Bennington County, Vermont

Bennington County
County
Bennington County courthouse in Manchester
Location within the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°01′46″N73°06′29″W / 43.029419°N 73.107956°W / 43.029419; -73.107956
Country	United States
State	Vermont
Founded	1778
Named for	Benning Wentworth
Shire Town	Bennington & Manchester
Largest town	Bennington
Area
• Total	678 sq mi (1,760 km2)
• Land	675 sq mi (1,750 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,347
• Density	55/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.rpc.bennington.vt.us

Bennington County is a county in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,347. ^[1] The shire towns (county seats) are jointly Bennington ("The Southshire") and Manchester ("The Northshire"), ^[2] and the largest municipality is Bennington. The county was created in 1778. ^[3]

History

Bennington is the oldest county in Vermont still in existence, created by the first general assembly on March 17, 1778. ^[4] Vermont was organized into two original counties, with Bennington in the west and Unity (a few days later renamed Cumberland) in the east. ^[5] On February 16, 1781 Rutland County was created from Bennington County. ^[6] On April 13, 1781, Bennington gained the gore east of the town of Bromley (now Peru) from Windham and Windsor Counties. ^[7]

From June 26, 1781, until February 23, 1782, Vermont attempted to annex part of New York east of the Hudson River (the so-called West Union); inhabitants in the area favored Vermont's township form of government, while Vermont hoped to gain bargaining power through expansion. ^[8] New York did not lose control of the area. For almost seven months Bennington County overlapped part of Albany County, New York. ^[9]

On February 27, 1787, Windham County gained the town of Stratton from Bennington County, ^[10] On October 25, 1805, Rutland County gained from the county when the town of Mount Tabor gained from the town of Peru. ^[11] The county gained from Rutland County when the town of Dorset gained a small area from the town of Mount Tabor on November 17, 1825. ^[12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 678 square miles (1,760 km²), of which 675 square miles (1,750 km²) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[13]

Adjacent counties

• Rutland County – north
• Windsor County – northeast
• Windham County – east
• Franklin County, Massachusetts – southeast
• Berkshire County, Massachusetts – south
• Rensselaer County, New York – southwest
• Washington County, New York – northwest

National protected areas

• Green Mountain National Forest (part)
• White Rocks National Recreation Area (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	12,206		—
1800	14,617		19.8%
1810	15,893		8.7%
1820	16,125		1.5%
1830	17,468		8.3%
1840	16,872		−3.4%
1850	18,589		10.2%
1860	19,436		4.6%
1870	21,325		9.7%
1880	21,950		2.9%
1890	20,448		−6.8%
1900	21,705		6.1%
1910	21,378		−1.5%
1920	21,577		0.9%
1930	21,655		0.4%
1940	22,286		2.9%
1950	24,115		8.2%
1960	25,088		4.0%
1970	29,282		16.7%
1980	33,345		13.9%
1990	35,845		7.5%
2000	36,994		3.2%
2010	37,125		0.4%
2020	37,347		0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1790–1960 [15] 1900–1990 [16] 1990–2000 [17] 2010–2018 [1]

2000 census

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 36,994 people, 14,846 households, and 9,917 families living in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21 people/km²). There were 19,403 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.75% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.5% were of Irish, 16.0% English, 10.5% French, 9.1% German, 9.0% American, 8.1% Italian and 6.3% French Canadian ancestry. 96.4% spoke English, 1.2% Spanish and 1.2% French as their first language.

There were 14,846 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,926, and the median income for a family was $46,565. Males had a median income of $31,982 versus $23,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,193. About 7.00% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 37,125 people, 15,470 households, and 9,767 families living in the county. ^[19] The population density was 55.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.2/km²). There were 20,922 housing units at an average density of 31.0 units per square mile (12.0 units/km²). ^[20] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.8% black, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. ^[19] The largest ancestry groups were:

• 18.8% Irish
• 17.1% English
• 14.8% French
• 13.9% German
• 9.8% Italian
• 5.9% American
• 5.5% French Canadian
• 4.2% Scottish
• 3.9% Polish
• 2.8% Scotch-Irish
• 2.3% Dutch
• 1.7% Swedish
• 1.6% Russian
• 1.3% Welsh

^[21]

Of the 15,470 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 45.1 years. ^[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,396 and the median income for a family was $60,642. Males had a median income of $40,996 versus $32,068 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,962. About 8.6% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[22]

Politics

In 1828, Bennington County voted for National Republican Party candidate John Quincy Adams and for Henry Clay in 1832.

From William Henry Harrison in 1836 to Winfield Scott in 1852, the county would vote for the Whig Party's candidates.

From John C. Frémont in 1856 to Richard Nixon in 1960, the Republican Party would have a 104-year winning streak in the county.

In 1964, the county was won by Democratic Party incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson, who became not only the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the county, but to win the state of Vermont entirely.

Following the Democrats' victory in 1964, the county went back to voting for Republican candidates for another 20 year winning streak starting with Richard Nixon in 1968 and ending with George H. W. Bush in 1988, who became the last Republican presidential candidate to win the county.

In 1992 the county was won by Bill Clinton and has been won by Democratic candidates ever since.

The county has voted for the statewide winner in forty-seven consecutive elections, tied with neighboring Rutland County, Vermont for the longest such streak in the nation.

United States presidential election results for Bennington County, Vermont ^{[23] [24]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,697	37.17%	12,326	59.52%	687	3.32%
2020	7,114	34.77%	12,705	62.09%	643	3.14%
2016	5,925	34.09%	9,539	54.88%	1,917	11.03%
2012	5,687	32.33%	11,514	65.45%	392	2.23%
2008	6,133	32.06%	12,524	65.47%	472	2.47%
2004	7,616	39.95%	11,069	58.06%	380	1.99%
2000	7,284	41.21%	9,021	51.03%	1,372	7.76%
1996	5,229	32.37%	8,139	50.39%	2,784	17.24%
1992	5,895	32.36%	8,178	44.89%	4,143	22.74%
1988	8,387	53.34%	7,174	45.62%	164	1.04%
1984	9,035	59.11%	6,039	39.51%	210	1.37%
1980	6,091	44.39%	5,361	39.07%	2,269	16.54%
1976	6,712	54.19%	5,443	43.94%	232	1.87%
1972	7,542	60.56%	4,804	38.58%	107	0.86%
1968	5,967	52.27%	4,966	43.50%	483	4.23%
1964	3,895	34.61%	7,359	65.39%	0	0.00%
1960	7,099	61.19%	4,502	38.80%	1	0.01%
1956	8,434	75.59%	2,719	24.37%	4	0.04%
1952	8,385	73.31%	3,018	26.39%	34	0.30%
1948	5,840	62.30%	3,340	35.63%	194	2.07%
1944	5,252	58.61%	3,709	41.39%	0	0.00%
1940	5,845	57.42%	4,308	42.32%	27	0.27%
1936	5,515	56.08%	4,166	42.36%	153	1.56%
1932	5,250	55.76%	3,964	42.10%	202	2.15%
1928	6,114	63.49%	3,498	36.32%	18	0.19%
1924	5,341	72.91%	1,466	20.01%	518	7.07%
1920	4,172	71.43%	1,615	27.65%	54	0.92%
1916	2,602	60.40%	1,590	36.91%	116	2.69%
1912	1,464	36.10%	1,057	26.07%	1,534	37.83%
1908	2,453	73.66%	748	22.46%	129	3.87%
1904	2,419	74.29%	745	22.88%	92	2.83%
1900	2,666	74.57%	871	24.36%	38	1.06%
1896	3,086	80.39%	656	17.09%	97	2.53%
1892	2,196	64.21%	1,155	33.77%	69	2.02%
1888	2,497	60.72%	1,128	27.43%	487	11.84%
1884	2,335	62.58%	1,366	36.61%	30	0.80%
1880	2,641	64.71%	1,440	35.29%	0	0.00%
1876	2,426	58.40%	1,728	41.60%	0	0.00%
1872	2,471	72.19%	864	25.24%	88	2.57%
1868	2,592	74.55%	885	25.45%	0	0.00%
1864	2,327	69.44%	1,021	30.47%	3	0.09%
1860	1,937	70.54%	710	25.86%	99	3.61%
1856	2,120	71.26%	785	26.39%	70	2.35%

Education

Bennington is home to Bennington College. The Community College of Vermont and Vermont Technical College also have campuses in downtown Bennington. Southern Vermont College was located in Bennington, but closed in 2019.

Bennington County is home to these high schools:

• Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington
• Burr & Burton Academy in Manchester
• Arlington Memorial School in Arlington
• Long Trail School in Dorset
• Grace Christian School in Bennington, Vermont

Law enforcement

Bennington County is home to these local law enforcement agencies:

• Bennington Police Department
• Manchester Police Department
• Winhall Police Department

The Bennington County Sheriff's Department and Vermont State Police are two other sources of law enforcement for the county, especially in towns without their own local police departments.

Transportation

Major highways

• US 7
• VT 7A
• VT 8
• VT 9
• VT 11
• VT 30
• VT 67
• VT 67A
• VT 100
• VT 153
• VT 279
• VT 313
• VT 315
• VT 346

Bus

The main public transportation provider in Bennington County is the Green Mountain Community Network, whose Green Mountain Express bus system has five local bus routes in and around the town of Bennington and three commuter routes to Manchester; Wilmington; Williamstown, Massachusetts; and points in between as of September 29, 2014. Readsboro is served out of Wilmington by Southeast Vermont Transit's (formerly the Deerfield Valley Transit Association) fare free MOOver bus. There are also commuter buses to Rutland from Manchester and a regional bus line to Albany, New York from Bennington via Marble Valley Regional Transit District and Yankee Trails World Travel, respectively. Premier Coach's Vermont Translines (a partner of Greyhound) also stops in Bennington and Manchester on its intercity bus route between Albany and Burlington. The Shires Connector, an Amtrak Thruway intercity bus route also operated by Vermont Translines, also links Manchester and Bennington with Albany, NY's train station in Rensselaer, New York, their Greyhound bus station and airport. ^[25]

Air

William H. Morse State Airport is a small public-use and state-owned airport west of downtown Bennington, serving private aviation interests. Commercial airlines are available at Albany International Airport to the west in the state of New York, and to the north at Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport in Rutland County.

Communities

Downtown Arlington

Towns

• Arlington
• Bennington (shire town)
• Dorset
• Glastenbury
• Landgrove
• Manchester (shire town)
• Peru
• Pownal
• Readsboro
• Rupert
• Sandgate
• Searsburg
• Shaftsbury
• Stamford
• Sunderland
• Winhall
• Woodford

Villages

• Manchester Village
• North Bennington
• Old Bennington

Census-designated places

• Arlington
• Bennington
• Dorset
• East Dorset
• Manchester Center
• North Pownal
• Pownal
• Pownal Center
• Readsboro
• South Shaftsbury
• Stamford
• Stratton Mountain (partly in the town of Stratton in Windham County)

Other communities

• Bondville

See also

• List of counties in Vermont
• List of towns in Vermont
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bennington County, Vermont

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Vermont: Individual County Chronologies". Vermont Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
4. Vermont History Timeline Archived September 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
5. Vt. State Papers, 12:43–44.
6. Vermont State Papers, 13:5–6.
7. Vt. State Papers, 13:19.
8. Vt. State Papers, 13:45–46; Newton, 83–87; Williamson, C., 101–102.
9. Vt. State Papers, 3, pt. 2: 67–68.
10. Vt. State Papers, 14:173–175.
11. McCarty, "Evolution," 134; Vt. Laws 1805, ch. 15/pp. 19–20.
12. McCarty, "Evolution," 140; Vt. Laws 1825, no 18/p. 25; Vt. Laws 1832, no. 25/p. 25.
13. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
16. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
20. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
21. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
22. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
24. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,380 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 105 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 49 votes.
25. Vermont Shires Connector, Vermont Translines. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

External links

• Bennington County Sheriff's Department
• National Register of Historic Places listing for Bennington Co., Vermont

43°02′N73°07′W / 43.03°N 73.11°W / 43.03; -73.11