Thetford, Vermont
Located in Orange County, Vermont
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Coordinates: 43°49′36″N 72°14′44″W / 43.82667, -72.24556
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Orange
Chartered	1761
Area
- Total	44.2 sq mi (114.4 km²)
- Land	43.6 sq mi (112.8 km²)
- Water	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
Elevation	600 ft (184 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,617
- Density	60.1/sq mi (23.2/km²)
- Households	1,032
- Families	730
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	05074
Area code(s)	802
FIPS code	50-72400[1]
GNIS feature ID	1462226[2]
Website: Thetford Official Website

Thetford is a town in Orange County, Vermont, in the Connecticut River Valley. Created on August 12, 1761 by way of a royal charter which King George III of England issued to Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire. The population was 2,617 at the 2000 census. Thetford is home to Thetford Academy, Vermont's oldest secondary school. Swift Water Girl Scout Council also has a summer residential camp here called Camp Farnsworth. Camp Farnsworth originally started under private ownership by Chelebe and Madama Farnsworth in 1908 when it was called Camp Hanoum.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.2 square miles (114.4 km²), of which, 43.6 square miles (112.8 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.36%) is water. The Ompompanoosuc River flows through the town, and Interstate Highway 91 traverses it.^[3] Villages within the town of Thetford include East Thetford, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, and Rices Mills. The town office is in Thetford Center

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,617 people, 1,032 households, and 730 families residing in the town. The population density was 60.1 people per square mile (23.2/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 27.4/sq mi (10.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.44% White, 0.46% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 1,032 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.2% 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 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,333, and the median income for a family was $55,323. Males had a median income of $35,121 versus $29,839 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,870. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Educational and cultural institutions

Thetford Elementary School in Thetford Hill serves town resident students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. The town then sends its students primarily to Thetford Academy, a private secondary school. Thetford is also home to Open Fields School, a private elementary and middle school.

The Thetford Public Library has two branches; the main office is in Thetford Hill, and a branch is in Post Mills.

The Thetford Historical Society is in the same building in Thetford Hill as the main library branch. Additional material is located in a barn nearby, which is open once a year.

Parish Players community theater operates in the historic grange hall in Thetford Hill.

History

In 1974, Thetford became the first U.S. municipality to call for the impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon.[1]

Notable residents

• Ruth Dwyer, politician and Republican candidate for governor
• John Eaton, brevet brigadier general in the US Army.
• Harvey Newcomb, clergyman and writer.
• Grace Paley, National Book Award winning fiction writer and poet
• Annie Proulx (former resident), author
• James Rage, Vermont author and radio personality
• Henry Wells, businessman and co-founder of Wells Fargo and American Express.
• Dean Conant Worcester, zoologist, public official, and authority on the Philippines.
• Andrew Cook, businessman
• Noel Perrin, essayist
• William Closson, artist

External links

• Thetford Vermont Official Town Website
• Thetford, Vermont is at coordinates 43°50′01″N 72°15′03″W / 43.83361, -72.25083 (Thetford, Vermont)Coordinates: 43°50′01″N 72°15′03″W / 43.83361, -72.25083 (Thetford, Vermont)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ DeLorme (1996). Vermont Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-016-9

Sources

• Virtual Vermont

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Orange County, Vermont Shire town: Chelsea Towns Bradford | Braintree | Brookfield | Chelsea | Corinth | Fairlee | Newbury | Orange | Randolph | Strafford | Thetford | Topsham | Tunbridge | Vershire | Washington | West Fairlee | Williamstown Villages Newbury | Wells River Unincorporated community Bradford