Shelburne, Vermont

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Shelburne, Vermont
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Shelburne, Vermont


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Vermont
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Chittenden

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 116.3
area_land_km2 = 63.0
area_water_km2 = 53.3
area_total_sq_mi = 44.9
area_land_sq_mi = 24.3
area_water_sq_mi = 20.6

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6944
population_density_km2 = 110.3
population_density_sq_mi = 285.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 62
elevation_ft = 203
latd = 44 |latm = 23 |lats = 23 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 13 |longs = 29 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 05482
area_code = 802
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 50-64300GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1462206GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, United States, along the shores of Lake Champlain. The population was 6,944 at the 2000 census.

History

Shelburne was chartered by New Hampshire, August 18, 1763 to Jesse Hallock and sixty-four associates by Governor Benning Wentworth. The name "Shelburne" or "Shelburn" was chosen to honor William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, a celebrated nobleman of the British Parliament and Prime Minister. According to the charter, the town was to have an area of convert|23500|acre|km2|1, or a tract a little over convert|6|sqmi|km2|1, but owing to a blunder on the part of the surveyors, it was shorn of a large portion of its possessions.

The town of Shelburne comprises convert|22.3|sqmi|km2|1. From the beginning, Shelburne's economy was based on farming. With the clearing of land and burning of logs the town experienced a potash boom. A carding and fulling mill, a gristmill, a sawmill, and a blacksmith shop were erected on the LaPlatte River at Shelburne Falls. In 1811, a few Merino sheep imported from Spain led to an upsurge in sheep raising. Orchards and fruit growing became a major source of income for the farmers, with some 17,740 trees in 1880. Following the War of 1812, commerce on the lake expanded rapidly.

The Lake Champlain Transportation Company established its shipyard at Shelburne Harbor and launched its first steamboat, the "General Green" in 1825, to be followed by ten others before the Ticonderoga in 1906. In 1955, the Ticonderoga was moved overland to the Shelburne Museum where it is now on display. [http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/collections/detail.php?id=8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.9 square miles (116.3 km²), of which, 24.3 square miles (63.0 km²) of it is land and 20.6 square miles (53.3 km²) of it (45.85%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,944 people, 2,632 households, and 1,845 families residing in the town. The population density was 285.6 people per square mile (110.3/km²). There were 2,741 housing units at an average density of 112.8/sq mi (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.60% White, 0.23% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.

There were 2,632 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% wwere couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

Economy

The town contains businesses, including manufacturers, service providers, retail establishments and the State's largest continuing care retirement community. In 2007 a historic inn was converted into a mixed use array of offices, small retail, and a restaurant.

Personal income

The median income for a household in the town was $68,091, and the median income for a family was $78,492. Males had a median income of $50,085 versus $28,429 for females. The per capita income for the town was $37,210. About 2.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

The town has three tourist attractions, the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

The town maintains a beach on Lake Champlain which has a boat launch and nature park.

Notables

*4th generation RockefellersFact|date=July 2008
*Rodolphe Vallee, the current Ambassador to SlovakiaFact|date=July 2008

Schools

Public:
* [http://www.scsvt.org/ Shelburne Community School] (elementary and middle school)
*Champlain Valley Union High School (a regional high school located in Hinesburg)

Private:
* [http://www.lcwaldorf.org/ The Lake Champlain Waldorf School] (K-8 in Shelburne; high school campus in Charlotte)
* [http://www.heartworksvt.org The Renaissance School] (elementary and middle school; has a Shelburne campus)

Notable residents

*Madeleine Kunin, Governor of Vermont, 1985-1991
*Kevin Lepage, NASCAR driver.
*Lucius Lyon, U.S. statesman from Michigan.
*Ezra Meech (1773-1856), Vermont Representative to United States House of Representatives in the early 19th century.
*George A. Meigs (1816-1897), prominent entrepreneur, businessman and shipbuilder in Washington Territory
*Barbara Snelling, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, 1992-1996
*Richard Snelling, Governor of Vermont, 1977-1985, 1991
*Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888-1960), art collector and founder of the Shelburne Museum.
*Dr. William Seward Webb (1851-1926), railroad executive and founder of Shelburne Farms.

References

External links

* Official Site
** [http://www.shelburnevt.org/ Shelburne, Vermont Official Website]
* Attractions
** [http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/ Shelburne Museum]
** [http://shelburnefarms.org/ Shelburne Farms]
* Public Safety
** [http://www.shelburnefire.org/ Shelburne Fire Department]
** [http://www.shelburnevt.org/departments/ems.html Shelburne Rescue Squad]
** [http://www.shelburnevt.org/departments/Police.html Shelburne Police Department]
** [http://www.shelburnevt.org/departments/dispatch.html Shelburne Dispatch / 9-1-1 Center]