Wells River, Vermont | |
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 View of Wells River, VT, from the south | |
  Wells River Location within the state of Vermont Show map of Vermont Wells River Wells River (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°9′14″N72°3′15″W / 44.15389°N 72.05417°W /44.15389; -72.05417 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.92 sq mi (4.96 km2) |
| • Land | 1.88 sq mi (4.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.039 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 430 ft (131 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 431 |
| • Density | 230/sq mi (88.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 05081 |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-78025[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1460106[3] |
| Website | wellsrivervillage.org |
Wells River Village Historic District | |
| Location | Main, Center, Grove, Cross, and Water Sts.,Newbury, Vermont |
| Area | 39 acres (15.8 ha) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Other, Federal, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003217[4] |
| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1983 |
Wells River is a village in the town ofNewbury inOrange County,Vermont, United States. The population was 431 at the2020 census.[5] The village center is located at the junction of U.S. Routes5 and302.
The village center (the portion near theconfluence of theWells River and theConnecticut River) was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1983 as Wells River Village Historic District. The district covers 84 contributing properties over an area of 390 acres (1.6 km2). It includes examples of Classical Revival, Federal, and Late Victorian styles.[6] The architectural character of the district represents the building traditions of nineteenth-century Vermont, showcasing a wide array of building styles.
The area was first called Governor's Right because 500 acres (200 ha) were granted to GovernorBenning Wentworth ofNew Hampshire. It was purchased by Er Chamberlin, who built agristmill on theWells River.[7] Located at thehead of navigation for theConnecticut River, Wells River developed as a center fortrade.Canal boats guided by long poles floated downriver laden withlumber,clapboards andshingles, returning with goods such asiron,salt,rum andmolasses.[7] In the 1830s and 1840s,Jacob Kent Jr. was the proprietor of the Coosuck House, a well-known Wells River hotel.[8]
On November 6, 1848, the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad opened to Wells River, rendering obsolete the river's barge traffic. In 1853–1854, the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad reachedWoodsville, New Hampshire across the Connecticut River. It built division offices and repair facilities, transforming that village into a boomingrailway town. The line replaced the 1805 bridge over the narrows to Wells River with a two-level wooden span which combined atoll highway deck at the bottom of thetruss, with railroad tracks on the roof. In 1903, a steel bridge of similar configuration replaced it. In 1873, the Montpelier and Wells River Railroad was completed, enhancing the region's position as arailroad junction.[9]
Some of the more significant historic structures in the village are:[citation needed]
The village takes its name from theWells River, which flows into theConnecticut River at the eastern edge of the village. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2), all of it land.
Wells River is crossed byInterstate 91,U.S. Route 5, andU.S. Route 302, with Routes 5 and 302 briefly running concurrently, before Route 302 crosses the Connecticut River into New Hampshire.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 513 | — | |
| 1890 | 526 | 2.5% | |
| 1900 | 565 | 7.4% | |
| 1910 | 608 | 7.6% | |
| 1920 | 606 | −0.3% | |
| 1930 | 553 | −8.7% | |
| 1940 | 527 | −4.7% | |
| 1950 | 570 | 8.2% | |
| 1960 | 472 | −17.2% | |
| 1970 | 419 | −11.2% | |
| 1980 | 396 | −5.5% | |
| 1990 | 424 | 7.1% | |
| 2000 | 325 | −23.3% | |
| 2010 | 399 | 22.8% | |
| 2020 | 431 | 8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 325 people, 156 households, and 92 families residing in the village. Thepopulation density was 167.0 people per square mile (64.4/km2). There were 178 housing units at an average density of 91.5/sq mi (35.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.69%White and 0.31%African American.
There were 156 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% weremarried couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,021, and the median income for a family was $32,708. Males had a median income of $28,056 versus $21,250 for females. Theper capita income for the village was $14,705. About 6.5% of families and 11.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Vermont,United States | ||
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