Thetford, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thetford, Vermont
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
United Church of Thetford
|
|
Located in Orange County, Vermont
|
|
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Chartered | 1761 |
| Communities | East Thetford North Thetford Post Mills Thetford Center Thetford Hill Union Village |
| 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
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,775 |
| • Density | 64/sq mi (24.6/km2) |
| • Households | 1,155 |
| • Families | 707 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-72400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462226 |
Thetford is a town located in Orange County, Vermont, United States. It sits in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley. In 2020, about 2,775 people lived here.
Thetford is made up of several smaller communities, which are like neighborhoods or villages. These include East Thetford, North Thetford, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, Rices Mills, Union Village, and Post Mills. The main town office is found in Thetford Center.
A very important place in Thetford is Thetford Academy. It's the oldest secondary school in Vermont, meaning it's been teaching students for a long time! The town is also home to Camp Farnsworth, a summer camp for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. This camp started way back in 1909 as Camp Hanoum.
Contents
The History of Thetford
How Thetford Was Founded
The town of Thetford was officially created on August 12, 1761. This happened when King George III of Great Britain gave a special document called a royal charter to Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire.
Governor Wentworth named the town after a British nobleman, Augustus Henry Fitzroy. He was the 4th Viscount Thetford and later became the prime minister in 1768.
The first person to settle in Thetford was John Chamberlin in 1764. He lived in East Thetford, right by the Connecticut River. He was working for a group of 62 people who owned parts of the land.
Important Organizations and Places
In 1910, the Camp Fire Girls organization started in Thetford. This group quickly grew and became a national organization across the country within just two years.
Another important place was Gove Hill Retreat, a Christian retreat center. It was founded in Thetford Center in 1966. This center offered a welcoming place for religious, educational, and other non-profit groups. It was located on land first owned by John Gove, who was the first farmer in that area. The retreat closed in 2013.
The Geography of Thetford
Where is Thetford Located?
Thetford covers an area of about 44.2 square miles (114.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 43.6 square miles (112.8 square kilometers), with a small part being water, about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers).
The town's eastern border is the Connecticut River. The Ompompanoosuc River also flows through the town. If you travel by car, you'll find that 
Interstate Highway 91 goes right through Thetford.
The Villages of Thetford
Thetford has six main villages that are part of the town but don't have their own separate governments. These are:
- Thetford Hill
- Thetford Center
- East Thetford
- North Thetford
- Rice Mills
- Post Mills
Population and People of Thetford
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 862 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,478 | 71.5% | |
| 1810 | 1,785 | 20.8% | |
| 1820 | 1,915 | 7.3% | |
| 1830 | 2,113 | 10.3% | |
| 1840 | 2,065 | −2.3% | |
| 1850 | 2,016 | −2.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,876 | −6.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,613 | −14.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,529 | −5.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,287 | −15.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,249 | −3.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,182 | −5.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,089 | −7.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,052 | −3.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,043 | −0.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,046 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,049 | 0.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,422 | 35.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,188 | 53.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,438 | 11.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,617 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,588 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,775 | 7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Thetford?
In 2000, there were 2,617 people living in Thetford. These people lived in 1,032 households, and 730 of those were families. The population density was about 60 people per square mile.
Most people in Thetford are White (97.44%). A smaller number of people are African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people also identify with two or more races. About 0.46% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
Out of all the households, about 36.8% had children under 18 living there. Most households (59.4%) were married couples living together. About 23.2% of households were individuals living alone.
The average household had 2.54 people, and the average family had 3.00 people. The population in Thetford is spread out across different age groups. About 26.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age in Thetford was 39 years old.
Income in Thetford
The average yearly income for a household in Thetford is about $97,359. The median (middle) household income is around $72,292 per year. People aged 25 to 44 tend to earn about $75,833, while those between 45 and 64 earn around $76,964. Younger people (under 25) and older people (over 65) generally earn less.
About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of all people in Thetford live below the poverty line. This includes 8.8% of those under 18 and 6.9% of those 65 or older.
Education and Fun Places in Thetford
Schools in Thetford
Thetford Elementary School is located on Thetford Hill. It teaches students from Kindergarten up to 6th grade. After elementary school, most students go to Thetford Academy for middle and high school. Thetford Academy is a private school, but it receives public funding to educate the town's students.
There's also an independent school called Open Fields School on Thetford Hill. It's an alternative elementary school for children from kindergarten through 6th grade.
Local Attractions
In the village of Post Mills, you can find the historic Post Mills Church. Another unique attraction there is the Vermontasaurus, a very large, interesting sculpture.
Famous People from Thetford
Many notable people have connections to Thetford, including:
- Augustus A. Bird – a state legislator from Wisconsin.
- Malcolm Browne – a journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Mills O. Burnham – born in Thetford, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
- William Closson – a talented artist.
- Ruth Dwyer – a politician who ran for Governor in 1998 and 2000.
- John Eaton – a brigadier general in the military.
- Louise Woodworth Foss – known for her public speaking skills.
- Mahlon Hoagland – a doctor and biochemist who passed away in Thetford.
- Alonzo Jackman – a professor at Norwich University and a brigadier general.
- Eugene Frederick Ladd – another brigadier general.
- Anne Lindbergh – an author and the daughter of famous aviators Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
- Gustavus Loomis – a brigadier general.
- Harvey Newcomb – a clergyman and writer.
- Grace Paley – a fiction writer and poet who won a National Book Award.
- Noel Perrin – an essayist.
- Annie Proulx – a well-known author.
- James S. Shapiro – a professor.
- Henry Wells – a successful businessman who helped start Wells Fargo and American Express.
- Dean Conant Worcester – a zoologist and public official known for his work in the Philippines.
See also
In Spanish: Thetford (Vermont) para niños
