Dummerston, Vermont | |
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 Dummerston, Vermont | |
  Dummerston, Vermont Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°55′21″N72°34′40″W / 42.92250°N 72.57778°W /42.92250; -72.57778 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Windham |
| Chartered | 1753 |
| Communities |
|
| Area | |
• Total | 30.8 sq mi (79.8 km2) |
| • Land | 30.6 sq mi (79.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 814 ft (248 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,865 |
| • Density | 61/sq mi (23.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-18325[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462084[2] |
Dummerston is a town inWindham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,865 at the2020 census.[3] It is home to the longestcovered bridge still in use in Vermont. Its borders include three main villages: Dummerston Center, West Dummerston, and East Dummerston.
Dummerston was part of theEquivalent Lands—several large sections of land given to settlers in the early eighteenth century. It lies on atract given to theConnecticut Colony about 1715 by theProvince of Massachusetts Bay as compensation for land mistakenly awarded by the latter to its settlers. In 1716, the town was auctioned to aconsortium (which includedWilliam Dummer, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts), and named Dummerston. On December 26, 1753, the town was chartered as aNew Hampshire grant and renamedFulham by GovernorBenning Wentworth. But when the grant was renegotiated, it reverted to Dummerston.[4]
The many brooks and streams flowing into theWest River provided the area with water power. Dummerston had five gristmills, five sawmills, one slate manufacturer, and one shop for making rakes. Raising sheep across the many hills was an important occupation.[5] By 1859, the town had a population of 1,645. TheVermont Valley Railroad passed through Dummerston.[4]
A house built in Dummerston in 1892,Naulakha, was home to authorRudyard Kipling. This is where he wrote several of his novels, includingThe Jungle Books andCaptains Courageous.[6]
There was a covered bridge that was built in 1812, and it moved toOld Sturbridge Village in 1946.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.8 square miles (79.8 km2), of which 30.6 square miles (79.2 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2) (0.71%) is water. Dummerston is bounded by theConnecticut River, and the West River flows through the town.[7]
The town is crossed byInterstate 91 (Exit 4 serves the town and the exit sits on the border of Dummerston andPutney),U.S. Route 5 andVermont Route 30. It is bordered byBrattleboro to the south,Marlboro andNewfane to the west, with Putney andBrookline to the north.Chesterfield, New Hampshire lies across the Connecticut River from it.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,501 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,692 | 12.7% | |
| 1810 | 1,704 | 0.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,658 | −2.7% | |
| 1830 | 1,592 | −4.0% | |
| 1840 | 1,263 | −20.7% | |
| 1850 | 1,645 | 30.2% | |
| 1860 | 1,021 | −37.9% | |
| 1870 | 916 | −10.3% | |
| 1880 | 816 | −10.9% | |
| 1890 | 860 | 5.4% | |
| 1900 | 726 | −15.6% | |
| 1910 | 643 | −11.4% | |
| 1920 | 570 | −11.4% | |
| 1930 | 604 | 6.0% | |
| 1940 | 615 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 790 | 28.5% | |
| 1960 | 872 | 10.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,295 | 48.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,574 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,863 | 18.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,915 | 2.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,864 | −2.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,865 | 0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,915 people, 796 households, and 543 families residing in the town. The population density was 62.6 people per square mile (24.2/km2). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 29.2 per square mile (11.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.33%White, 0.05%African American, 0.63%Asian, 0.05% fromother races, and 0.94% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 796 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. Of all households 25.4% were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,121, and the median income for a family was $53,375. Males had a median income of $35,664 versus $26,174 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,742. About 1.1% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Dummerston, like manyNew England counties and localities, uses aboard of selectmen as itsexecutive body andTown Meeting forlegislative functions. In 2014, it had five selectmen forming up its selectboard.[9] One of its most famous selectmen wasMotel 6 spokesmodel and authorTom Bodett, who served on the selectboard as of 2013.[10]
Dummerston has several interesting sites within its borders.
The longestcovered bridge that is still in use in the state of Vermont is theWest Dummerston Covered Bridge. Built in two spans which rest on a central pier, the bridge boasts a combined length of 267 feet along the floor. The gable ends overhang the floor at each end of the bridge by two feet; therefore, along the top of the trusses, the bridge is 271 feet long.[11]
Dummerston is home to the 1,009 acre Black Mountain Conservation Area. Black Mountain rises abruptly from the West River into a horseshoe-shaped ridge. The mountain has a summit of 1,280 feet.[12]
Author Rudyard Kipling made Dummerston home, building a house that he namedNaulakha. It was there that he wrote his famous story,The Jungle Book, and invented the sport ofSnow Golf. Naulakha is now a museum available for overnight stays. The house is aNational Historic Landmark.[13]
The Dummerston Grange periodically hosts the Vermont Theatre Company.[14]
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
Places adjacent to Dummerston, Vermont | |
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Municipalities and communities ofWindham County, Vermont,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | § Disincorporated ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
