Hartford is a
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in
Windsor County,
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
, United States. It is on the
New Hampshire
New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
border, at the intersection of Interstates
89 and
91. It is the site of the
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...
of the
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
and
Connecticut rivers; the
Ottauquechee River also flows through the town. The town is composed of five unincorporated villages:
Hartford
Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
,
Quechee,
West Hartford,
White River Junction and
Wilder. As of the
2020 census, the population was 10,686.
History
The community was chartered by Governor
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth (July 24, 1696 – October 14, 1770) was an American merchant, landowner and colonial administrator who served as the List of colonial governors of New Hampshire, governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766. He is best known ...
of New Hampshire in 1761,
and is named for
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
.
On February 5, 1887, Hartford became the site of what remains Vermont's worst railway disaster when a
Vermont Central Railroad train struck a broken rail on a bridge west of town. The ensuing derailment threw the train into the frozen river below, killing 37 and injuring 50.
Geography
The town of Hartford is located at (43.66444, −72.38667).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.93%, is water. The
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian Tra ...
crosses the northwest corner of the town, passing through West Hartford.
Demographics
At the
2000 census there were 10,367 people in 4,509 households, including 2,800 families, in the town. The population density was 229.6 people per square mile (88.7/km
2). There were 5,493 housing units at an average density of 121.7 per square mile (47.0/km
2). The
racial makeup of the town was 97.02% White, 0.55% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85%.
Of the 4,509 households 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.6% of households were one person and 10.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86.
The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median household income was $42,990 and the median family income was $51,286. Males had a median income of $35,969 versus $27,073 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,792. About 5.3% of families and 8.5% 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 8.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
*
John L. Bacon,
Chelsea and Hartford banker and
Vermont State Treasurer
*
Marion L. Bugbee, physician, suffragist, hospital administrator
*
Daniel A. Dickinson, Minnesota Supreme Court justice
*
Albert R. Hall, Minnesota and Wisconsin politician
*
Phillips Lord, radio producer and motion picture actor
*
Frank G. Mahady, Vermont attorney and judge who served on 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 court ...
*
Samuel E. Pingree, 40th
Governor of Vermont
*
Charles W. Porter,
Secretary of State of Vermont
*
William Strong, U.S. congressman
*
Andrew Tracy (1797–1868), U.S. congressman
*
Joseph Tracy, leading figure in the American Colonization Society
*
Horace Wells, dentist and pioneering anesthesiologist
References
External links
Town of Hartford official websiteHartford Area Chamber of CommerceHartford Historical Society
ePodunk: Profile for Hartford, Vermont
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Towns in Vermont
Vermont populated places on the Connecticut River
Towns in Windsor County, Vermont