Thetford, Vermont | |
|---|---|
 United Church of Thetford | |
 Seal | |
 Located in Orange County, Vermont | |
 Location of Vermont with the U.S.A. | |
| Coordinates:43°49′36″N72°14′44″W / 43.82667°N 72.24556°W /43.82667; -72.24556 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Chartered | 1761 |
| Communities | East Thetford North Thetford Post Mills Thetford Center Thetford Hill Union Village |
| Area | |
• Total | 44.2 sq mi (114.4 km2) |
| • Land | 43.6 sq mi (112.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.62 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,775 |
| • Density | 64/sq mi (24.6/km2) |
| • Households | 1,155 |
| • Families | 707 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-72400[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462226[2] |
| Website | www |
Thetford is atown inOrange County,Vermont, United States in theConnecticut River Valley. The population was 2,775 at the2020 census.[3] Villages within the town include East Thetford, North Thetford, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, Rices Mills,Union Village, and Post Mills. The town office is in Thetford Center.
Thetford is home toThetford Academy, Vermont's oldest secondary school. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, formerly Swift Water Girl Scout Council, also has a summer residential camp here called Camp Farnsworth. Camp Farnsworth originally started under private ownership by Chelebe and Madama Farnsworth in 1909 when it was called Camp Hanoum.[citation needed][4]
The town was created on August 12, 1761, by way of aroyal charter whichKing George III ofGreat Britain issued to GovernorBenning Wentworth ofNew Hampshire. Wentworth named it forAugustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, 4thEarl of Arlington and 4thViscount Thetford, who in 1768 becameprime minister. It was first settled in 1764 by John Chamberlin, who lived at East Thetford beside theConnecticut River. He was an agent for one of 62 proprietors (51 fromHebron, Connecticut).[citation needed]
In 1910, theCamp Fire Girls were founded locally. This became a national organization within two years.[5][6]
Gove Hill Retreat, a nonprofit Christian Retreat center, was founded in 1966 in Thetford Center. The center supplied hospitality to religious, educational and other non-profit organizations. The retreat was sited on property originally owned by John Gove, the first farmer and name sake of Gove Hill.[citation needed] It was closed December 31, 2013, after the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire (ABCVNH) decided the yearly upkeep was not worth it.[citation needed] The retreat center had run a deficit for a number of years.[citation needed] The Pastor's larger salary were both believed to be factors in the closing of the doors.[citation needed]
On March 1, 2025, Thetford became the first municipality in the United States to sign the Apartheid-Free Pledge in support ofPalestine during theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict that had started in 2023.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.2 square miles (114.4 km2), of which 43.6 square miles (112.8 km2) is land and 0.6 square mile (1.6 km2) (1.36%) is water. It is bordered on the east by theConnecticut River, and theOmpompanoosuc River flows through the town.Interstate Highway 91 traverses it.[8]
The town has six active, unincorporated villages: Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, East Thetford, North Thetford, Rice Mills, and Post Mills.[9][10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 862 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,478 | 71.5% | |
| 1810 | 1,785 | 20.8% | |
| 1820 | 1,915 | 7.3% | |
| 1830 | 2,113 | 10.3% | |
| 1840 | 2,065 | −2.3% | |
| 1850 | 2,016 | −2.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,876 | −6.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,613 | −14.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,529 | −5.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,287 | −15.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,249 | −3.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,182 | −5.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,089 | −7.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,052 | −3.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,043 | −0.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,046 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,049 | 0.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,422 | 35.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,188 | 53.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,438 | 11.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,617 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,588 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,775 | 7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
As of thecensus[1] of 2000, there were 2,617 people, 1,032 households and 730 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 60.1 people per square mile (23.2/km2). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 27.4 per square mile (10.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.44%White, 0.46%African American, 0.23%Native American, 0.57%Asian, 0.19% fromother races, and 1.11% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 1,032 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% weremarried couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The average annual household income in Thetford is $97,359, while the median household income sits at $72,292 per year. Residents aged 25 to 44 earn $75,833, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $76,964. In contrast, people younger than 25 and those older than 65 earn less, at $75,250 and $61,451, respectively. (perhttps://www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/VT/Thetford-Demographics.html). About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Thetford Elementary School on Thetford Hill serves town resident students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. The town then sends its middle and high school students primarily toThetford Academy, a privately owned and publicly funded secondary school, in lieu of a public high school.
Open Fields School on Thetford Hill is an independent and alternative elementary school that serves children from kindergarten through 6th grade.
ThePost Mills Church and theVermontasaurus are cultural attractions in Post Mills.
Places adjacent to Thetford, Vermont | |
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Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Vermont,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
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| Other communities | ||
