Benson, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Benson is a town in Rutland County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 1,056 at the 2010 census. The town is rural, with a concentration of several homes and businesses in Benson Village, at the intersection of Stage Road and Lake Road.
and Porter Hospital. Benson also operates a small, entirely volunteer fire department. Assistance in fighting particularly large fires is provided by other neighboring volunteer fire departments, including Fair Haven, Castleton
, Hubbardton
, West Haven
and Orwell
. Similarly, Benson's volunteer firefighters occasionally respond to large blazes in other local towns when needed.
in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, according to the Rutland Herald
. Simultaneously, Benson voters supported Republican Governor Jim Douglas
and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders
. As was the trend in the rest of Rutland County, voters were split on the issue of state senators, with Democrat Bill Carris and Republicans Hull P. Maynard, Jr. and Kevin J. Mullin receiving votes in numbers consistent with their county-wide victories.
, the town has a total area of 45.5 square miles (117.8 km²), of which 44 square miles (114 km²) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), or 3.36%, is water. Benson has 53.4 miles (85.9 km) of town roads.
had made to Vermont — a congressionally mandated prerequisite for Vermont joining the Union as a state of its own, rather than being divided between New York and New Hampshire
.
of 2000, there were 1,039 people, 391 households, and 272 families residing in the town. The population density
was 23.6 people per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 519 housing units at an average density of 11.8 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.92% White, 0.67% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 391 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,224, and the median income for a family was $40,833. Males had a median income of $31,488 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,931. About 8.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
.
A small but well-maintained museum is housed in the town's municipal building, on the site of the former Benson Grade School. Also contained in this municipal building are the town offices and Town Clerk. Next door is the Community Hall, which provides a public meeting place and contains the town library. The State of Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains Benson Landing, a boat launch on Lake Champlain
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,056 at the 2010 census. The town is rural, with a concentration of several homes and businesses in Benson Village, at the intersection of Stage Road and Lake Road.
Government
As is the case with many towns in rural New England, the town's government enjoys a degree of autonomy from the county and employs only a few essential service-providers including an elected Selectboard, a town clerk/treasurer, a road crew, and other municipal positions. Small town committees as well as the annual town meeting set the protocols of town policy with particular focus on the town's annual budget. Due to an idiosyncrasy in the redistricting process, Benson is the only town in the state of Vermont to share a representative in the state legislature with a town in another county (Will Stevens, I-Shoreham).Public safety
The town employs a town constable, but most law enforcement is handled by the Rutland County Sheriff's department and/or the Vermont State Police. Ambulance services are provided by Benson First Response and Fair Haven Rescue. The nearest hospitals are Rutland Regional Medical CenterRutland Regional Medical Center
Founded in 1896, Rutland Regional Medical Center has grown from a 10-bed hospital with eight attending physicians into Vermont's second largest health care facility. RRMC has 188 licensed beds,and 120 physicians. RRMC is designated a Sole Community Provider by Medicare...
and Porter Hospital. Benson also operates a small, entirely volunteer fire department. Assistance in fighting particularly large fires is provided by other neighboring volunteer fire departments, including Fair Haven, Castleton
Castleton, Vermont
Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,717 at the 2010 census. Castleton State College is located there, with roots dating to 1787...
, Hubbardton
Hubbardton, Vermont
Hubbardton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Thomas Hubbard, a landholder. The population was 706 at the 2010 census....
, West Haven
West Haven, Vermont
West Haven is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 264 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.72%, is water.-Demographics:...
and Orwell
Orwell, Vermont
Orwell is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,185 at the 2000 census. Mount Independence was the largest fortification constructed by the American colonial forces...
. Similarly, Benson's volunteer firefighters occasionally respond to large blazes in other local towns when needed.
Politics
A majority of Benson's residents voted against George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, according to the Rutland Herald
Rutland Herald
The Rutland Herald is the second largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Vermont . It is published in Rutland. With a daily circulation of about 12,000, it is the main source of news geared towards the southern part of the state, along with the Brattleboro Reformer and the Bennington Banner...
. Simultaneously, Benson voters supported Republican Governor Jim Douglas
Jim Douglas
James H. Douglas is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. A Republican, he was elected the 80th Governor of Vermont in 2002 and was reelected three times with a majority of the vote...
and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
. As was the trend in the rest of Rutland County, voters were split on the issue of state senators, with Democrat Bill Carris and Republicans Hull P. Maynard, Jr. and Kevin J. Mullin receiving votes in numbers consistent with their county-wide victories.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 45.5 square miles (117.8 km²), of which 44 square miles (114 km²) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), or 3.36%, is water. Benson has 53.4 miles (85.9 km) of town roads.
History
While nobody seems to be quite sure as to the precise origin of the town's name, most historians over the years have speculated that it was named for Egbert Benson, a respected lawyer and Revolutionary War officer, who was instrumental in negotiating the land claim which New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
had made to Vermont — a congressionally mandated prerequisite for Vermont joining the Union as a state of its own, rather than being divided between New York and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,039 people, 391 households, and 272 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 23.6 people per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 519 housing units at an average density of 11.8 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.92% White, 0.67% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.19% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 391 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,224, and the median income for a family was $40,833. Males had a median income of $31,488 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,931. About 8.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure
Benson has one public school, which offers classes from pre-school through eighth grade. High school students attend the nearby Fair Haven Union High SchoolFair Haven Union High School
The Fair Haven Union High School is a public high school located in Rutland County, Vermont. The school serves about 500 students from the towns of Orwell, Castleton, Benson, Hubbardton, West Haven, Bomoseen, Hydeville, and Fair Haven.- External links :*...
.
A small but well-maintained museum is housed in the town's municipal building, on the site of the former Benson Grade School. Also contained in this municipal building are the town offices and Town Clerk. Next door is the Community Hall, which provides a public meeting place and contains the town library. The State of Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains Benson Landing, a boat launch on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
.
Notable people
- John Belding, early Mormon convert, one of twelve "Elders" who founded Salt Lake City
- Jerametrius ButlerJerametrius Butler-St. Louis Rams:On June 26, 2001, Butler signed a three-year $1.01 million contract with the Rams. Butler played his first six professional seasons with the St. Louis Rams. On March 6, 2004, Butler, a now a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, $15 million offer sheet with Washington. On march...
, former NFL cornerback for the St Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills - Stephen Wallace DorseyStephen Wallace DorseyStephen Wallace Dorsey was a Senator from Arkansas.He was born in Benson, Rutland County, Vermont, February 28, 1842 and moved to Ohio and settled in Oberlin. He attended the public schools....
, senator from Arkansas - William B. FrankeWilliam B. FrankeWilliam Birrell Franke was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1959 to 1961 under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Franke was born in Troy, New York and attended Pace College...
, former Secretary of the Navy - Rufus Wilmot GriswoldRufus Wilmot GriswoldRufus Wilmot Griswold was an American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic. Born in Vermont, Griswold left home when he was 15 years old. He worked as a journalist, editor, and critic in Philadelphia, New York City, and elsewhere. He built up a strong literary reputation, in part due to his 1842...
, anthologist, editor and critic, famous for his enmity with Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...