Fair Haven (town), Vermont
Encyclopedia
Fair Haven is a town in Rutland County, Vermont
, United States
. The population was 2,734 at the 2010 census. Within the town is located the census-designated place
of Fair Haven
. The town is noted for its Victorian architecture
, considered some of the finest in the state.
, which was set off on October 20, 1792. In 1783, Colonel Matthew Lyon
moved to Fair Haven and began building mills
at the falls
on the Castleton River. His enterprises included a gristmill
, sawmill
and papermill, in addition to a forge
. This began Fair Haven's legacy as a small, prosperous mill town
, which by 1859 included a marble
mill, rolling mill, nail factory, papermill producing wall paper, three sawmills, a wagon
shop, a machine shop, two blacksmith
shops, and two shoe
shops.
The quarrying and manufacture of slate
began in 1846. Fair Haven would develop extensive quarries for the stone, believed at the time to be inexhaustible, which was supplied to cities along the Atlantic
coast and in the West. Some of it was made into the framed, book-sized writing slates that students of the time used.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 18.1 square miles (46.9 km²), of which 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), or 2.70%, is water. Fair Haven is drained by the Poultney River
and Castleton River.
To the north, Fair Haven is bordered by Benson
. Castleton
borders Fair Haven to the east. To the west, Fair Haven is bordered by West Haven, Vermont
. Hampton, New York
, borders Fair Haven to the south and to the west. In the southeast, Poultney
borders Fair Haven.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 4
, Vermont Route 4A
, and Vermont Route 22A
.
of 2000, there were 2,928 people, 1,165 households, and 778 families residing in the town. The population density
was 165.9 people per square mile (64.1/km2). There were 1,248 housing units at an average density of 70.7 per square mile (27.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100% White, 0.00% Black or African American
, 0.20% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.44% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,165 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,313, and the median income for a family was $36,587. Males had a median income of $29,760 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,912. About 11.4% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
The Fair Haven Green is fairly large compared to other town greens and has sitting benches, a fountain in the center of the green, and a gazebo
at the south end of the green. The gazebo is used for musical performances during most town-wide gatherings or celebrations, along with weekly concerts on Thursday nights during the summer. Some of the town gatherings on the Fair Haven Green are Applefest, Spring Fling, National Night Out, The Lumberjack Show and a small week-long carnival during the summer.
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 2,734 at the 2010 census. Within the town is located the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Fair Haven
Fair Haven (CDP), Vermont
Fair Haven is a census-designated place in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.1 km² , all land....
. The town is noted for its Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, considered some of the finest in the state.
History
It was chartered on October 27, 1779, to Ebenezer Allen and 76 associates, and first settled the same year. The township originally included West HavenWest 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:...
, which was set off on October 20, 1792. In 1783, Colonel Matthew Lyon
Matthew Lyon
Matthew Lyon , father of Chittenden Lyon and great-grandfather of William Peters Hepburn, was a printer, farmer, soldier and politician, serving as a United States Representative from both Vermont and Kentucky....
moved to Fair Haven and began building mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
at the falls
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
on the Castleton River. His enterprises included a gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
and papermill, in addition to a forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
. This began Fair Haven's legacy as a small, prosperous mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
, which by 1859 included a marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
mill, rolling mill, nail factory, papermill producing wall paper, three sawmills, a wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
shop, a machine shop, two blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shops, and two shoe
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
shops.
The quarrying and manufacture of slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
began in 1846. Fair Haven would develop extensive quarries for the stone, believed at the time to be inexhaustible, which was supplied to cities along the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast and in the West. Some of it was made into the framed, book-sized writing slates that students of the time used.
Geography
The town of Fair Haven is located at 43.6189549°N 73.2684447°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 18.1 square miles (46.9 km²), of which 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), or 2.70%, is water. Fair Haven is drained by the Poultney River
Poultney River
The Poultney River goes through Vermont and New York, and ends in Lake Champlain....
and Castleton River.
To the north, Fair Haven is bordered by Benson
Benson, Vermont
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.-Government:...
. 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...
borders Fair Haven to the east. To the west, Fair Haven is bordered by West Haven, Vermont
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:...
. Hampton, New York
Hampton, New York
Hampton is a town in northeastern Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 871 at the 2000 census....
, borders Fair Haven to the south and to the west. In the southeast, Poultney
Poultney, Vermont
Poultney is a village in Rutland County of the U.S. state of Vermont. The village is entirely within the town of Poultney. The population was 1,612 at the 2010 census...
borders Fair Haven.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 4
U.S. Route 4 in Vermont
In the U.S. state of Vermont, U.S. Route 4 extends for between the New York state line at Fair Haven and the New Hampshire state line at White River Junction. It is one of the main arteries between New York and New Hampshire.-Route description:...
, Vermont Route 4A
Vermont Route 4A
Vermont Route 4A is an east–west state highway in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. It runs from Fair Haven to West Rutland. VT 4A was the former alignment of U.S. Route 4 before it was relocated to an expressway.-Route description:...
, and Vermont Route 22A
Vermont Route 22A
Vermont Route 22A is a state highway in western Vermont, United States. It is the northward continuation of New York State Route 22A. Its southern end is at the New York state line in Fair Haven and its northern end is in Ferrisburgh at U.S. Route 7...
.
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 2,928 people, 1,165 households, and 778 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 165.9 people per square mile (64.1/km2). There were 1,248 housing units at an average density of 70.7 per square mile (27.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100% White, 0.00% Black or African American
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...
, 0.20% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.44% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,165 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,313, and the median income for a family was $36,587. Males had a median income of $29,760 versus $21,406 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 $17,912. About 11.4% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
- Fair Haven Historical Society & Museum
- Ira C. Allen MansionIra C. Allen MansionThe Ira C. Allen Mansion is a historic property on the Green in Fair Haven, Vermont. It is a contributing property to the Fair Haven Green Historic District.-History:...
, the "Marble Mansion"
The Fair Haven Green is fairly large compared to other town greens and has sitting benches, a fountain in the center of the green, and a gazebo
Gazebo
A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest...
at the south end of the green. The gazebo is used for musical performances during most town-wide gatherings or celebrations, along with weekly concerts on Thursday nights during the summer. Some of the town gatherings on the Fair Haven Green are Applefest, Spring Fling, National Night Out, The Lumberjack Show and a small week-long carnival during the summer.
Notable people
- Erik BarnouwErik BarnouwErik Barnouw was a U.S. historian of radio and television broadcasting.According to the Scribner Encyclopia of American Lives, Erik Barnouw was born in Den Haag in the Netherlands, the son of Adriaan , and Ann Eliza Barnouw...
, historian of radio and television broadcasting - Chittenden LyonChittenden LyonChittenden Lyon was a United States Representative from Kentucky and the son of Matthew Lyon. He was born in Fair Haven, Vermont and attended the common schools. In 1801, he moved to Kentucky with his parents, who settled in Caldwell County, Kentucky...
, congressman from Kentucky - Matthew LyonMatthew LyonMatthew Lyon , father of Chittenden Lyon and great-grandfather of William Peters Hepburn, was a printer, farmer, soldier and politician, serving as a United States Representative from both Vermont and Kentucky....
, printer, farmer, soldier, founder of Fair Haven, and congressman - Benjamin F. H. WitherellBenjamin F. H. WitherellBenjamin Franklin Hawkins Witherell was a jurist in the U.S. state of Michigan. He served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court in 1857....
, jurist - James WitherellJames WitherellJames Witherell was a United States Representative from Vermont. He was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts. After completing preparatory studies, he served in the Continental Army 1775-1783 during the American Revolutionary War. He entered service as a private and rose to the rank of Adjutant in...
, congressman