Bradford is a town in Orange County,

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

, United States. The population was 2,790 at the 2020 census. Bradford is located on the county's eastern border, bordering both the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Islan ...

and

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

, and is a commercial center for some of its surrounding towns.

History

The earliest name of the settlement was Wait's River Town or Waitstown,Silas McKeen, ''A History of Bradford, Vermont'' (J.D. Clark & Son: Montpelier, Vermont: 1875), pp. 29-30. in honor of Joseph Wait, a member of

Rogers' Rangers Rogers' Rangers was a company of soldiers from the Province of New Hampshire raised by Major Robert Rogers and attached to the British Army during the Seven Years' War ( French and Indian War). The unit was quickly adopted into the British arm ...

."Bradford" in ''The Vermont Encyclopedia'' (eds. John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand & Ralph H. Orth: University of Vermont Press, 2003), p. 61. The town was originally part of Gloucester County in the

Province of New York The Province of New York (1664–1776) was a British proprietary colony and later royal colony on the northeast coast of North America. As one of the Middle Colonies, New York achieved independence and worked with the others to found the U ...

before becoming part of Vermont. In 1770, the town was established by New York patent: 3,000 acres (1200 hectares) were granted on May 3, 1770, and the town was named Mooretown after Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet, then the royal

governor of New York The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor h ...

. On October 23, 1788, at the request of town's residents, the town was renamed Bradford by the

Vermont General Assembly The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Vermont, in the United States. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself. The ...

, likely after

Bradford, Massachusetts Bradford is a village and former town, in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Eastern Bradford is the current town of Groveland, while western Bradford was annexed by the city of Haverhill, and today consists of the part of Haverhill o ...

. According to the ''Vermont Encyclopedia'', Bradford "has always been an industrial and commercial center for the surrounding rural towns and villages."

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the town has a total area of 29.9 square miles (77.4 km²), of which 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (0.20%) is water. The

Waits River The Waits River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 river in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flow ...

flows through Bradford in a southeasterly direction to its confluence with the

, which forms the eastern boundary of the town. The town rises from the river's meadows through low hills and river valleys and finally Wright's Mountain (at an elevation of 1,822 feet) close to the border with Newbury to the north. Bradford is bordered by the towns of Newbury to the north, West Fairlee and Fairlee to the south, and

Corinth Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...

to the west.

Piermont, New Hampshire Piermont is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 769 at the 2020 census. It is home to Camp Walt Whitman and Kingswood Camp for Boys. History Incorporated by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1764 and settled in ...

lies across the Connecticut River to the east. The

Piermont Bridge The Piermont Bridge carries New Hampshire Route 25 over the Connecticut River to the contiguous Vermont Route 25 between Piermont, New Hampshire and Bradford, Vermont. It is a Pennsylvania steel through truss bridge, built by the Boston Bridge Wor ...

, a

Pennsylvania truss A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...

bridge erected in 1928, connects Bradford and Piermont. Bradford is part of the Upper Valley micropolitan region of east-central Vermont and west-central New Hampshire surrounding the Connecticut River.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 2,797 people, 1,281 households, and 692 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 87.8 people per square mile (33.9/km²). There were 1,217 housing units at an average density of 40.8 per square mile (15.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.71%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 0.46%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.46% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.15%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, and 0.99% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population. There were 1,028 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 51.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,270, and the median income for a family was $42,128. Males had a median income of $30,865 versus $28,857 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $18,452. About 7.9% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Bradford has two public schools: Bradford Elementary School for kindergarten through grade 6 and Oxbow High School for grades 7–12. Attached to Oxbow High School is the Riverbend Career and Technical Center for adults, a vocational center. Total school enrollment for fiscal year 2017–2018 was 242 at Bradford Elementary and approximately 373 at Oxbow/Riverbend. While Bradford Elementary serves only the Town of Bradford, Oxbow/Riverbend is part of a supervisory union, and so has students from the surrounding area as well. The central office for the Orange East Supervisory Union is located in Bradford. A branch of Central Vermont Basic Education, which provides curricula for learning basic skills (reading, writing, math and computer literacy), English language that prepares the student for U.S. citizenship, credential programs for high school diplomas and GED, and college and career readiness, is also located in Bradford.

Transportation

The town is crossed by

Interstate 91 Interstate 91 (I-91) is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of the region. The Interstate generally follows the course of the Connec ...

( in the town),

U.S. Route 5 U.S. Route 5 (US 5) is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springf ...

() and Vermont Routes 25 and 25B (). Stagecoach Transportation bus service also serves Bradford, with commuter service to points south including Hanover, N.H., Lebanon, N.H., and White River Junction, Vt., along its River Route. Stagecoach also provides a "Circulator Route" to shopping and service destinations in the Lower Cohase Region, and provides individual rides to health care and other approved appointments.

Sites of interest

The town has a number of scenic views, including of the

Connecticut River Valley The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

, Waits River Valley, and White Mountains. Also of note is the view from Wright's Mountain.Bradford Town Plan, p. 70. * Bradford Village Historic District—added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1975. Currently home to several popular restaurants, a general store and retail shops. * Bradford Academy/Woods School Building at 172 North Main Street—an 1893 building (with a 1935 addition) that has been held by the town under a

99-year lease A 99-year lease was, under historic common law, the longest possible term of a lease of real property. It is no longer the law in most common law jurisdictions today, yet 99-year leases continue to be common as a matter of business practice and ...

. The building houses the town government offices, town police department, and Bradford Historical Society. * Bradford Public Library—designed by architect

Lambert Packard Lambert Packard (1832-1906) was an American architect from St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Life and career He was born in 1832 Coventry, Vermont, to Jefferson Packard. The family moved to Waterford, VT, Waterford in 1847, where Packard learned t ...

and constructed in 1895. * Old Church Theater—Permanently located in a 1793 building behind the Congregational Church on Main Street, the Old Church Theater has presented over 28 years of summer productions geared for family entertainment. The organization moved to temporary quarters adjacent to the Orange East Senior Center in November 2017, while the permanent building undergoes restoration. The actors are local residents from various backgrounds and some have gone on to make a career in the theater world. The theater is open to anyone wishing to act, direct, work backstage, help with set design, ticket sales and more. * Wright's Mountain/Devil's Den Town Forest - Contains more than 500 contiguous protected acres and more than 10 miles of interconnected trails open to all non-motorized recreation. The area was named a National Scenic Trail in 2018. *The Space on Main—Nonprofit co-working, maker, conference, event, and gallery space opened in 2017 in former Hill’s 5 & 10 department store. * Waits River Falls—also known as Bradford Falls and Bradford Dam. Scenic waterfall over rocky cascade on Waits River along U.S. Route 5 National Scenic Byway, abutting Boch Park picnic area. *Elizabeth's Park—Playground with classic wooden castle/maze structure, charcoal grills and ice skating rink. *Statue of Rear Admiral

Charles Edgar Clark Rear Admiral Charles Edgar Clark (August 10, 1843 – October 1, 1922) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War. Summary Born in Bradford, Vermont on August 10, 1843, Charles Edgar Cl ...

, captain of the battleship USS ''Oregon'' during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

Notable people

Charles C. P. Baldwin Charles C. P. Baldwin (December 28, 1812- October 28, 1893) was a government official in Vermont. A Republican, prior to becoming a resident of Iowa in his later years, he served as Sheriff of Orange County, Vermont and United States Marshal for ...

United States Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcem ...

for the District of Vermont * William Barron,

for the District of Vermont * John Putnam Chapin,

mayor of Chicago The mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of city government in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States. The mayor is responsible for the administration and management of various city departments, submits proposals and ...

; born in Bradford in 1810 and arrived in Chicago in 1832 *

, captain of the USS ''Oregon'' during the

– born in Bradford in 1843 *

Herbert Thomas Johnson Brigadier General Herbert Thomas Johnson (January 27, 1872 – November 4, 1942) was a military officer who served as Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. Early life Herbert T. Johnson was born in Bradford, Vermont on January 27, 1872. ...

Adjutant General An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

of the

Vermont National Guard The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Together, they are collectively known as the Green Mountain Boys. Both units use the original Revolutionary War-era Flag of the Green ...

and namesake of Camp Johnson, the state National Guard Headquarters *

Philena McKeen Philena McKeen (June 13, 1822 – May 13, 1898) was an American educator and 11th principal of Abbot Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. During her thirty-year tenure, she managed the school in its "Golden Age" and established a curriculum that " ...

, principal of

Abbot Academy Abbot Academy (also known as Abbot Female Seminary and AA) was an independent boarding preparatory school for women boarding and day students in grades 9–12 from 1828 to 1973. Located in Andover, Massachusetts, Abbot Academy was notable as one ...

Andover, Massachusetts Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1646."Andover" in ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th ed., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 387. As of th ...

* Ned O'Gorman, poet and educator – spent part of his youth in Bradford * Albert Sleeper, 29th

governor of Michigan The governor of Michigan is the head of state, head of government, and chief executive of the U.S. state of Michigan. The current governor is Gretchen Whitmer, a member of the Democratic Party, who was inaugurated on January 1, 2019, as the s ...

– born in Bradford in 1862, moved to Michigan in 1884 *

Alexander Lucius Twilight Alexander Lucius Twilight (September 23, 1795 – June 19, 1857) was an American educator, minister and politician. He is the first African-American man known to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university, graduati ...

, first African American to receive a degree from an American institution of learning, born in Bradford in 1795 *

Abel Underwood Abel Underwood (April 8, 1799 – April 22, 1879) was a Vermont lawyer, judge, and politician. A Whig and later a Republican, he was most notable for his service as United States Attorney for the District of Vermont (1849-1853) and a judg ...

, U.S. Attorney for Vermont and state circuit court judge. Born in Bradford * John H. Watson, Chief Justice of the

Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Cou ...

James Wilson James Wilson may refer to: Politicians and government officials Canada *James Wilson (Upper Canada politician) (1770–1847), English-born farmer and political figure in Upper Canada * James Crocket Wilson (1841–1899), Canadian MP from Quebe ...

, first American globe maker – lived in Bradford * Jay Wright, poet – lives in BradfordJay Wright (1935-)

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

References

Works cited

Bradford Town Plan: Adopted September 10, 2009
prepared by the Bradford Planning Commission with assistance from the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission

External links

Town of Bradford official website

Bradford Public Library
{{authority control Towns in Vermont Vermont populated places on the Connecticut River Populated places established in 1765 Towns in Orange County, Vermont 1765 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies