Dummerston, Vermont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dummerston, Vermont
Town
West Dummerston Covered Bridge
Dummerston, Vermont
Dummerston, Vermont Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Windham
Chartered	1753
Communities	Dummerston Center East Dummerston West Dummerston
Area
• Total	30.8 sq mi (79.8 km2)
• Land	30.6 sq mi (79.2 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation	814 ft (248 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,865
• Density	61/sq mi (23.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	05301 (Dummerston) 05346 (East Dummerston) 05357 (West Dummerston)
Area code(s)	802
FIPS code	50-18325
GNIS feature ID	1462084

Dummerston is a small town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. In 2020, about 1,865 people lived there. It's famous for having the longest covered bridge in Vermont that people still use today! The town includes three main areas: Dummerston Center, West Dummerston, and East Dummerston.

History of Dummerston

East Dummerston in 1913

The land where Dummerston now sits was once home to Native American people. Later, in the early 1700s, European settlers began to move into the area. This land was part of something called the "Equivalent Lands." These were large areas given to settlers in the early 18th century.

Around 1715, the land was given to the Connecticut Colony. This was to make up for land that was accidentally given to settlers by another colony. In 1716, a group of people bought the town's land. One of them was William Dummer, who was a leader in Massachusetts. The town was named Dummerston after him.

On December 26, 1753, the town officially became a "New Hampshire grant." This meant it was given permission to be a town by the governor of New Hampshire. It was even renamed Fulham for a short time! But later, it went back to being called Dummerston.

Early Life and Industries

Dummerston had many small rivers and streams. These were very important because they provided "water power." This power helped run machines in factories. Dummerston had:

• Five gristmills (which ground grain into flour)
• Five sawmills (which cut wood)
• One factory that made slate
• One shop that made rakes

Raising sheep was also a big job in the hilly areas. By 1859, the town had about 1,645 people. A train line, the Vermont Valley Railroad, also ran through Dummerston, helping people and goods travel.

Famous Residents

A famous writer named Rudyard Kipling lived in Dummerston. He built a house there in 1892 called Naulakha. This is where he wrote some of his most famous books, like The Jungle Books and Captains Courageous.

There was also an old covered bridge built in 1812. It was moved to a museum village called Old Sturbridge Village in 1946.

Geography of Dummerston

Dummerston covers about 30.8 square miles (79.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is next to the Connecticut River, and another river called the West River flows right through it.

Travel and Borders

You can get to Dummerston by major roads like Interstate 91, U.S. Route 5, and Vermont Route 30. Interstate 91 has an exit (Exit 4) that serves the town.

Dummerston shares its borders with several other towns:

• To the south: Brattleboro
• To the west: Marlboro and Newfane
• To the north: Putney and Brookline
• Across the Connecticut River: Chesterfield, New Hampshire

Population Facts

In 2000, there were 1,915 people living in Dummerston. The town had 796 households, and 543 of them were families. About 31.8% of households had children under 18 living there. The average age of people in Dummerston was 42 years old.

Fun Places to Visit

Built in 1872, the West Dummerston Covered Bridge has a floor length of 267 feet (81 m)

Dummerston has some cool places to explore!

West Dummerston Covered Bridge

This bridge is the longest covered bridge in Vermont that people still use. It was built in 1872. The bridge is made of two parts that meet in the middle. Its floor is 267 feet (about 81 meters) long!

Black Mountain Conservation Area

Dummerston is home to the Black Mountain Conservation Area. This is a huge natural area that covers 1,009 acres. Black Mountain rises steeply from the West River. Its highest point is 1,280 feet (about 390 meters) tall. It's a great place for nature lovers.

Rudyard Kipling's Naulakha House

The famous English author Rudyard Kipling built his home, Naulakha, in Dummerston. This is where he wrote his well-known book, The Jungle Book. He even invented a fun sport called Snow Golf there! Today, Naulakha is a museum, and you can even stay overnight. It's considered a National Historic Landmark.

Vermont Theatre Company

The Dummerston Grange is a local building that sometimes hosts the Vermont Theatre Company. They put on plays and shows for the community.

Notable People from Dummerston

Many interesting people have lived in Dummerston, including:

• George Aiken – A U.S. senator and a former governor of Vermont.
• Tom Bodett – An author and a well-known voice for commercials.
• Peter Diamondstone – A lawyer and politician.
• Robert J. Flaherty – A filmmaker and producer.
• Frances H. Flaherty – A screenwriter who was nominated for an Academy Award.
• Rudyard Kipling – The famous English author.
• Ronald Read – A kind person who was a janitor and gas station attendant, but also a very smart investor and gave a lot of money to charity.
• Charles Sweetser – A U.S. congressman.

See also

In Spanish: Dummerston para niños