Stowe, Vermont facts for kids

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Stowe, Vermont

Town

Stowe Community Church

Seal

Nickname(s):

The Ski Capital of the East

Stowe, Vermont

Location in the United States

Country

United States

Communities

Stowe
Lower Village
Moscow
Stowe Fork
West Branch

Government

• Type

Select board

Area

• Total

72.76 sq mi (188.45 km²)

• Land

72.60 sq mi (188.03 km²)

• Water

0.16 sq mi (0.42 km²)

Elevation

889 ft (271 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

5,223

• Density

72/sq mi (27.8/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code

05672

Area code(s)

802

FIPS code

50-70525

Stowe is a fun town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. About 5,223 people lived there in 2020. You can find Stowe on Vermont Routes 108 and 100.

Stowe is often called "The Ski Capital of the East." It's home to Stowe Mountain Resort, a popular place for skiing. This resort has slopes on Mount Mansfield, which is the tallest mountain in Vermont, and also on Spruce Peak.

Stowe Town Hall

Stowe's Past: A Look at Its History

The first people to live in the area that is now Vermont were the Abenaki people. They spoke a language called Algonquian. Later, British settlers moved into the area after the French and Indian War. This led to the Abenaki people being forced to move.

How Stowe Began

Stowe was officially created on June 8, 1763. This was done by Royal Governor Benning Wentworth from the Province of New Hampshire. Vermont became a U.S. state in 1791. More settlers arrived in Stowe just two years later. By the early 1800s, most of the land in Stowe had been sold. The town's population grew to 316 people.

Farms and Forests in Early Stowe

In its early days, Stowe was mostly about farming and cutting down trees. More than 75% of the land in Stowe, and much of Vermont, was open land. This land was cleared for lumber and used for farming. Sheep farming was very popular. At one time, up to 8,000 sheep grazed on the hills and in the valleys of Stowe.

Over time, farming in Stowe changed, just like in the rest of New England. Many farms in Vermont switched from raising sheep to dairy cows. Stowe alone had over 100 dairy farms. Today, only a few of these farms are still working. Because of these changes, about 75% of the cleared land grew back into forests.

Stowe Becomes a Tourist Spot

Stowe was different from many other Vermont towns because it wasn't just about farming. By the mid-1800s, it was already a well-known summer vacation spot. People loved its beautiful mountain views.

The Summit House was built on top of Mt. Mansfield just before the American Civil War. A special road, called the Toll Road, was built to reach it by 1870. At that time, a huge hotel called the Mansfield House was in the town. This hotel, also known as the "Big Hotel," burned down in 1889.

Next to the hotel was a large stable with over 100 horses. In 1953, this barn was taken down because of fire worries. Some of its original wooden beams were used to build The Whip Bar & Grill. The Depot Building, near the Green Mountain Inn, was built in 1897. It was for the Mt. Mansfield Electric Railway. This train ran 11 miles between Waterbury and Stowe. It carried people and goods until 1932.

Winter Fun and Skiing in Stowe

Summer tourism was very important to Stowe's economy, even through the First World War. In 1921, Stowe held its first Winter Carnival. It had ski jumping, ice skating, and other fun activities.

During the Great Depression, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps set up camps in Stowe. They started clearing paths for skiing on Mt. Mansfield. This helped Stowe become one of the first major places for downhill skiing in the United States. The Bruce Trail was the first ski trail built in 1933. It is now part of the Mt. Mansfield Ski Touring trail system. The Nose Dive, another ski trail, was made in 1934.

In the early days, skiers had to hike 2.5 miles to the top of the mountain. But then, chairlifts made it much easier. The first single chairlift opened in 1940. This chairlift was used until 1986, when a faster, modern chairlift replaced it.

The Vermont Ski Museum started in 1988 and moved to Stowe in 2000. It shares the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont. Today, Stowe is still a top resort town for both summer and winter fun.

Stowe's Location: Understanding its Geography

Topographic map of the region around Stowe

Stowe is located in the southern part of Lamoille County. It sits in a wide, fertile valley. To the west are Mount Mansfield and other peaks of the Green Mountains. To the east is the Worcester Range.

The town shares its western border with Chittenden County. It borders Washington County to the south and east. The main village of Stowe is in the east-central part of the town. It's located along the Little River, where its West Branch joins it. The Little River flows south past the village of Moscow. It then goes into the Waterbury Reservoir. This large reservoir was made by a dam in Waterbury and reaches into Stowe.

How to Get Around Stowe: Transportation

Vermont Route 100 goes through Stowe from north to south, passing through the main village. VT 100 goes north about 9 miles to Morrisville. It goes south about 10 miles to Waterbury. Vermont Route 108 starts in Stowe village. It goes northwest through Smugglers Notch about 17 miles to Jeffersonville.

Stowe is a large town by area. It covers about 188.5 square kilometers (72.8 square miles). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It is the second-largest town in Vermont by area.

Stowe's Weather: A Look at the Climate

Stowe has a "continental climate." This means it has warm summers and cold winters. It gets rain and snow throughout the year.

Weather on Mount Mansfield

Mount Mansfield has very cold winters and mild summers. It can get very cold, sometimes below -35 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in summer, it can feel humid. The highest temperature recorded was about 89.5 degrees Fahrenheit. July usually has the most thunderstorms. Heavy snowstorms are common from late fall to early spring.

Weather at The Lodge at Spruce Peak

The Lodge at Spruce Peak also has cold winters and warm summers. The coldest temperature recorded was about -35.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers can be warm and humid, with temperatures sometimes reaching almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Thunderstorms are most common in July. Snowstorms with a foot or more of snow happen often from December to March.

Weather in Stowe Village

Stowe village has warm summers and cold winters. Summers can be hot and humid, with temperatures sometimes over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest temperature recorded was about 94.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest was about -35.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Thunderstorms are most common in July. Large snowstorms, with 12 inches or more of snow, happen once or twice each winter.

Nature in Stowe: Understanding its Ecology

Stowe's natural plant life depends on where you are in the town.

Plants on Mount Mansfield

Mount Mansfield is mostly covered by Spruce and Fir trees. These are evergreen trees. The flowers usually bloom in late May. The leaves change color in late September.

Plants at The Lodge at Spruce Peak

The Lodge at Spruce Peak also has many Spruce and Fir trees. Flowers here usually bloom in mid-May. The fall colors are best in late September.

Plants in Stowe Village

Stowe village has a mix of Northern Hardwood trees and Spruce trees. Hardwood trees lose their leaves in the fall. Spring flowers typically bloom in early May. The fall colors are usually at their peak in late September.

Who Lives in Stowe: Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	316	—
1810	650	105.7%
1820	957	47.2%
1830	1,570	64.1%
1840	1,371	−12.7%
1850	1,771	29.2%
1860	2,046	15.5%
1870	2,049	0.1%
1880	1,896	−7.5%
1890	1,886	−0.5%
1900	1,926	2.1%
1910	1,991	3.4%
1920	1,800	−9.6%
1930	1,654	−8.1%
1940	1,741	5.3%
1950	1,720	−1.2%
1960	1,901	10.5%
1970	2,388	25.6%
1980	2,991	25.3%
1990	3,433	14.8%
2000	4,339	26.4%
2010	4,314	−0.6%
2020	5,223	21.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 4,339 people living in Stowe. These people lived in 1,905 households, with 1,129 being families. The town had about 59.7 people per square mile. Most of the people (97.51%) were White.

About 26.1% of households had children under 18. About half of the households (50.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.27 people. The average family had 2.83 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 21.1% were under 18. About 13.5% were 65 or older. The average age was 41 years.

Stowe's Economy

Stowe has had some factories in the past, like the Tubbs Snowshoe factory. However, this factory closed in 2009 and moved its production overseas.

In 2012, the average value of a house in Stowe was $412,183.

Fun Things to Do in Stowe: Points of Interest

Trapp Family Lodge: A famous lodge with a unique history.
Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum: Learn about the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont.
Stowe Mountain Resort: This is "The Ski Capital of the East." It's known for its winter sports. The resort has 117 ski runs on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. It also has 13 ski lifts.
Stowe Recreation Path: This is a great trail for walking, running, and biking. It's about 5.3 miles long. The path goes from downtown Stowe village to the TopNotch Lodge. It has won several awards.
Cady Hill Forest: This forest is on the western edge of Stowe village. It has over 11 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. The Stowe Mountain Bike Club helps take care of these trails.

Learning in Stowe: Education

The middle and high school are adjacent.

Stowe has three public schools: Stowe Elementary School, Stowe Middle School, and Stowe High School. There is also the Mount Mansfield Winter Academy in Stowe. This school focuses on helping young snow sport athletes with their education.

Protecting Land: Stowe Land Trust

The Stowe Land Trust is a local group that works to protect land. It started in 1987. They have protected 35 properties, covering over 4,500 acres. Many of these places are open for the public to enjoy. One example is Wiessner Woods, which was protected in 1992.

News and Radio in Stowe: Media

The Stowe Reporter is the local weekly newspaper. It covers news about politics, businesses, arts, and people in Stowe. It has been published since 1958. The company that owns the Stowe Reporter is based in Stowe.

Radio station WCVT is also located in Stowe. It plays classic hit songs.

Famous People from Stowe

Walter J. Bigelow: A former mayor of Burlington.
Jake Burton Carpenter: The founder and CEO of Burton Snowboards.
Rusty DeWees: A comedian, actor, and writer.
Joseph Dutton: A missionary who worked with Father Damien.
William "Billy" Kidd: The first American man to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing.
Joe Kirkwood Sr.: A professional golfer.
Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson: An investor and Greek Orthodox Priest.
Graham Mink: A former professional ice hockey player.
Tiger Shaw: An Olympic alpine ski racer and former President of U.S.S.A.
Joseph Skinger: An artisan.
Ken Squier: A well-known commentator for NASCAR races.
Maria von Trapp: The mother of the famous Trapp Family Singers.
Ty Walker: The youngest member of the 2014 US Olympic Slopestyle Snowboard team.
Fritz Wiessner: A pioneer in free climbing.

Images for kids

Stowe Community Church
Shaw's general store lies opposite the Town Hall
Mount Mansfield is the highest point in the state of Vermont, and home to the Stowe Mountain Resort
Trapp Family Lodge