Barre, Vermont | |
|---|---|
 "Youth Triumphant" welcomes visitors to Barre | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Granite Center of the World | |
_highlighted.svg) Location in Washington County and the state of Vermont. | |
  Barre Location in the United States Show map of Vermont Barre Barre (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°11′40.7″N72°30′23.4″W / 44.194639°N 72.506500°W /44.194639; -72.506500 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Vermont |
| County | Washington |
| Incorporated | 1895 |
| Named after | Isaac Barré |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Thom Lauzon |
| Area | |
• City | 3.98 sq mi (10.31 km2) |
| • Land | 3.95 sq mi (10.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 609 ft (186 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 8,491 |
| • Density | 2,160.63/sq mi (834.29/km2) |
| • Metro | 59,626 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 05641 |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-03175[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462035[2] |
| Website | www |
Barre (/ˈbæri/BARE-ee) is the most populous city inWashington County,Vermont, United States. As of the2020 census, the municipal population was 8,491.[3] Popularly referred to as "Barre City", it is almost completely surrounded by "Barre Town", which is a separate municipality.
Barre is often twinned with the nearby Vermont state capital ofMontpelier in local media and businesses. It is the main city in the Barre-Montpelier micropolitan area, which has nearly 60,000 residents and is Vermont's third largest metropolitan area after those ofBurlington andRutland. Barre is also Vermont'sfifth largest city.
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On November 6, 1780, the land was granted to William Williams and 64 others. Originally called Wildersburgh, it included what is today both the town and city of Barre. It was first settled in 1788 by John Goldsbury and Samuel Rodgers, together with their families. But dissatisfied with the name Wildersburgh, citizens renamed the town afterIsaac Barré, a champion of theAmerican Colonies. In 1895, 4.0 square miles (10 km2) within the town was set off and incorporated as the separate city. "In 1780 a tract of 19,900 acres of land in Vermont was chartered under the name of "Wildersburgh" to a number of proprietors. At a town-meeting of the inhabitants of this tract held in September, 1793, it was agreed that a house of worship should be erected, and it was voted that the man who would give the most towards building the same should have the right to name the township. Ezekiel Dodge Wheeler bid £62, and was permitted to name the township "Barre"—for Barre, Massachusetts, whence some of the settlers of the new township had emigrated."[4]
Barre is the self-proclaimed "Granite Center of the World". Initially established with the discovery of vast granite deposits at Millstone Hill soon after theWar of 1812, the granite industry and the city itself saw a boom with the arrival of therailroad.[6] The fame of this vast deposit of granite, which some geologists say is 4 miles (6.4 km) long, 2 miles (3.2 km) wide and 10 miles (16 km) deep, soon spread toEurope andCanada. Large numbers of people migrated to Barre fromItaly,Scotland,Spain,Scandinavia,Greece,Lebanon, Canada, and a number of other countries. The population increased from 2,060 in 1880, to 6,790 in 1890, to 10,000 in 1894. By the turn of the century, Barre was noted as the state's most diverse city.
Millstone Hill is now the site of a recreational, wooded trail network, where the mining holes and grout piles are still peppered throughout.
The Italian immigrants in particular brought a radical, largelyanarchist labor movement to Barre. In the 1920s and 1930s, a number of granite strikes roiled the city; some disputes concerned wages, but workers increasingly mobilized to address health and hazard in the quarries and "sheds." The strike of 1922, arguably fought to a draw, raised ethnic tensions; French Canadians were painted as strikebreakers.[7] TheQuarry Workers' International Union of North America was based in Barre. They were originally affiliated with theSocialist Labor Party before affiliating with theIndustrial Workers of the World, and in 1916 and in 1929 the city elected aSocialist Party candidate as mayor of Barre. The oldSocialist Labor Party Hall is still standing and was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2000.
"Barre Gray" granite is sought after worldwide for its fine grain, even texture, and superior weather resistance. Many sculpture artists prefer it for outdoor sculpture.[8] In 1936 the granite quarry in Barre carved out a 35-ton cross from one section of stone in the quarry.[9]
Hope Cemetery in Barre displays extensive examples of the sculptors' art.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10 km2), all land. Barre is drained by the Stevens Branch River andJail Branch River,tributaries of theWinooski River.
The city is served byI-89,US 302,VT 14 andVT 62. It is bordered by the town ofBerlin to the west but is otherwise surrounded by the separate Town ofBarre.
Climate data for Montpelier, VT (Edward F. Knapp State Airport) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 70 (21) | 82 (28) | 90 (32) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 97 (36) | 97 (36) | 92 (33) | 85 (29) | 76 (24) | 67 (19) | 97 (36) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 50.3 (10.2) | 50.0 (10.0) | 59.8 (15.4) | 75.6 (24.2) | 83.8 (28.8) | 87.9 (31.1) | 88.4 (31.3) | 87.0 (30.6) | 83.7 (28.7) | 74.5 (23.6) | 65.0 (18.3) | 51.9 (11.1) | 90.2 (32.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 37.6 (3.1) | 51.5 (10.8) | 65.0 (18.3) | 73.2 (22.9) | 77.6 (25.3) | 76.1 (24.5) | 68.6 (20.3) | 55.3 (12.9) | 42.8 (6.0) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 52.8 (11.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.6 (−8.6) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 40.9 (4.9) | 53.3 (11.8) | 61.8 (16.6) | 66.5 (19.2) | 64.9 (18.3) | 57.4 (14.1) | 45.5 (7.5) | 34.4 (1.3) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 42.6 (5.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.4 (−13.7) | 8.9 (−12.8) | 18.1 (−7.7) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 41.7 (5.4) | 50.5 (10.3) | 55.5 (13.1) | 53.7 (12.1) | 46.3 (7.9) | 35.7 (2.1) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 15.1 (−9.4) | 32.4 (0.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −16.7 (−27.1) | −12.0 (−24.4) | −4.3 (−20.2) | 17.0 (−8.3) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 37.8 (3.2) | 45.1 (7.3) | 43.1 (6.2) | 32.3 (0.2) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 9.1 (−12.7) | −6.9 (−21.6) | −19.2 (−28.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −29 (−34) | −18 (−28) | 2 (−17) | 20 (−7) | 29 (−2) | 35 (2) | 31 (−1) | 20 (−7) | 14 (−10) | −7 (−22) | −27 (−33) | −34 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.32 (59) | 2.06 (52) | 2.49 (63) | 3.04 (77) | 3.52 (89) | 4.21 (107) | 4.27 (108) | 3.81 (97) | 3.33 (85) | 3.87 (98) | 2.85 (72) | 2.93 (74) | 38.70 (983) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 22.6 (57) | 18.0 (46) | 16.8 (43) | 4.9 (12) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 9.1 (23) | 21.9 (56) | 94.2 (239) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.6 | 13.2 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 13.9 | 14.4 | 14.0 | 12.6 | 10.9 | 13.9 | 13.9 | 15.4 | 162.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 12.0 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 5.7 | 11.7 | 50.2 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Source 1:NOAA (snow 1981–2010)[10][11][12] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas[13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,845 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,839 | −0.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,882 | 2.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,060 | 9.5% | |
| 1890 | 6,812 | 230.7% | |
| 1900 | 8,448 | 24.0% | |
| 1910 | 10,734 | 27.1% | |
| 1920 | 10,008 | −6.8% | |
| 1930 | 11,307 | 13.0% | |
| 1940 | 10,909 | −3.5% | |
| 1950 | 10,922 | 0.1% | |
| 1960 | 10,387 | −4.9% | |
| 1970 | 10,209 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,824 | −3.8% | |
| 1990 | 9,482 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 9,291 | −2.0% | |
| 2010 | 9,052 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,491 | −6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14][15] | |||
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 9,291 people, 4,220 households, and 2,253 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,309.4 people per square mile (891.7 people/km2). There were 4,477 housing units at an average density of 1,112.8 units per square mile (429.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.40%White, 0.48%Black orAfrican American, 0.38%Native American, 0.52%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.32% fromother races, and 0.89% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.68% of the population.
There were 4,220 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were couples living together and joined in eithermarriage orcivil union, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were non-families. Of all households, 39.2% were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 69, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,393, and the median income for a family was $42,660. Males had a median income of $33,175 versus $20,319 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,724. About 9.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Alfred Hitchcock's movieThe Trouble With Harry premiered at the Paramount Theater in Barre on September 27, 1955.[16][17]
The original version of theTony Award-winning musicalHadestown initially premiered in Barre in 2006.[18]
The mayor of Barre is Thomas Lauzon.[21] Barre City has a"Council-Manager" form of government, and mayors serve two-year terms, with nonpartisan elections held in May (formerly March). The city is divided into three wards, and each ward elects two members of thecity council. Councilors serve staggered two-year terms, so one council seat from each ward is up for election every March.[22]
Barre City also elects a full-timecity clerk andtreasurer. The current Clerk and Treasurer is Cheryl Metivier.[23] The city of Barre employs a full-timecity manager. Nicolas Storellicastro currently holds this position.[24]
APremier Basketball League (PBL) team, theVermont Frost Heaves, played its games in Barre at the Barre Auditorium and at the Memorial Auditorium inBurlington,Vermont. The team was originally owned bySports Illustrated writerAlexander Wolff. A local group later assumed ownership and operated the Heaves until the team ceased operations in late 2010 and subjected its players to a dispersal draft.
TheVermont Mountaineers, a collegiate summer baseball team which belongs to theNew England Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games at nearby Montpelier Recreation Field.
| Team | Founded | Sport | League | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont Frost Heaves | 2005 | Basketball | Premier Basketball League | Barre Auditorium Memorial Auditorium (Burlington) |
| Vermont Mountaineers | 2003 | Baseball | New England Collegiate Baseball League | Montpelier Recreational Field (Montpelier) |
The quarter-mile, high-bankedThunder Road International Speedbowl is the premier motorsports venue in the state and associated with notableNASCAR figuresKen Squier andDave Moody.Vermont GovernorPhil Scott often participates in the track's "Governor's Cup 150" among other events. Thunder Road is also frequented by theAmerican Canadian Tour late-model series of New England, New York, and southeastern Canada. The track, which is located inBarre Town, was built in 1958 and has been in operation since 1960.[25]
Mayors of Barre since it was incorporated as a city include:[53][54]
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Municipalities and communities ofWashington County, Vermont,United States | ||
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