Norwich, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Norwich is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States, located along the Connecticut River
opposite Hanover
, New Hampshire. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census.
The town was named after Norwich
, Connecticut, the state from which the first settlers originated. In the original charter, the name was spelled "Norwhich", but the additional 'h' was dropped shortly after the town was chartered. Originally pronounced Norritch (similar to the English pronunciation of the city of Norwich
) the town name has in more recent times become more commonly pronounced Nor-wich. Norwich University
was located here originally. It moved to Northfield
in 1866 after a fire devastated the campus.
, which forms Vermont’s boundary with New Hampshire
, opposite its companion town, Hanover, New Hampshire
. The Ledyard Bridge
connects the two towns. The Vermont towns bordering Norwich are: Thetford
to the north, Sharon
to the west, and Hartford
to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 44.8 square miles (116 km²), of which 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.31%) is water. The Ompompanoosuc River
flows into the Connecticut River
in the northeastern part of the town.
The landscape is hilly and wooded. The elevation of the town is 531 feet (161.8 m). The hills in the town include the 1700 feet (518.2 m) Griggs Mountain in the southwestern section and the 1853 feet (564.8 m) Gile Mountain
in the northwestern section.
Major transportation routes, which run parallel through the Connecticut River valley, include Interstate 91
, U.S. Route 5
and the former Boston and Maine Railroad
right of way, now owned by the State of Vermont. The Appalachian Trail
passes south to east through the town from Hartford to Hanover.
of New Hampshire defined the boundaries of townships
in Vermont. The first settlers reached the area in 1763 and began to clear the wilderness and erect the first hand-hewn log buildings, wintering over for the first time in 1765. Early settlements occurred along the Ompompanoosuc River. Later, the current village site became settled. The first town meeting
occurred in April 1768. The first Congregational Church
was founded in 1770 and a structure built in 1778. The population grew from 206 in 1771 to 1158 in 1791 and 2316 in 1830.
In 1819, Alden Partridge
, a former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
at West Point
founded the private American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in Norwich. He hoped to establish a new “American system” for training cadets that included both humanities and science topics in the curriculum, in addition to military science
. In his six years of Norwich residency, Partridge achieved an academy population of nearly 500 “cadets.” He moved that school back to Middletown, Connecticut
in 1825, but returned in 1835 with a charter from the U.S. Congress to found another military academy, which remained in Norwich until 1866 when it burned to the ground. The school then relocated to Northfield, Vermont
, where it exists today as Norwich University
.
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 1,367 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $66,000, and the median income for a family was $78,178. Males had a median income of $49,350 versus $33,871 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,285. About 1.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
. Adjacent to the general store is a restored, historic inn with a restaurant and brew pub. Montshire Museum of Science
and King Arthur Flour are located here.
Norwich maintains one of the few interstate public school systems, the Dresden School District
, commissioned by President John F. Kennedy
, which is shared by the towns of Norwich and Hanover
, New Hampshire.
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
opposite Hanover
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, New Hampshire. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census.
The town was named after Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, Connecticut, the state from which the first settlers originated. In the original charter, the name was spelled "Norwhich", but the additional 'h' was dropped shortly after the town was chartered. Originally pronounced Norritch (similar to the English pronunciation of the city of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
) the town name has in more recent times become more commonly pronounced Nor-wich. Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
was located here originally. It moved to Northfield
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
in 1866 after a fire devastated the campus.
Geography
Norwich lies on the western bank of the Connecticut RiverConnecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, which forms Vermont’s boundary with 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...
, opposite its companion town, Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
. The Ledyard Bridge
Ledyard Bridge
The Ledyard Bridge crosses the Connecticut River to connect Hanover, New Hampshire to Norwich, Vermont. It is the third bridge at this crossing to bear the name of the adventurer John Ledyard.-History:...
connects the two towns. The Vermont towns bordering Norwich are: Thetford
Thetford, Vermont
Thetford is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States in the Connecticut River Valley. The population was 2,617 at the 2000 census. Villages within the town include East Thetford, North Thetford, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, Rices Mills and Post Mills. The town office is in Thetford...
to the north, Sharon
Sharon, Vermont
Sharon is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. It had a population of 1,411 at the 2000 census. The town is home to The Sharon Academy.-History:...
to the west, and Hartford
Hartford, Vermont
Hartford is a town in Windsor County in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is located on the New Hampshire border, at the intersection of Interstates 89 and 91. It is the site of the confluence of the White River and the Connecticut River; the Ottauquechee River also flows through the town...
to the south.
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 44.8 square miles (116 km²), of which 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.31%) is water. The Ompompanoosuc River
Ompompanoosuc River
The Ompompanoosuc River is a river, about 25 mi long, in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
flows into the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
in the northeastern part of the town.
The landscape is hilly and wooded. The elevation of the town is 531 feet (161.8 m). The hills in the town include the 1700 feet (518.2 m) Griggs Mountain in the southwestern section and the 1853 feet (564.8 m) Gile Mountain
Gile Mountain
Gile Mountain is located in Windsor County, Vermont, along the border between the towns of Norwich and Sharon, with the summit located in Norwich. The mountain reaches a height of above sea level. Relatively unimposing considering its height, the true summit cannot easily be seen from the...
in the northwestern section.
Major transportation routes, which run parallel through the Connecticut River valley, include Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 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 New England...
, U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 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 Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
and the former Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
right of way, now owned by the State of Vermont. The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
passes south to east through the town from Hartford to Hanover.
History
The boundaries of Norwich were established on July 4, 1761, when Governor Benning WentworthBenning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
of New Hampshire defined the boundaries of townships
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Vermont. The first settlers reached the area in 1763 and began to clear the wilderness and erect the first hand-hewn log buildings, wintering over for the first time in 1765. Early settlements occurred along the Ompompanoosuc River. Later, the current village site became settled. The first town meeting
Town meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
occurred in April 1768. The first Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
was founded in 1770 and a structure built in 1778. The population grew from 206 in 1771 to 1158 in 1791 and 2316 in 1830.
In 1819, Alden Partridge
Alden Partridge
Alden Partridge, was an American author, legislator, officer, surveyor, an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a controversial pioneer in U.S...
, a former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
founded the private American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in Norwich. He hoped to establish a new “American system” for training cadets that included both humanities and science topics in the curriculum, in addition to military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
. In his six years of Norwich residency, Partridge achieved an academy population of nearly 500 “cadets.” He moved that school back to Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
in 1825, but returned in 1835 with a charter from the U.S. Congress to found another military academy, which remained in Norwich until 1866 when it burned to the ground. The school then relocated to Northfield, Vermont
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. It lies in a valley within the Green Mountains, and has been the home of Norwich University since 1866. The town contains the village of Northfield, where over half of its population lives. The population was 6,207 at the 2010...
, where it exists today as Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,544 people, 1,367 households, and 944 families residing in the town. The population density was 79.3 people per square mile (30.6/km²). There were 1,505 housing units at an average density of 33.7 per square mile (13.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 0.48% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other racesRace (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 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 1,367 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $66,000, and the median income for a family was $78,178. Males had a median income of $49,350 versus $33,871 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,285. About 1.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Commerce and institutions
The town commercial center features a traditional, but actively used, general storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. Adjacent to the general store is a restored, historic inn with a restaurant and brew pub. Montshire Museum of Science
Montshire Museum of Science
The Montshire Museum of Science is a small, hands-on, self-guided science museum located in Norwich, Vermont, in the United States. It has roughly 150,000 visitors annually. The museum, including the building and nature trails, is located on over 110 acres of land. It has exhibits on anatomy,...
and King Arthur Flour are located here.
Norwich maintains one of the few interstate public school systems, the Dresden School District
Dresden School District
The Dresden School District was the first interstate school district in the United States. It operates the Francis C. Richmond Middle School and Hanover High School in Hanover, New Hampshire. The Dresden School District is part of the SAU 70, which also operates the Bernice A. Ray Elementary...
, commissioned by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, which is shared by the towns of Norwich and Hanover
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, New Hampshire.
Notable people
- Paul BrighamPaul BrighamPaul Brigham , son of Paul and Catherine Brigham, was a Revolutionary soldier and Democratic-Republican politician. He was born January 6, 1746 in Coventry, Connecticut. He married Lydia Sawyer on October 3, 1767. In the spring of 1782 they moved to Norwich, Vermont...
, 2nd Governor of Vermont. - Heinrich BrüningHeinrich BrüningHeinrich Brüning was Chancellor of Germany from 1930 to 1932, during the Weimar Republic. He was the longest serving Chancellor of the Weimar Republic, and remains a controversial figure in German politics....
, German Chancellor of the Weimar RepublicWeimar RepublicThe Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. - Daniel Azro Ashley BuckDaniel Azro Ashley BuckDaniel Azro Ashley Buck U.S. Representative from VermontSon of Daniel Buck, born in Norwich, Vermont, April 19, 1789; moved with his parents to Chelsea; was graduated from Middlebury College in 1807 and from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1808; commissioned a lieutenant in the...
, US Representative from Vermont. - George A. ConverseGeorge A. ConverseGeorge Albert Converse was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, who was noted for his contributions to naval engineering...
, Spanish-American War era navy admiral. - Jim HollandJim HollandJim Holland is a US ski jumper who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Jim's brothers Mike Holland and Joe Holland also competed in the Olympic Winter Games in ski jumping and nordic combined respectively. A native of...
, Olympic ski jumper (1992 & 1994). - Joe HollandJoe HollandJoe Holland is an American nordic combined skier who competed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His best finish at the Olympic Winter Games was eighth in the 3 x 10 km event at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France...
, Olympic Nordic combined skier (1988 & 1992). - Mike HollandMike Holland (ski jumper)Mike Holland , is an American ski jumper who set the world distance record in 1985. His world record jump of 186 meters in Planica, Slovenia was held for 27 minutes before Finnish jumper Matti Nykänen passed his mark with a jump of 189 meters...
, Olympic ski jumper (1984 & 1988). - Hannah KearneyHannah KearneyHannah Kearney is an American mogul skier who won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.-Personal life:Born in a hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire, Kearney grew up and still lives in Norwich, Vermont. She is the daughter of Tom and Jill Kearney, who met while attending McGill University in...
, Olympic gold medalist mogul skier (2010). - Laurence G. LeavittLaurence G. LeavittLaurence Gillelan Leavitt was the longtime headmaster of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont, United States, where he succeeded in steering the preparatory school from dire financial straits to financial health by strengthening its curriculum and building its extracurricular...
, headmaster of Vermont AcademyVermont AcademyVermont Academy is an American coeducational boarding/day school and college preparatory school for grades nine through twelve and also offers acceptance for students seeking a post-graduate year. Founded in 1876, it is located in Saxtons River, Vermont. The school is coeducational, and...
, Saxtons RiverSaxtons River, VermontSaxtons River is an incorporated village in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 519 at the 2000 census. For over a hundred years, Saxtons River has been the home of Vermont Academy, an independent secondary school.The Saxtons River Village Historic...
. - Tony LupienTony LupienUlysses John "Tony" Lupien was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball. He was a left-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox...
, first baseman for the Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. - David MacaulayDavid MacaulayDavid Macaulay is an author and illustrator. Now a resident of Norwich, Vermont, United States, he is an alumnus and faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design.- Biography :...
, author and illustrator. - Freya von MoltkeFreya von MoltkeFreya von Moltke was a participant in the anti-Nazi resistance group, the Kreisau Circle, with her husband, Helmuth James Graf von Moltke...
, author and lecturer on German resistance to NazismNazismNazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. - George Sylvester MorrisGeorge Sylvester MorrisGeorge Sylvester Morris was an American educator and philosophical writer, born in Norwich, Vermont. He was the son of a well known abolitionist and temperance man...
, educator and philosophical writer. - Alden PartridgeAlden PartridgeAlden Partridge, was an American author, legislator, officer, surveyor, an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a controversial pioneer in U.S...
, founder of Norwich UniversityNorwich UniversityNorwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
. - Kevin PearceKevin Pearce (snowboarder)Kevin Pearce is an American snowboarder. He was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, and raised in Hartland, Vermont before moving with his parents to Norwich, Vermont.-Career:...
, professional snowboarder. - Eugen Rosenstock-HuessyEugen Rosenstock-HuessyEugen Rosenstock-Huessy was a historian and social philosopher, whose work spanned the disciplines of history, theology, sociology, linguistics and beyond...
, historian and social philosopher. - Walter H. StockmayerWalter H. StockmayerWalter Hugo Stockmayer was an internationally known chemist and university teacher. A former member of the National Academy of Sciences, he was recognized as one of the twentieth century pioneers of polymer science...
, chemist and Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth CollegeDartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
professor. - Andrew WheatingAndrew WheatingAndrew "Andy" Wheating is an American middle-distance track athlete. Wheating competed for the United States in the men's 800 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He is a professional runner for Nike.-Personal:...
, Olympic 800-meter runner (2008).