Windsor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,670. The shire town (county seat) is the municipality of Woodstock. The county's largest municipality is Hartford.
History
Windsor County is notable for being the birthplace (1805) of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, Jr.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 977 square miles (2,530Â km2), of which 969 square miles (2,510Â km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19Â km2) (0.8%) is water. It is the largest county by area in Vermont.
Adjacent counties
- Orange County - north
- Grafton County, New Hampshire - northeast
- Sullivan County, New Hampshire - east
- Windham County - south
- Bennington County - southwest
- Rutland County - west
- Addison County - northwest
National parks
- Green Mountain National Forest (part)
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
- White Rocks National Recreation Area (part)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 57,418 people, 24,162 households, and 15,729 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 31,621 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.72% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of English, 12.9% Irish, 10.9% American, 9.9% French, 7.7% German, 6.7% French Canadian and 5.5% Italian ancestry according. 96.4% spoke English and 1.5% French as their first language.
There were 24,162 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86. In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,688, and the median income for a family was $59,002. Males had a median income of $42,648 versus $25,696 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,369. About 3.20% of families and 5.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.
In 2007, the census department estimated that Windsor had the oldest average age in the state, 44.7. This compares with the actual census in 2000 of 41.3 years.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 56,670Â people, 24,753Â households, and 15,420Â families residing in the county. The population density was 58.5 inhabitants per square mile (22.6/km2). There were 34,118 housing units at an average density of 35.2 per square mile (13.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% white, 0.9% Asian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:
23.2% English
17.3% Irish
13.5% French
11.8% German
8.3% American
7.6% Italian
6.1% Scottish
5.6% French Canadian
4.9% Polish
3.2% Scotch-Irish
2.3% Swedish
2.2% Dutch
1.5% Russian
1.2% Norwegian
1.1% Welsh
Of the 24,753Â households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 45.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,893 and the median income for a family was $63,387. Males had a median income of $44,610 versus $34,150 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,053. About 5.6% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Transportation
In 2009, the United States Department of Transportation measured 113.6 miles (182.8Â km) of "major arteries", the highest in the state.
Because US Route 4 had the "feel" of a highway, motorists were inclined to speed. As a result, the Windsor County Sheriff's Department wrote 2,452 tickets in 2007.
Communities
Towns
Villages
Villages are census divisions, but have no separate corporate existence from the surrounding towns.
- Ludlow
- Perkinsville
- Woodstock
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
See also
- List of counties in Vermont
- List of towns in Vermont
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Windsor County, Vermont
- USS Windsor (APA-55), an attack transport named for Windsor County
References
External links
- National Register of Historic Places listing for Windsor Co., Vermont