St. George, Vermont
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St. George is a town located in Chittenden County, Vermont and has the smallest area of any town in Vermont. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 698.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.3 km² (3.6 mi²). 9.3 km² (3.6 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 698 people, 264 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density is 75.1/km² (194.5/mi²). There are 277 housing units at an average density of 29.8/km² (77.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.14% White, 0.57% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 264 households out of which 43.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% are married couples living together, 10.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% are non-families. 18.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the town the population is spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $44,028, and the median income for a family is $43,438. Males have a median income of $33,036 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the town is $22,882. 8.9% of the population and 7.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.7% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
The town was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire on August 18, 1763. At that time the grantees were under the impression that they had a full-sized town of six miles square. But Williston and Burlington had been chartered earlier and their northern boundaries were indisputedly the Winooski River. This left Shelburne and St. George, both chartered the same day, with a piece of land six to seven miles wide at Lake Champlain but narrowing in a triangular fashion as it moved inland. St. George was left with only 2200 acres, not the 23,040 originally called for. In 1848 a small piece of land was taken from Shelburne and added to St. George to give it 2304 acres.
St. George was named after King George of England and St. George. Joshua Isham came from Colchester, Connecticut and was the first settler in St. George. The year was 1784. The first town meeting was held on March 9, 1813.
St. George has always been an agricultural town. There were no mills or industry of any significance. From 1838 to 1901 St. George had a post office. The Red Schoolhouse, built in 1852, had students in it until 1965. It has seen town dances, church services, and even the fabrication of mattresses for town residents by the Home Demonstration Group during World War I. The schoolhouse was also used for town meetings. It is now used for a polling place and public hearings.
In the early 1970's St. George attracted some national attention with its development plan. In an effort to avoid becoming just an area of suburban housing, some land was purchased to be the site of a town center that would include offices, shops, and small industries. A design competition was held. The winning plan was chosen from ten designs submitted by architectural firms. It was a unique way to go about planning and building a The original plan has undergone several changes and the first construction has started.
Today St. George is a suburb of Burlington. There are several housing developments and a trailer park. The Rocky Ridge Golf Course is located in St. George. Town meetings are held in the club house of the golf course. The 1980 population was 677.
St. George is bounded on the north and east by Williston, on the west by Shelburne, and on the south by Hinesburg. Part of the town borders on Lake Iroquois. The highest point in town is Mt. Pritchard at 11 60 feet. During the 1940's there was an active lumber camp on the mountain. Ruins of the buildings can still be seen.