,
Otter Creek, and the
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range runs primarily south to north and extends approximately from the border with Massachusetts to the border with Quebec, Canada. The part of the same range that is i ...
into the hamlets of Clarendon, West Clarendon, East Clarendon, Clarendon Springs, and North Clarendon
History
The area that later formed the Town of Clarendon was settled by families from lower New England as early as 1762. It and the surrounding area was then part of
Albany County, New York
Albany County ( ) is a county in the state of New York, United States. Its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was ...
, but was later split off as
Charlotte County until Vermont declared itself as a
republic
A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
around 1777. Land claims by
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
were eventually settled, and in 1791 Vermont became a state.
Clarendon now includes the following entries on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
:
*
Brown Covered Bridge
The Brown Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Located in the northwestern part of the town, it carries Upper Cold River Road over the Cold River. It was closed to vehicular traffic in 2011 due to damage from Hurrican ...
– bridges the Cold River on Cold River Road in North Clarendon. NOTE: The Brown Covered Bridge is actually on the Upper Cold River Road in Shrewsbury and was damaged during the flooding from Hurricane Irene (added February 21, 1974)
*
Clarendon Congregational Church – Middle Rd. (added August 12, 1984)
*
Clarendon House – off VT 133 in Clarendon Springs (added June 17, 1976)
** The Clarendon House hotel was a
spa resort destination in the early 20th century
*
Cold River Bridge – VT 7B over the Cold R. (added December 14, 1991)
*
East Clarendon Railroad Station – VT 103 and East Rd. (added April 8, 1999)
** The former East Clarendon Railroad Station is a restaurant today
*
Kingsley Covered Bridge
The Kingsley Covered Bridge (also called the Mill River Bridge) is a wooden covered bridge carrying East Street across the Mill River in Clarendon, Vermont. Built about 1870, it is the town's only surviving 19th-century covered bridge. The bri ...
– bridges the Mill River on East Street in East Clarendon (added March 12, 1974)
Image:Clarendon Congregational Church, Clarendon, Vermont.jpg, Clarendon Congregational Church
Image:East Clarendon Railroad Station, East Clarendon, Vermont.jpg, Former East Clarendon Railroad Station
Image:Kingsley Covered Bridge, East Clarendon, Vermont.jpg, Kingsley Covered Bridge, East Clarendon
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the town has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.7 km
2), all land.
The Clarendon Gorge, accessible using the combined
Appalachian Trail/
Long Trail, is a popular local geographical feature. One must cross a
suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridges, which lack vertical ...
to reach the waterfall and swimming holes as well as to connect with the Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail.
Clarendon Gorge (Upper Falls):
*Height: total drop
*Water Source: Mill River
*Trail Length: .01 mile
*Trail Difficulty: Easy
New England Waterfalls. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 2,811 people, 1,136 households, and 784 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was 89.1 people per square mile (34.4/km
2). There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of 38.3 per square mile (14.8/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.28%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.32%
Native American, 0.57%
Asian, 0.21% from
other races, and 0.53% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,136 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,597, and the median income for a family was $48,534. Males had a median income of $31,122 versus $24,375 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $19,801. About 5.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over
Education
The students of Clarendon are served by two schools. Clarendon Elementary School for students in Pre-K through 6th grade and
Mill River Union High School
Mill River Union High School, commonly known as Mill River or MRU is a public junior-senior high school in Clarendon, Vermont. and is part of the Mill River Unified Union School District. MRUUSD includes the towns of Clarendon, Wallingford, S ...
for students in grades 7–12. Prior to 2016, both schools were a part of the Rutland South Supervisory Union, but merged via Act 153 into the Mill River Unified Union School District. As of 2015, 46% of Clarendon students attended Clarendon Elementary School and 54% attended Mill River Union High School.
Notable people
*
Delino Dexter Calvin
Delino Dexter Calvin (May 15, 1798 – 18 May 1884) was a naturalized Canadian citizen, former resident of New England, successful Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Frontenac in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada businessman and politician
*
Charles V. Dyer,
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
abolitionist
*
George F. Emmons, naval officer on voyage that explored the Antarctic
*
Theophilus Harrington
Theophilus Harrington (also spelled Herrington or Herrinton) (March 27, 1762 – November 17, 1813) served as a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.
Early life
Harrington was born in Coventry, R ...
, Justice of the
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court.
The Cou ...
*
George Tisdale Hodges
George Tisdale Hodges (July 4, 1789August 9, 1860) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont. He was the first Republican member of the United States House of Representatives,although there was a similar Opposi ...
,
United States Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
*
Silas H. Hodges,
Vermont Auditor of Accounts
The Vermont State Auditor of Accounts is one of six constitutional officers in Vermont, elected statewide every two years. The Office provides an independent and objective assessment of Vermont's governmental operations.
The current Auditor is ...
and Commissioner of the
U.S. Patent Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alexa ...
*
Harrison J. Peck, newspaper editor and member of the
Minnesota Senate
*
Increase Moseley,
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker or presiding officer of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature.
The Speaker presides over sessions of the Houses, recognizes members so ...
.
*
Abel Spencer
Abel Spencer (December 4, 1758 – June 16, 1832) was a Vermont lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives twice and was expelled from the House for theft.
Biography
Abel Spencer was born in East Green ...
,
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker or presiding officer of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature.
The Speaker presides over sessions of the Houses, recognizes members so ...
[Charles L. Williams]
Statistics of the Rutland County Bar
1847, page 8
References
External links
Town of Clarendon official website
{{authority control
Towns in Vermont
Towns in Rutland County, Vermont