Stowe, Vermont | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: The Ski Capital of the East | |
| Motto: Small town kids | |
 Stowe, Vermont | |
  Stowe, Vermont Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°28′31″N72°42′8″W / 44.47528°N 72.70222°W /44.47528; -72.70222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Vermont |
| County | Lamoille |
| 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) |
| Demonym | Stowner |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 05672 |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-70525[3] |
| Website | www |
Stowe is atown inLamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,223 at the2020 census.[4] The town lies on Vermont Routes108 and100. It is nicknamed "The Ski Capital of the East" and is home toStowe Mountain Resort, a ski facility with terrain onMount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, and Spruce Peak.
The indigenous people who lived in the area now called Vermont were primarilyAbenaki, who spokeAlgonquian. They were forced aside by strategies of displacement after primarily British settlers flooded into the area after theFrench and Indian War.[5] There are no surviving names from the original language, which was most likelyMahican, an Algonquian dialect akin to Abenaki.[5]
Stowe was chartered on June 8, 1763, by Royal GovernorBenning Wentworth of theProvince of New Hampshire.[6] Vermont became a U.S. state in 1791. Two years later more settlers arrived in Stowe. By the turn of the nineteenth century, the majority of the town's property had been sold, and its population had risen to 316.
Stowe's early years were dominated by the farm and lumber industries. Over 75 percent of the land in Stowe and most of Vermont used to be open terrain cleared by lumber production and used for agriculture, particularlysheep farming. In those days, up to 8000 sheep grazed the Stowe hills and valleys.[7]
Stowe's agricultural fortunes changed alongside those of the rest ofNew England. Most of Vermont eventually switched from sheep to dairy farms, with more than 100 farms in Stowe alone. Only nine of these farms are still operational today.[when?][citation needed] This move allowed 75 percent of the cleared area to reforest over time.[7]
Unlike much of the rest of Vermont, Stowe's past was not centered solely on agriculture. It had become a well-known summer resort by the mid-nineteenth century, thanks to its mountain scenery.[7]
The Summit House atopMt. Mansfield was constructed just before theAmerican Civil War broke out. The Toll Road to reach it followed by 1870. At that time the 300-room Mansfield House occupied the majority of the settlement. The latter, often known as the "Big Hotel," burned down in 1889. Behind it lay a vast stable with over 100 horses, equipment, carriages, and stable hands. In 1953, the barn was demolished over fire concern, and several of the original beams were repurposed in the construction of The Whip Bar & Grill. The Depot Building located next to theGreen Mountain Inn was erected in 1897 for the Mt. Mansfield Electric Railway. Running the 11 miles between Waterbury and Stowe, it carried both passengers and freight until 1932.[7]
Through theFirst World War, summer tourism remained crucial to Stowe's economy. Stowe had its inaugural Winter Carnival in 1921, including ski jumping, skating, and a variety of other enjoyable activities. TheCivilian Conservation Corps erected camps and began clearing ski tracks on Mt. Mansfield during theGreat Depression, leading to Stowe becoming an early mecca fordownhill skiing in the United States. The Bruce Trail, which ran from the current site of the Octagon to Ranch Camp, was the first built in 1933. The Mt. Mansfield Ski Touring trail system now includes this trail as well. The Nose Dive, the next ski trail, was created in 1934. Skiers used to trek the 2.5 miles to the summit in the early days. Chairlifts, which began with a single chair in 1940, overtook rope tows as the more convenient way. The chair was in service until 1986, when it was replaced with a high-speed detachable quad.[7]
The Vermont Ski Museum was founded in 1988, and relocated to Stowe in 2000. It contains information and artifacts on the history of skiing and snowboarding in Vermont.[7]
Stowe remains a premier Eastern resort town, summer and winter.
Stowe is in southernLamoille County, lying in a broad, fertile valley betweenMount Mansfield and other peaks of theGreen Mountains to the west, and the Worcester Range to the east. The town is bordered byChittenden County to the west andWashington County to the south and east. Thevillage of Stowe sits in the east-central part of the town, along the Little River where it is joined by its West Branch. The Little River, a tributary of theWinooski, flows southward past the village ofMoscow and into Waterbury Reservoir, a large reservoir created by a flood control dam inWaterbury but which extends north into the Stowe town limits.[8]
Vermont Route 100 crosses the town from north to south, passing through the village of Stowe. VT 100 leads north 9 miles (14 km) toMorrisville and south 10 miles (16 km) toWaterbury.Vermont Route 108 has its southern terminus in Stowe village and leads northwest throughSmugglers Notch 17 miles (27 km) toJeffersonville in theLamoille River valley.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 72.8 square miles (188.5 km2), of which 72.6 square miles (188.0 km2) are land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.23%, are water.[1] By area, it is the second-largest town in the state of Vermont afterChittenden inRutland County.
According to theTrewartha climate classification system:
Mount Mansfield has a temperatecontinental climate (Dc) with mild summers (l), very cold winters (c) and year-around precipitation (Dclc).Dclc climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ −10.0 °C (14.0 °F), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 10.0 °C (50.0 °F), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are humid on Mount Mansfield, episodes of warmth and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 27 °C (81 °F). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 31.9 °C (89.5 °F) on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average meandew point was 21.0 °C (69.8 °F) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.74 inches (146 mm) on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −32.6 °C (−26.7 °F).[9] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −37.6 °C (−35.6 °F) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values below −41 °C (−42 °F).Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow are frequent from late-fall to early-spring.
| Climate data for Mount Mansfield, Elevation 3,999 ft (1,219 m), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 56.0 (13.3) | 63.7 (17.6) | 75.6 (24.2) | 82.4 (28.0) | 84.5 (29.2) | 88.5 (31.4) | 89.5 (31.9) | 89.0 (31.7) | 88.0 (31.1) | 75.1 (23.9) | 65.7 (18.7) | 59.8 (15.4) | 89.5 (31.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 20.1 (−6.6) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 40.7 (4.8) | 54.1 (12.3) | 62.5 (16.9) | 66.3 (19.1) | 64.8 (18.2) | 58.9 (14.9) | 45.9 (7.7) | 33.4 (0.8) | 24.0 (−4.4) | 43.0 (6.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 10.7 (−11.8) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 32.4 (0.2) | 45.7 (7.6) | 54.9 (12.7) | 59.3 (15.2) | 57.8 (14.3) | 51.5 (10.8) | 39.1 (3.9) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 17.2 (−8.2) | 35.6 (2.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 2.7 (−16.3) | 4.2 (−15.4) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 24.2 (−4.3) | 37.4 (3.0) | 47.2 (8.4) | 52.2 (11.2) | 50.8 (10.4) | 44.1 (6.7) | 32.4 (0.2) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 10.5 (−11.9) | 28.2 (−2.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35.6 (−37.6) | −34.4 (−36.9) | −21.6 (−29.8) | 1.3 (−17.1) | 19.3 (−7.1) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 37.6 (3.1) | 32.9 (0.5) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 15.4 (−9.2) | −6.9 (−21.6) | −26.7 (−32.6) | −35.6 (−37.6) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.66 (144) | 5.50 (140) | 5.88 (149) | 6.41 (163) | 6.96 (177) | 8.43 (214) | 7.27 (185) | 6.69 (170) | 7.31 (186) | 7.39 (188) | 6.40 (163) | 6.76 (172) | 80.66 (2,051) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 86.6 | 87.5 | 71.8 | 62.6 | 65.2 | 71.5 | 76.6 | 77.9 | 78.5 | 75.0 | 77.9 | 87.7 | 76.5 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 6.8 (−14.0) | 10.0 (−12.2) | 13.8 (−10.1) | 23.8 (−4.6) | 36.7 (2.6) | 47.5 (8.6) | 53.6 (12.0) | 52.8 (11.6) | 46.3 (7.9) | 33.3 (0.7) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 12.7 (−10.7) | 30.0 (−1.1) |
| Source: PRISM[10] | |||||||||||||
The Lodge at Spruce Peak has a temperatecontinental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo).Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 0.0 °C (32.0 °F), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 10.0 °C (50.0 °F), all months with an average mean temperature < 22.2 °C (72.0 °F) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are humid at The Lodge at Spruce Peak, episodes of warmth and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 31 °C (88 °F). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average meandew point was 20.9 °C (69.7 °F) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.62 inches (143 mm) on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −30.9 °C (−23.7 °F).[9] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −37.7 °C (−35.8 °F) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −39 °C (−38 °F).Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 30 centimetres (12 in) of snow are somewhat frequent from December through March.
| Climate data for The Lodge at Spruce Peak, Elevation 1,673 ft (510 m), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 56.6 (13.7) | 64.4 (18.0) | 76.0 (24.4) | 82.3 (27.9) | 84.6 (29.2) | 88.8 (31.6) | 89.8 (32.1) | 89.1 (31.7) | 88.0 (31.1) | 75.2 (24.0) | 66.2 (19.0) | 60.5 (15.8) | 89.8 (32.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 35.7 (2.1) | 48.7 (9.3) | 62.3 (16.8) | 70.6 (21.4) | 75.0 (23.9) | 73.5 (23.1) | 66.7 (19.3) | 53.2 (11.8) | 40.6 (4.8) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 50.6 (10.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.5 (−9.2) | 17.7 (−7.9) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 39.5 (4.2) | 52.6 (11.4) | 61.1 (16.2) | 65.7 (18.7) | 64.1 (17.8) | 57.0 (13.9) | 44.9 (7.2) | 33.4 (0.8) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 41.7 (5.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.0 (−13.9) | 8.2 (−13.2) | 17.4 (−8.1) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 42.8 (6.0) | 51.7 (10.9) | 56.4 (13.6) | 54.8 (12.7) | 47.2 (8.4) | 36.7 (2.6) | 26.2 (−3.2) | 15.2 (−9.3) | 32.8 (0.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35.8 (−37.7) | −34.0 (−36.7) | −21.7 (−29.8) | 2.3 (−16.5) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 37.7 (3.2) | 32.8 (0.4) | 22.2 (−5.4) | 15.6 (−9.1) | −6.5 (−21.4) | −26.4 (−32.4) | −35.8 (−37.7) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.38 (111) | 4.02 (102) | 4.55 (116) | 5.05 (128) | 5.42 (138) | 6.49 (165) | 5.98 (152) | 5.48 (139) | 5.60 (142) | 6.17 (157) | 5.06 (129) | 5.30 (135) | 63.5 (1,614) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 82.0 | 77.7 | 70.3 | 63.8 | 63.1 | 70.2 | 74.3 | 74.4 | 75.3 | 76.3 | 79.0 | 85.0 | 74.3 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 10.7 (−11.8) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 40.5 (4.7) | 51.6 (10.9) | 57.1 (13.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 48.4 (9.1) | 37.3 (2.9) | 27.5 (−2.5) | 17.2 (−8.2) | 33.9 (1.1) |
| Source: PRISM[10] | |||||||||||||
Stowe village has a temperatecontinental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo).Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid at Stowe village, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 92 °F (33 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 94.7 °F (34.8 °C) on 07/09/1988, and the highest daily average meandew point was 71.9 °F (22.2 °C) on 07/01/2018. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 4.65 inches (118 mm) on 08/28/2011. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −25.2 °F (−31.8 °C).[9] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −35.1 °F (−37.3 °C) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −40 °F (−40 °C).Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once or twice per winter.
| Climate data for Stowe Village, Elevation 791 ft (241 m), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1981–2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61.3 (16.3) | 68.5 (20.3) | 79.5 (26.4) | 86.3 (30.2) | 88.7 (31.5) | 93.5 (34.2) | 94.7 (34.8) | 93.1 (33.9) | 91.3 (32.9) | 78.4 (25.8) | 71.1 (21.7) | 65.1 (18.4) | 94.7 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 38.8 (3.8) | 52.8 (11.6) | 65.8 (18.8) | 74.4 (23.6) | 78.7 (25.9) | 77.2 (25.1) | 69.0 (20.6) | 55.9 (13.3) | 43.6 (6.4) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 53.7 (12.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 41.8 (5.4) | 53.5 (11.9) | 62.8 (17.1) | 67.2 (19.6) | 65.6 (18.7) | 57.6 (14.2) | 45.6 (7.6) | 35.1 (1.7) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 43.0 (6.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.6 (−14.7) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 17.2 (−8.2) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 41.3 (5.2) | 51.3 (10.7) | 55.7 (13.2) | 53.9 (12.2) | 46.1 (7.8) | 35.2 (1.8) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 32.2 (0.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35.1 (−37.3) | −32.0 (−35.6) | −20.5 (−29.2) | 6.8 (−14.0) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 38.1 (3.4) | 34.5 (1.4) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 16.9 (−8.4) | −3.9 (−19.9) | −24.3 (−31.3) | −35.1 (−37.3) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.68 (68) | 2.42 (61) | 2.86 (73) | 3.18 (81) | 3.83 (97) | 4.11 (104) | 4.45 (113) | 4.47 (114) | 3.51 (89) | 4.39 (112) | 3.61 (92) | 3.24 (82) | 42.75 (1,086) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 75.7 | 73.4 | 67.7 | 61.4 | 63.5 | 68.8 | 71.1 | 72.7 | 74.6 | 73.2 | 75.7 | 80.1 | 71.5 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 9.5 (−12.5) | 11.6 (−11.3) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 29.5 (−1.4) | 41.4 (5.2) | 52.4 (11.3) | 57.5 (14.2) | 56.6 (13.7) | 49.6 (9.8) | 37.5 (3.1) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 17.2 (−8.2) | 34.2 (1.2) |
| Source: PRISM[10] | |||||||||||||
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types:
Mount Mansfield has a dominant vegetation type of NortheastSpruce/Fir (96) with a dominant vegetation form of NorthernConifer forest (22).[11] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. Theplant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −26.7 °F (−32.6 °C).[9]
The Lodge at Spruce Peak has a dominant vegetation type of NortheastSpruce/Fir (96) with a dominant vegetation form of NorthernConifer forest (22).[11] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in mid-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. Theplant hardiness zone is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −30.9 °C (−23.7 °F).[9]
Stowe village has a dominant vegetation type of Northern [Hardwood]s/[Spruce] (108) with a dominant vegetation form of NorthernHardwoods (23).[11] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in early-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. Theplant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −31.8 °C (−25.2 °F).[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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[12] | |||
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, there were 4339 people, 1905 households, and 1129 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 59.7 people per square mile (23.1/km2). There were 2,728 housing units at an average density of 37.5 per square mile (14.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.51%White, 0.28%African American, 0.37%Native American, 0.44%Asian, 0.23% fromother races, and 1.18% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 1,905 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% weremarried couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
There has been some manufacturing in Stowe, such as the Tubbs Snowshoe factory, but it closed in 2009 and moved its manufacturing overseas.[13]
The median income for a household in the town was $52,378, and the median income for a family was $64,700. Males had a median income of $37,788 versus $31,689 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $35,474. About 3.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[3] The median house value was $412,183 in 2012.[14]
There are three public schools in town: Stowe Elementary School, Stowe Middle School, and Stowe High School. The Mount Mansfield Winter Academy is located in Stowe, which has a focus on snow sport athletes.
Stowe Land Trust is a local land conservation nonprofit that was founded in 1987 and has conserved 35 properties and over 18 square kilometres (4500 acres), many of which are available to the public. One is Wiessner Woods, conserved by the trust in 1992 through a donation from theWiessner family.[20]
TheStowe Reporter, covering local politics, business, arts, and personalities, has been the weekly newspaper of record for the town of Stowe since its founding in 1958. TheVermont Community Newspaper Group, owner of theStowe Reporter and four other community weekly newspapers in Vermont, is based in Stowe.
Radio stationWCVT is licensed to Stowe, and programs a classic hits format.
Municipalities and communities ofLamoille County, Vermont,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
