Brattleboro (town), Vermont

Brattleboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 12,005 at the 2000 census. Brattleboro was chartered on December 26, 1753, and is located in the southeast corner of Vermont. The town is situated along the Connecticut River, at the mouth of the West River.DeLorme (1996). Vermont Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-016-9 It is the headquarters of the Holstein Association.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 84.0 km² (32.5 mi²). 82.9 km² (32.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.42%) is water.

Topography

The town largely rests in what is known as the Connecticut River Valley. Along the eastern edge is the Connecticut River. Surrounding it to the North, West, and South are an extensive network of hills and mountains.

Development

The town's most densely populated location is in the downtown area that can be found at the very bottom of the valley. Because of the area's very mountainous terrain, with steep grades, and relatively little flat land, residents have had to build houses practically on top of each other and on mountain sides. It's this topography that has helped to create the chic and urban atmosphere of the downtown area that its residents love and tourists admire.

In the post-War era, "suburban" development has led to a push beyond the traditional downtown areas and into the West, South, and North. The southern section of the town is predominately one or two family houses with a mix of "triple deckers". Commercial and industrial operations play a relatively minor role in this section of town, with heavy concentration on the U.S. Route 5/Canal Street artery that cuts through the area. The town's high school and the Regional Career Center are also located in this section.

The western section of town, which formally became a village in 2005, is also predominately residential with the states largest mobile home park and a few large "Planned Developments". Once fraught with commercial development along it's VT Route 9/Western Avenue artery, a number of smaller businesses have closed or moved downtown, due to an increasing social awareness of "local, down town shopping", while larger "chain" stores have left because of competition from larger "chain" businesses in the northern section of town.

The northern section of Brattleboro came into its current state during the strip development boom of the 1960's and 1970's. The area has almost no residential development and is dominated by both large commercial and industrial establishments along its Putney Road artery. C&S Wholesale Grociers made its headquarters in this section until recently moving to Keene, New Hampshire. However, because Interstate-91 runs right through the middle of town, C&S has kept a major portion of its shipping operations in Brattleboro.

Beyond the major sections of the town listed above are what is known to locals as the "outskirts of Brattleboro". These areas have a decidedly untouched rural feel with very little housing development and boast the last few farms still left in Brattleboro after the collapse of the dairy industry in the 1970's. At its peak Brattleboro had over 170 farms. There are now only nine left.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 12,005 people, 5,364 households, and 2,880 families residing in the town. The population density was 144.9/km² (375.3/mi²). There were 5,686 housing units at an average density of 68.6/km² (177.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.06% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.

There were 5,364 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,997, and the median income for a family was $44,267. Males had a median income of $31,001 versus $25,329 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,554. About 9.2% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Due to its close proximity to other east coast cities, Brattleboro has seen an explosion in its ethnic population in recent years. The ethnic population (non-white and single race, with Hispanic included) comprises 5.32% of the population according to the 2000 U.S. Census. This puts Brattleboro second to Vermont's largest city, Burlington, which has also seen an increase its ethnic population. This large ethnic influence has given Brattleboro the most diverse restaurant establishments of any city in the state. Often it is harder to find an "American" restaurant than it is to find an ethnic restaurant. Restaurant offerings include; Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and many more.

Government

Brattleboro's citizens are represented by a Select Board and Town Manager. Five members are elected to fill three one year seats and two three year seats. The Select Board, in cooperation with the Town Manager, are in charge of addressing all general public issues brought to them, concerning the town. The select board members as of 2005 are Stephen A. Steidel, Chair, Greg Worden, Vice Chair, Kevin J. Yager, Clerk, B. Spoon Agave, and Harold Dompier (appointed by Select Board to fill Joerg Mayer's final year of a 3 year term). The current town manager, as of 2006, is Jerry Remillard, of Putney, Vermont. What makes the Town Manager form of government so unique is that, unlike a mayor who is elected for a term, the Town Manager is appointed by the Selectboard and rules for life or until resignation or impeachment.

The town has three districts and representatives from those districts get together on Town Meeting Day to discuss and vote on issues.

The town is home to the Brattleboro Reformer, a daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 11,000.

Shopping and dining

There seems to be a certain thought among wealthy New York and Connecticut tourists that Vermont is a perfect weekend getaway with an image of being decidedly rural. However, most tourists don't want to be too far from their main residences and still want some urban amenities while on vacation. Brattleboro, being the first major town over the Vermont border on Interstate 91, offers this to all the tourists that visit.

Because of the typical chic and upscale clientele that visit Brattleboro, the town has been able to foster the growth of many luxury establishments that dwarf even Vermont's largest city, Burlington. Notable restaurants include Capers, Peter Havens, Max's and the exclusive T.J. Buckley's that has a long waiting list. The most chic bar in the area is said to be the Metropolis Wine bar with its pricey, powerful martinis and extensive wine list. The bar was founded by previous owners of Max's Restaurant.

Brattleboro is a host to a number of art galleries and stores including Vermont Artisans Design, the largest store of original artworks in the area. The business occupies the first two floors, half of the building in which it is located. Other galleries and art stores of interest include, the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center as well as the exclusive Main Street Gallery.

Transportation

Rail
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, operates its Vermonter daily through Brattleboro, between Washington, DC and St. Albans, Vermont.

Bus
The Moover operates throughout the town between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. as the towns daily local transportation system. Bus services also run daily between Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont as well as Brattleboro and Whitingham, Vermont.

Vermont Transit runs a larger, regional and national based bus system out of a station in North Brattleboro.

Notable residents

Saul Bellow, writer, is buried here.
William Bullock Clark, geologist.
Jacob Estey, instrument manufacturer.
Chris Duffy, Major League Baseball player who plays outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
James Fisk, financier.
Ida May Fuller, first recipient of a monthly benefit Social Security check.
Richard Morris Hunt, architect.
William Morris Hunt, painter.
Horatio Nelson Jackson, first person to drive an automobile across the United States
Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, owner of Naulakha, and inventor of snow golf.
Bill Koch, first world-class cross-country skier from the United States.
Nick Mamatas, author of novels, short stories, and essays.
Anna Marsh, founder of the Vermont Asylum of the Insane.
William Rutherford Mead, architect, member of McKim, Mead, and White.
John Humphrey Noyes, U.S. utopian.
Donald B. Watt, founder of the Experiment in International Living

External links

References

Towns in Vermont | Windham County, Vermont | Brattleboro, Vermont

Brattleboro | Brattleboro (Vermonto) | Brattleboro

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