Plainfield, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plainfield, Vermont
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Grace United Methodist Church
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Location in Washington County and the state of Vermont
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 Plainfield, Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Washington |
| Communities | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.1 sq mi (54.5 km2) |
| • Land | 21.0 sq mi (54.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,096 ft (334 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,236 |
| • Density | 58.58/sq mi (22.679/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
05667 (Plainfield)
05641 (Barre) |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-55825 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462175 |
Plainfield is a small town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It became an official town in 1867. In 2020, about 1,236 people lived there. Plainfield is also home to Goddard College, a unique school.
Contents
Geography
Plainfield is located at 44°16′41″N 72°25′37″W / 44.27806°N 72.42694°W. The town covers about 21.0 square miles (54.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.
The main village of Plainfield is in the northern part of the town. It sits along the Winooski River and U.S. Route 2. Goddard College is just west of this village. As you go east from the village, the land rises. The highest point is Spruce Mountain, which is about 3,030 feet (924 meters) high. It is part of Groton State Forest.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 256 | — | |
| 1810 | 543 | 112.1% | |
| 1820 | 660 | 21.5% | |
| 1830 | 874 | 32.4% | |
| 1840 | 880 | 0.7% | |
| 1850 | 808 | −8.2% | |
| 1860 | 822 | 1.7% | |
| 1870 | 726 | −11.7% | |
| 1880 | 729 | 0.4% | |
| 1890 | 745 | 2.2% | |
| 1900 | 716 | −3.9% | |
| 1910 | 785 | 9.6% | |
| 1920 | 781 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 766 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 832 | 8.6% | |
| 1950 | 945 | 13.6% | |
| 1960 | 966 | 2.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,399 | 44.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,249 | −10.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,302 | 4.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,286 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,243 | −3.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,236 | −0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,286 people living in Plainfield. There were 487 households, which are groups of people living together. About 317 of these were families. The town had about 61 people per square mile (23.6 per square kilometer).
Many households (37%) had children under 18 living with them. About half of the households (48.9%) were couples. Some households (10.9%) had a female head without a husband. The average household had 2.42 people.
The people in Plainfield were spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years. This means half the people were younger than 36 and half were older.
Culture
Plainfield might seem like many other small towns in New England. However, it has a special feeling that makes it different. Goddard College has brought many people with open-minded ideas to the town. Some famous people who studied at Goddard College include Mumia Abu-Jamal, members of the band Phish, and writer David Mamet. Plainfield was also home to Dennis Murphy, a composer.
The town has a few cool places to visit. You can find two restaurants, one for pizza and another cafe. There's also a community food co-op where you can buy local products. A used bookshop and a community garden are also in the village. The town has a unique public library called the Cutler Memorial Library. Plainfield is also home to the historic Allenwood Farm.
Plainfield is not a big tourist spot like Stowe or Woodstock. Its businesses mainly serve the people who live there. There are active local groups like the Plainfield Historical Society. They help organize fun community events, such as the yearly Old Home Days.
Plainfield still shows the influence of the "back-to-the-land movement" from the 1960s. This was when many people moved to rural areas to live simply and grow their own food. Many of these people stayed and still run organic farms. This older generation now works with younger people who are interested in sustainable farming.
Even though Goddard College has faced challenges, the town still has a strong spirit of community. People in Plainfield often work together and support each other. For example, in 2013, the town raised the most money per person for Vermont Public Radio. Because of this, they won an Ice Cream Social from Ben and Jerry's. The radio station at Goddard College, WGDR, is still an important voice for the community. The Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, built around 1841, is a popular place for concerts and shows.
Notable people
Many interesting people have lived in Plainfield:
- Trey Anastasio, a musician and lead singer for the band Phish.
- Piers Anthony, a writer known for science fiction and fantasy books.
- Mary Azarian, an artist who creates woodcuts and illustrates children's books.
- Robert M. Fisher, an artist.
- James Gahagan, an artist.
- Louise Gluck, a poet who won the Nobel Prize.
- William H. Macy, an actor, teacher, and director.
- David Mamet, a playwright, screenwriter, and director.
- Page McConnell, a musician and keyboardist for Phish.
- Dennis Murphy, a composer and musician.
- Archie Shepp, a jazz saxophonist.
- Thomas Yamamoto, an artist.
Did you know that the village of Plainfield, Wisconsin was named after Plainfield, Vermont? Its postmaster, Elijah C. Waterman, wanted to honor his hometown.
See also
In Spanish: Plainfield (Vermont) para niños
