Bennington, Vermont
| Bennington, Vermont | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
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| Coordinates: 42°53′28″N 73°12′29″W / 42.89111°N 73.20806°W / 42.89111; -73.20806Coordinates: 42°53′28″N 73°12′29″W / 42.89111°N 73.20806°W / 42.89111; -73.20806 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Bennington |
| Chartered | 1749 |
| Government | |
| • Town Manager | Stuart A. Hurd[1] |
| • Town Clerk | Timothy R. Corcoran (D)[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 42.5 sq mi (110.1 km2) |
| • Land | 42.5 sq mi (109.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 817 ft (249 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 15,764 |
| • Density | 370.92/sq mi (143.18/km2) |
| • Households | 6,246 |
| • Families | 3,716 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 05201 |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-04825[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462039[3] |
| Website | Town of Bennington |
Bennington is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. It is one of two shire towns (county seats) of the county, the other being Manchester.[4][5] The population was 15,764 at the 2010 census.[6] By population, Bennington is the largest town in southern Vermont, the third-largest town in Vermont (after Essex and Colchester), and the sixth-largest municipality in the state (after Burlington, Essex, Rutland, Colchester, and South Burlington). Bennington is home to the Bennington Battle Monument, which is the tallest structure in the state of Vermont.
Contents
[show]- 1 History
- 2 Geography and climate
- 3 Demographics
- 4 Government
- 5 Economy and development
- 6 Transportation
- 7 Education
- 8 Parks and recreation
- 9 Arts and culture
- 10 Sites of interest
- 11 Health
- 12 Law enforcement
- 13 Notable people
- 14 Media
- 15 In popular culture
- 16 Sister city
- 17 See also
- 18 References
- 19 External links
History
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First of the New Hampshire grants, Bennington was chartered on January 3, 1749 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth and named in his honor. It was granted to William Williams and 61 others, mostly from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The town was first settled in 1761 by four families from Hardwick and two from Amherst, Massachusetts.[7] They were led by Capt. Samuel Robinson, who camped in the river valley on his return from the French and Indian War.[8]
The town is known primarily for the Battle of Bennington, fought during the Revolutionary War (the battle was actually fought a few miles to the west in New York). on August 16, 1777, Gen. John Stark’s 1,500 New Hampshire Militia defeated 800 troops of German mercenaries, local Loyalists, Canadians and Indians under German Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum. German reinforcements under the command of Lt. Col. Heinrich von Breymann looked set to reverse the outcome, but were prevented by the arrival of Seth Warner’s Green Mountain Boys; the Vermont militia founded by Ethan Allen.
There are three historic districts within the town today: Old Bennington, Downtown Bennington and North Bennington. Of these, Old Bennington is the original settlement, dating back to 1761 when Congregational Separatists arrived from Connecticut and Massachusetts. In the early 1800s, Downtown Bennington started developing, and by 1854 the county’s population had reached 18,589.[citation needed]
In 1891, the Bennington Battle Monument was opened. The monument is a 306-foot (93 m) high stone obelisk that is the tallest structure in Vermont. It is a popular tourist attraction.
Bennington has ready access to natural resources and waterpower, and a long history of manufacture, primarily within wood processing. The town is also recognized nationally for its pottery, iron, and textiles.
Geography and climate
Bennington is located at
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.5 square miles (110.0 km2), of which 42.4 square miles (109.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.14%) is water. Bennington is drained by the Walloomsac River and its tributaries.
Climate
Bennington experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold, snowy winters and warm to hot, humid summers. The town can experience snowfall as early as October and as late as April. Nor'easters often dump heavy snow and wind on the town during the winter, and accumulations of one foot of snow or greater are not uncommon when these storms move through the area. one such storm dumped very wet, heavy snow on October 4, 1987, which caught many residents off guard due to it occurring so early in the season, resulting in many downed trees and power lines, and also in part, from that year's fall foliage still being intact.[9] Snowfall can vary greatly from year to year. Abundant sunshine, along with heavy showers and thunderstorms are frequent during the summer months, although tornadoes are rare. An F2 tornado, however, did hit North Bennington on May 31, 1998 during an extremely rare tornado outbreak in the region.[10]
The record high is 95 °F (35 °C), set twice in 1988. The record low is −26 °F (−32 °C), set twice in 1976. July is typically the wettest month, and February is the driest. Bennington averages 64.1" of snow annually.[11]
Bennington lies in USDA plant hardiness zone 5a.[12]
| [hide]Climate data for Bennington, Vermont | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
66 (19) |
75 (24) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
95 (35) |
94 (34) |
91 (33) |
89 (32) |
73 (23) |
69 (21) |
95 (35) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
35 (2) |
44 (7) |
57 (14) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
80 (27) |
78 (26) |
70 (21) |
59 (15) |
48 (9) |
36 (2) |
56.5 (13.6) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 12 (−11) |
15 (−9) |
23 (−5) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
53 (12) |
57 (14) |
55 (13) |
47 (8) |
36 (2) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
35.5 (1.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−25 (−32) |
−13 (−25) |
9 (−13) |
21 (−6) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
12 (−11) |
−1 (−18) |
−23 (−31) |
−26 (−32) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.75 (69.9) |
2.24 (56.9) |
3.15 (80) |
3.27 (83.1) |
3.66 (93) |
4.13 (104.9) |
4.34 (110.2) |
4.00 (101.6) |
3.57 (90.7) |
3.69 (93.7) |
3.11 (79) |
2.79 (70.9) |
40.7 (1,033.8) |
| Source #1: NWS Office, Albany NY [13] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: The Weather Channel [14] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 15,764 people, 6,246 households, and 3,716 families residing in the town. The population density was 370.92 people per square mile (143.18/km2). There were 6,763 housing units at an average density of 159.3 per square mile (61.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.9% White, 1.2% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 6,246 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,765, and the median income for a family was $51,489. Males had a median income of $39,406 versus $30,322 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,560. About 14.2% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Bennington employs a Representative Town Meeting form of local government, wherein an elected seven member Select Board represents the town's citizens at large from two districts.[16] The Select Board is considered the "executive branch" of the town's government, who in turn hire and supervise a Town Manager. The current town manager is Stuart A. Hurd. Its current Town Clerk is Timothy D. Corcoran.
Four representatives from Bennington's two voting districts currently represent the town in Montpelier. Bennington County is also represented by two state senators.
Economy and development
Several different industries make up Bennington's economy. Currently, industries related to agriculture, forestry and fishing are the largest sector, consisting of 34% of the town's workforce.[17] Trade and retail, as well as government related jobs are common in Bennington also. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, with a workforce of approximately 1,300 employees, is the town's largest employer, and the seventh largest in Vermont. Its largest for-profit manufacturing employer is NSK Steering Systems America, with a workforce of approximately 600.[18]
Bennington's downtown area has several restaurants and small stores specializing in arts and crafts, as well as Vermont-made products.[19] Art galleries dot the downtown area also.
Bennington's big box development is mostly confined to the Northside Drive and Kocher Drive corridor in the northern portion of town.
Big box bylaw
In January 2005, the Select Board wrote a big box bylaw, mostly in response to Wal-Mart's plans to raze their existing 51,000 square foot outlet and replace it with a 150,000 square foot Supercenter. Its potential negative impact on the town's local economy, the low wages paid to their employees, and controversies associated with the retail giant in general were cited among other reasons.[20] The bylaw called for a 50,000 to 75,000 square foot cap on big box stores. In addition, any retailer wishing to build a store greater than 30,000 square feet of aggregate store space, would be required to submit and pay for an evaluation known as a Community Impact Study to the Select Board for approval.[21] Residents voted against this proposal in April 2005. However, the select board passed a new bylaw on August 1, 2005 and it went into effect August 22.[22]
Transportation
Roads and highways
Bennington is the largest town, and second largest municipality, in Vermont not on, or near, either of its two major Interstate highways. It is served by five highways, including two limited-access freeways. They are:
US Route 7 enters Bennington from the town of Pownal, winding its way through the rural countryside in the southern portion of town as a 2 way traffic, 2 lane surface street. It is known as South Street and North Street in the downtown district, meeting Route 9 at an intersection in downtown known locally as "the Four Corners". It then becomes a divided highway just south of Northside Drive and Kocher Drive. From there, it is a 4-lane limited access highway with two interchanges within the town before entering Shaftsbury as a Super-2 freeway. Route 7 is also known as the Ethan Allen Highway for most of its length within Vermont.
VT Route 9 enters the town from the New York border in Hoosick, where the roadway continues west as NY Route 7. Route 9 is 2 lanes with 2 way traffic over its entire segment in Bennington, intersecting with US Route 7 at "the Four Corners" in downtown. It leaves Bennington approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the half-completed SPUI interchange at the eastern end of VT Route 279. Its names are West Road (westward from Old Bennington to the New York border) and Main Street. The entire portion of Route 9 within Vermont is also known as the Molly Stark Trail.[23]
VT Route 279, also known as the Bennington Bypass, is a Super-2 freeway whose northern segment began construction in August 2007. This segment of the Bypass was completed and officially opened to traffic on August 30, 2012.[24] The western segment, which continues westward as NY Reference Route 915G (unsigned) into Hoosick, New York before meeting NY Route 7 at an at-grade intersection, and the first segment to be built, officially opened to traffic on October 12, 2004.[25] Also to be constructed is a Bennington Welcome Center in the center of its systems interchange with US 7.
Historic VT Route 7A, so named to distinguish it from the freeway portion of Route 7, begins at an at-grade intersection with that road. It continues east as Kocher Drive, and northwestward from this intersection where the route begins as Northside Drive. This segment passes much of Bennington's big box store and fast food restaurant development in the northern part of the town. Route 7A then splits from Northside Drive to the right where it continues northward as the Shires of Vermont Byway,[26] paralleling Route 7 to the west. It is a two-lane road from here, passing under VT Route 279 with no interchange. A trumpet interchange connects Route 7A back with Route 7 (where it is Exit 2 from that highway) before entering Shaftsbury to the north.
Vermont Route 67A remains within Bennington for its entire length. Beginning at an intersection with Route 67, it continues southward as Water Street in the village of North Bennington, passing by several manufacturing companines when doing so. It then turns southeastward and briefly becomes a 4-lane divided surface arterial past Bennington College where it meets VT 279 at a parclo interchange. This segment is known as North Bennington Road, all the way to its southern end where the road continues southeastward as Route 7A and Northside Drive (mentioned above).
Public transit
Green Mountain Community Network, who operate the Green Mountain Express,[27] is a private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates the public transit system in Bennington. Four lines serve Bennington itself (three during weekdays, and one on Saturday), and two commuter routes dubbed the Orange Line (from Williamstown, MA to Manchester) and Emerald Line (from Bennington to Wilmington) serve other parts of the county. The Orange Line serves the US 7 and Historic Route 7A corridor, while the Emerald Line serves points on VT Route 9 east of town. The Orange Line runs daily between Bennington and Manchester (weekdays between Bennington and Williamstown), while the Emerald Line runs on a limited weekday schedule.
Bennington is the largest municipality in the state not on, or near, the nationwide intercity bus or rail system. However, Yankee Trails World Travel operates a weekday regional bus line from Bennington to Albany, New York's Greyhound bus terminal with an intermediate stop in downtown Hoosick Falls, New York.[28] It runs twice per day (three times from Hoosick Falls) from the corner of East Main Street (Vermont Route 9) and School Street. The first trip runs without a Bennington stop from Hoosick Falls, and has one late morning trip and another evening trip with Bennington at its eastern terminus.
There has also been talk about bringing Amtrak Thruway intercity bus service to Bennington, as well as re-routing the Ethan Allen Express through North Bennington and Manchester as recently as December 2012.[29][30][31] However, it is unclear when, or whether, service will begin.
Aviation
William H. Morse State Airport is a public-use, state-owned airport located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of downtown Bennington.[32] Also dubbed "Southwest Vermont's Airport", it sits near the northern flank of Mount Anthony and close to the Bennington Battle Monument. Based at this airport is the hub of cargo air carrier AirNow.[33] The closest commercial passenger airport to Bennington is Albany International Airport.
Education
Bennington is home to a variety of municipal, parochial and private schools. Continuing education is supported by a diverse mix of colleges and career development centers. Bennington College is a progressive four-year liberal arts college ranked 104 in Tier 1 by U.S. News College Rankings. Southern Vermont College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college offering a career-directed curriculum.
Bennington currently has four K-12 public elementary schools:
- North Bennington Grade School
- Bennington Elementary School
- Monument Elementary School
- Molly Stark Elementary School
There is one public middle school, the Mount Anthony Union Middle School, (MAUMS), and one public high school, the Mount Anthony Union Senior High School (MAUHS). Grace Christian School is a private, faith-based K-12 school founded in 1995.[34]
High school sports
Bennington is home to the 25-time defending State Wrestling Champion Mount Anthony Patriots. They have won 25 consecutive Vermont State Wrestling Championships under the head coaching of Scott Legacy.[35] This is the national record.[36]
As of 2010, the Mount Anthony Patriots were also State Champions in Men's and Women's Nordic Skiing, as well as Women's Lacrosse.[37]
Parks and recreation
The town operates Willow Park, a large park with athletic fields, a common area for group functions and a large children's playground north of downtown, as well as a recreation center on Gage St consisting of a large indoor year round swimming pool, softball fields, outdoor basketball court and weight room.[38] Bennington also has a small network of mostly disconnected multi-use recreational trails; there are plans to better connect these paths in the future.[39]
The closest state parks to Bennington are Lake Shaftsbury State Park in Shaftsbury and Woodford State Park in Woodford.[40]
Arts and culture
Bennington is the home of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers' Forum of the East, a summer institute for amateur musicians. The Conference is held on the campus of Bennington College, and has been located in Bennington for nearly all of its seasons since it was founded in 1946. The Conference also includes a chamber music festival each summer, performed by faculty members at Greenwall Auditorium on the Bennington College campus, with six concerts held between mid-July and mid-August. Bennington is also home to the Oldcastle Theatre Company, a small professional theatre with a special interest in encouraging New England plays.
Bennington College, in the village of North Bennington, has been the home base for Sage City Symphony since its founding in 1973 by Louis Calabro. The Symphony plays a challenging program of the traditional repertoire as well as commissioning a new work each year.
Bennington is also home to the Bennington County Choral Society,[41] the Bennington Children's Chorus [42] and the Green Mountain Youth Orchestra.[43]
Annual events in Bennington include:
- The Winter Festival and Penguin Plunge at Lake Paran in North Bennington in late January, benefits Special Olympics of Vermont
- The St. Patrick's Day Parade in March
- The Aurora Dance Party in April
- Mayfest in May, an annual showcase of local business vendors
- The Memorial Day Parade in May
- Midnight Madness in July, hours and discounts vary but nearly all retailers participate; 7PM to 12PM
- The Bennington Battle Day Parade in August
- The Garlic and Herb Festival during Labor Day Weekend
- The Festival of Trees in late November and early December
Sites of interest
- Bennington Battle Monument
- Grandma Moses Gallery at the Bennington Museum
- Park-McCullough Historic House, a well-preserved, 35-room, Victorian country house
- Robert Frost's grave
- Bennington College
- Southern Vermont College
Photo gallery
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N.Y.C.R.R. station in 1913
-
Henry House, 1769
-
Silk Covered Bridge, 1840
-
The Blue Benn, a historic diner in Bennington
Health
- Bennington is home to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, a community hospital that serves southern Vermont and has satellite clinics in Manchester and Wilmington. The 99-bed medical center is also associated with a large modern cancer center.
- The Bennington Rescue Squad provides Primary 911 service in Bennington as well as non-emergency and interfacility transfers and is staffed at the paramedic level by volunteer members and paid career staff
- A number of primary and specialty care providers practice in the Bennington area. Most are affiliated with the Southwestern Vermont Healthcare system.
- United Counseling Service provides Bennington, and the remainder of Bennington County, with services for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse.
Law enforcement
The Bennington Police Department consists of 40 sworn and non-sworn officials serving the town, including the villages of Old Bennington and North Bennington. Its current Chief of Police is Paul J. Doucette.[44]
The Bennington County Sheriff's Office provides prisoner transport, traffic control, court security, and a Drug Taskforce, among other roles for the town and the remainder of Bennington County.[45] The current Sheriff is Chad D. Schmidt.[46]
The Vermont State Police serve the town as well, operating from their substation in Shaftsbury.
Notable people
Media
Bennington's local newspaper is the Bennington Banner. News is also carried in the Troy Record and the Manchester Journal. Bennington is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy television market. The radio station WEQX is located in nearby Manchester, VT. The area is also served by WBTN-AM 1370.
In popular culture
- 19th and 20th century American poet and playwright Robert Frost lived in, and is buried in Bennington.
- Much of the 1974 action flim The Catamount Killing, starring Horst Buchholz and Polly Holliday, was filmed in Bennington.[47]
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