Morgan, Vermont

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Morgan, Vermont
Town
Lake Seymour - Morgan Vermont 2014-05-02 20-35.jpg
Morgan vt highlight.png
Located in Orleans County, Vermont
Map of USA VT.svg
Location of Vermont in the United States
Coordinates: 44°54′19″N71°59′25″W / 44.90528°N 71.99028°W / 44.90528; -71.99028
Country United States
State Vermont
County Orleans
CharteredNovember 6, 1780
Communities
  • Morgan
  • Morgan Center
Area
  Total
33.9 sq mi (87.7 km2)
  Land31.3 sq mi (81.0 km2)
  Water2.6 sq mi (6.8 km2)
Elevation
1,384 ft (506 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
638
  Density20/sq mi (7.9/km2)
  Households
236
  Families
176
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
05853 (Morgan)
05829 (Derby)
05872 (West Charleston)
Area code 802
FIPS code 50-46450 [1]
GNIS feature ID1462275 [2]

Morgan is the easternmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 638 at the 2020 census. [3] The town contains two villages: Morgan and Morgan Center. [4]

Contents

History

The town was named for John Morgan, a landholder. [5]

The first settler was Nathan Wilcox in 1800. [6]

During the Civil War the town furnished forty-seven enlisted men, thirteen of whom were killed or died from the effects of wounds or disease. [7]

Geography

Seymour Lake in Morgan Vermont Morgan Vermont, Seymour Lake.jpg
Seymour Lake in Morgan Vermont

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.9 square miles (87.7 km2), of which 31.3 square miles (81.0 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.8 km2) (7.71%) is water.

Lake Seymour is contained entirely within the town. It covers 1,732 acres (7.01 km2). It is the third largest lake to be contained solely within the state., [8] after Willoughby Lake and Lake Bomoseen [9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1810 135
1820 116−14.1%
1830 331185.3%
1840 42227.5%
1850 48615.2%
1860 54812.8%
1870 61412.0%
1880 71115.8%
1890 520−26.9%
1900 510−1.9%
1910 463−9.2%
1920 368−20.5%
1930 363−1.4%
1940 335−7.7%
1950 296−11.6%
1960 260−12.2%
1970 28610.0%
1980 46060.8%
1990 4978.0%
2000 66934.6%
2010 74912.0%
2020 638−14.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] [11]

As of the census [1] of 2000, there were 669 people, 247 households, and 185 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.4 people per square mile (8.3/km2). There were 672 housing units at an average density of 21.5 per square mile (8.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.21% White, 0.30% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 247 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,292, and the median income for a family was $42,344. Males had a median income of $28,542 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,565. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Town

Education

No local elementary school

The local school district supports the Derby Elementary School. [13]

Politics

Ninety percent of those registered turned out to vote in the 2008 general election, highest in the county. [14]

Morgan town vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2024 [15] 40.48% 16855.90%2323.61% 15
2020 [16] 42.68% 17254.09%2183.23% 13
2016 [17] 29.53% 10157.60%19712.87% 44
2012 [18] 47.37% 16251.17%1751.46% 5
2008 [19] 50.92%19347.49% 1801.58% 6
2004 [20] 44.04% 15955.12%1990.83% 3
2000 [21] 39.26% 13753.30%1867.45% 26
1996 [22] 40.43%11437.94% 10721.63% 61
1992 [23] 31.42% 10434.74%11533.84% 112

In modern times, Morgan, Vermont is a mostly Republican jurisdiction. The GOP candidates have carried Morgan in five of the last seven presidential elections. In 2008, Barack Obama became the lone Democratic presidential candidate in the last thirty years to win a majority of the vote. Morgan was one of only two Vermont towns to vote for Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. [24] In 2016, Donald Trump improved on Romney's performance, and won the town by a margin of 27 points.

References

  1. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "Census - Geography Profile: Morgan town, Orleans County, Vermont" . Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  4. Vermont Villages, Towns, Counties Archived October 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Profile for Morgan, Vermont". ePodunk . Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  6. Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont
  7. Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883-1884, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child; May 1887
  8. "VT Lakes Greater than 10 Acres.pdf" (PDF). Department of Environmental Conservation. State of Vermont. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  9. Johnson, Charles W. (1984). The Nature of Vermont. University Press of New England.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Vermont History Explorer" . Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  12. Voter support school budget, keep woodlot, The Chronicle, March 7, 2007, page 25
  13. "TOWN OF MORGAN 3 2019 PLAN" (PDF). Northeastern Vermont Development Association. Northeastern Vermont Development Association. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  14. Voter turnout. the Chronicle. November 5, 2008.
  15. "VT Elections Database » 2024 President General Election". VT Elections Database. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  16. "VT Elections Database » 2020 President General Election". VT Elections Database. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  17. "VT Elections Database » 2016 President General Election".
  18. "VT Elections Database » 2012 President General Election".
  19. "VT Elections Database » 2008 President General Election".
  20. "VT Elections Database » 2004 President General Election".
  21. "VT Elections Database » 2000 President General Election".
  22. "VT Elections Database » 1996 President General Election".
  23. "VT Elections Database » 1992 President General Election".
  24. "2012 Election Results". US Election Atlas . Retrieved September 4, 2014.