Ryegate, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryegate, Vermont
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Ryegate, Vermont
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 Ryegate, Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Caledonia |
| Chartered | 1763 |
| Communities | East Ryegate Ryegate Corner South Ryegate |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.8 sq mi (95.2 km2) |
| • Land | 36.5 sq mi (94.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,257 ft (383 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,167 |
| • Density | 32/sq mi (12.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-61525 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462195 |
Ryegate is a small town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. In 2020, about 1,165 people lived there. The town includes the small communities of South Ryegate, East Ryegate, and Ryegate Corner.
Contents
History of Ryegate
Ryegate was officially created on September 8, 1763. Governor Benning Wentworth gave the land to Richard Jenness and 93 other people. The town was named Ryegate, which is a different spelling of Reigate in England.
The first settlers to arrive were Aaron Hosmer and his family. Later, in 1773, a group from Scotland bought the southern part of the town. These Scottish farmers started settling in Ryegate in 1774.
Early Life and Industries
The land in Ryegate was very good for farming. People grew grains, vegetables, and fruit in orchards. The streams were full of fish like salmon and trout. The hills and valleys were perfect for raising sheep and cattle.
In 1847, a railroad line connected Ryegate to other areas. By 1859, the town was known for making butter and leather. The Wells River provided power for mills. These mills included one for grinding grain and five for cutting wood.
Another railroad, the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad, was finished in 1873. A large brickyard opened in 1890, making bricks for buildings. In 1906, the Ryegate Paper Company started making paper. However, the most important industry in town was the six granite quarries at Blue Mountain. These quarries dug out stone for building.
Geography of Ryegate
Ryegate covers about 95.2 square kilometers (36.7 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 94.5 square kilometers (36.5 square miles). A small part, about 0.8 square kilometers (0.3 square miles), is water.
The Connecticut River forms the eastern border of Ryegate. This river is also the boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire. The Wells River flows through Ryegate. Blue Mountain is the highest point in the town, reaching about 668 meters (2,192 feet) above sea level.
Roads and Borders
Major roads like Interstate 91, U.S. Route 5, and U.S. Route 302 pass through Ryegate. The town shares its borders with several other towns:
- To the south: Newbury
- To the west: Groton
- To the north: Barnet
- To the east (across the Connecticut River): Bath, New Hampshire
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 187 | — | |
| 1800 | 406 | 117.1% | |
| 1810 | 812 | 100.0% | |
| 1820 | 994 | 22.4% | |
| 1830 | 1,119 | 12.6% | |
| 1840 | 1,222 | 9.2% | |
| 1850 | 1,606 | 31.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,098 | −31.6% | |
| 1870 | 935 | −14.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,046 | 11.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,126 | 7.6% | |
| 1900 | 995 | −11.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,194 | 20.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,188 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,216 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,105 | −9.1% | |
| 1950 | 996 | −9.9% | |
| 1960 | 894 | −10.2% | |
| 1970 | 830 | −7.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,000 | 20.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,058 | 5.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,150 | 8.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,174 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,165 | −0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 1,150 people living in Ryegate. These people lived in 435 households, with 324 of them being families. The town had about 12.1 people per square kilometer (31.4 per square mile).
Most of the people in Ryegate were White (98.35%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.17% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Household Details
Out of all the households, 31.3% had children under 18 living there. About 61.8% of households were married couples. Around 7.4% had a female head of household without a husband. About 19.8% of households were single individuals.
The average household had 2.64 people. The average family had 3.05 people.
Age and Income
The population of Ryegate was spread out by age:
- 25.2% were under 18 years old.
- 7.0% were between 18 and 24.
- 24.6% were between 25 and 44.
- 28.4% were between 45 and 64.
- 14.7% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Ryegate was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were about 107 males.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Ryegate was $36,761. For families, the average income was $41,607. About 5.9% of all people and 3.3% of families lived below the poverty line. This included 6.2% of those under 18 and 5.2% of those 65 or older.
Education in Ryegate
The Blue Mountain Union School (BMU) serves students from Ryegate. This school teaches students from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. All grades are in one building. In the 2017–2018 school year, 419 students attended BMU. The school is located on Route 302, near Interstate-91.
School District History
The Blue Mountain Union School District was created in November 1964. It brought together the school districts from Wells River, Groton, and Ryegate. This merger led to the closing of five local schools: Groton School, Wells River School, South Ryegate School, Ryegate Corner School, and East Ryegate School.
The merger also meant that high school students in Ryegate would attend the new union high school. Even though the merger was approved in 1964, there were legal challenges. The new school building did not open until 1970.
On July 1, 2018, the State Board of Education temporarily moved the Blue Mountain Union School District. It became part of the Orange East Supervisory Union. This change happened because of a state law about school district mergers.
Notable People from Ryegate
- Alexander Dunnett – He was a lawyer who served as the US Attorney for Vermont. He also led the Vermont Bar Association and was a Vermont State Senator.
- John Zampieri – He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, which is part of the state's government.
See also
In Spanish: Ryegate (Vermont) para niños
