Westminster (town), Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westminster, Vermont
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Westminster Town Hall
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Westminster, Vermont
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 Westminster (town), Vermont
Location in Vermont
Westminster (town), Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Windham |
| Settled | 1751 |
| Chartered | November 9, 1752 |
| Communities |
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| Elevation | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,016 |
| • Density | 66/sq mi (25.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| Website | www.westminstervt.org/ |
Westminster is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. In 2020, about 3,016 people lived there. It was once the first capital of the Republic of Vermont. The town is located right next to the state of New Hampshire.
Contents
History of Westminster
Westminster is the oldest town in Vermont that still exists today. It was first given its official papers, called a charter, in 1735 by the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Back then, it was known as New Taunton or Township Number One.
No one lived there permanently until 1751. Then, settlers from New Hampshire arrived. The town officially became part of the Province of New Hampshire on November 9, 1752. This made it the third town chartered by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River.
Later, the British government said that the Province of New York owned the land that is now Vermont. So, New York moved its court for Cumberland County to Westminster in 1772.
In March 1775, an event called the Westminster massacre happened here. Two men were killed while trying to stop officials from New York from taking control. This was part of a long argument over land called the New Hampshire Grants.
On January 15, 1777, a group of Vermonters met in the Westminster courthouse. They decided to declare their independence. They formed the Republic of New Connecticut, which was later renamed the Republic of Vermont.
Westminster's Geography
Westminster covers a total area of about 46.1 square miles (119.4 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Getting Around Westminster
Several important roads pass through Westminster. These include Interstate 91 (you can get off at Exit 5 to reach the town), U.S. Route 5, Vermont Route 121, and Vermont Route 123.
The New England Central Railroad also has tracks running through the town. The Amtrak passenger train, Vermonter, goes through Westminster. However, it does not stop in the town. The closest train stations are Bellows Falls to the north and Brattleboro to the south.
People of Westminster
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,601 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,942 | 21.3% | |
| 1810 | 1,925 | −0.9% | |
| 1820 | 1,974 | 2.5% | |
| 1830 | 1,737 | −12.0% | |
| 1840 | 1,546 | −11.0% | |
| 1850 | 1,721 | 11.3% | |
| 1860 | 1,300 | −24.5% | |
| 1870 | 1,238 | −4.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,377 | 11.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,265 | −8.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,295 | 2.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,327 | 2.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,289 | −2.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,324 | 2.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,403 | 6.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,400 | −0.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,602 | 14.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,875 | 17.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,493 | 33.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,026 | 21.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,210 | 6.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,178 | −1.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,016 | −5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,210 people living in Westminster. These people lived in 1,246 households, and 843 of these were families. The population density was about 69.7 people per square mile (26.9 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in Westminster were White (97.73%). A small number of people were Black or African American (0.40%), Native American (0.28%), or Asian (0.22%). Some people (1.03%) were from two or more races. About 0.69% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Out of all the households, 34.6% had children under 18 living with them. Most households (55.5%) were married couples living together. About 8.8% of households had a female head with no husband present.
The average household had about 2.58 people. The average family had about 3.06 people.
The median age in the town was 38 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38, and half were older. About 27.3% of the population was under 18 years old.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,263. For families, the median income was $49,615. About 10.0% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 10.8% of those under 18 and 8.1% of those 65 or older.
Notable People from Westminster
- Fanny Allen: She was the daughter of Ethan Allen. She became a nun after a religious experience while living in Westminster.
- Jerome Allen: An educator and author.
- Stephen R. Bradley: A US Senator who represented Vermont.
- William Czar Bradley: A US Representative from Vermont.
- Edmund Burke: A US Representative from New Hampshire.
- Joseph Dorr Clapp: A Wisconsin State Senator, farmer, and businessman. He was born in Westminster.
- Lot Hall: A Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
- Hiram Pratt: A mayor of Buffalo, New York.
- Mark Richards: A US Congressman and the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
Images for kids
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Westminster is mostly rural in nature
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I-91 in Westminster
See also
In Spanish: Westminster (Vermont) para niños
