Stowe, Vermont

Stowe, Vermont
Town
Stowe Community Church
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Ski Capital of the East
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont Location in the United States
Coordinates: 44°28′31″N 72°42′8″W / 44.47528°N 72.70222°W / 44.47528; -72.70222Coordinates: 44°28′31″N 72°42′8″W / 44.47528°N 72.70222°W / 44.47528; -72.70222
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Lamoille
Communities	Stowe Lower Village Moscow Stowe Fork West Branch
Government
• Type	Board of Selectmen
Area [1]
• Total	72.76 sq mi (188.45 km2)
• Land	72.60 sq mi (188.03 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation [3]	889 ft (271 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	4,314
• Density	59/sq mi (22.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	05672
Area code(s)	802 Exchange: 253
FIPS code	50-70525[4]
Website	www.townofstowevt.org

Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,314 at the 2010 census.^[2] The town lies on Vermont Routes 108 and 100. It is nicknamed "The Ski Capital of the East" and is home to Stowe Mountain Resort, a ski facility with terrain on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.

History[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (December 2018)

Stowe was chartered on June 8, 1763, by Royal Governor Benning Wentworth of the Province of New Hampshire.^[5] Vermont did not become a U.S. state until 28 years later, in 1791.

Geography[]

Stowe is in southern Lamoille County, lying in a broad, fertile valley between Mount Mansfield and other peaks of the Green Mountains to the west, and the Worcester Range to the east. The town is bordered by Chittenden County to the west and Washington County to the south and east. The village of Stowe sits in the east-central part of the town, along the Little River where it is joined by its West Branch. The Little River, a tributary of the Winooski, flows southward past the village of Moscow and into Waterbury Lake, a large reservoir created by a flood control dam in Waterbury but which extends north into the Stowe town limits.^[6]

Transportation[]

Vermont Route 100 crosses the town from north to south, passing through the village of Stowe. VT 100 leads north 9 miles (14 km) to Morrisville and south 10 miles (16 km) to . Vermont Route 108 has its southern terminus in Stowe village and leads northwest through Smugglers Notch 17 miles (27 km) to Jeffersonville in the Lamoille River valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 72.8 square miles (188.5 km²), of which 72.6 square miles (188.0 km²) are land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 0.23%, are water.^[1] By area, it is the second-largest town in the state of Vermont after Chittenden in Rutland County.

Climate[]

Mount Mansfield[]

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Mount Mansfield has a temperate continental climate (Dc) with mild summers (l), very cold winters (c) and year-around precipitation (Dclc). Dclc climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 14.0 °F (−10.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid on Mount Mansfield, episodes of warmth and moderate humidity can occur with heat index values > 81 °F (27 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 89.5 °F (31.9 °C) on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 69.8 °F (21.0 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.74 inches (146 mm) on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −26.7 °F (−32.6 °C).^[7] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was ��35.6 °F (−37.6 °C) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below −42 °F (−41 °C). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow are frequent from late-fall to early-spring.

The Lodge at Spruce Peak[]

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, the Lodge at Spruce Peak has a temperate continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo). Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid at The Lodge at Spruce Peak, episodes of warmth and moderate humidity can occur with heat index values > 88 °F (31 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 89.8 °F (32.1 °C) on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 69.7 °F (20.9 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.62 inches (143 mm) on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −23.7 °F (−30.9 °C).^[7] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −35.8 °F (−37.7 °C) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −38 °F (−39 °C). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow are somewhat frequent from December through March.

Stowe village[]

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Stowe village has a temperate continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo). Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid at Stowe village, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 92 °F (33 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 94.7 °F (34.8 °C) on 07/09/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 71.9 °F (22.2 °C) on 07/01/2018. July is the peak month for thunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 4.65 inches (118 mm) on 08/28/2011. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −25.2 °F (−31.8 °C).^[7] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −35.1 °F (−37.3 °C) on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −40 °F (−40 °C). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once or twice per winter.

Ecology[]

Mount Mansfield[]

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Mount Mansfield has a dominant vegetation type of Northeast Spruce/Fir (96) with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Conifer forest (22).^[9] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. The plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −26.7 °F (−32.6 °C).^[7]

The Lodge at Spruce Peak[]

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, The Lodge at Spruce Peak has a dominant vegetation type of Northeast Spruce/Fir (96) with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Conifer forest (22).^[9] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in mid-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. The plant hardiness zone is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −23.7 °F (−30.9 °C).^[7]

Stowe Village[]

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Stowe village has a dominant vegetation type of Northern [Hardwood]s/[Spruce] (108) with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Hardwoods (23).^[9] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in early-May and peak fall color usually occurs in late-September. The plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −25.2 °F (−31.8 °C).^[7]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1800	316		—
1810	650		105.7%
1820	957		47.2%
1830	1,570		64.1%
1840	1,371		−12.7%
1850	1,771		29.2%
1860	2,046		15.5%
1870	2,049		0.1%
1880	1,896		−7.5%
1890	1,886		−0.5%
1900	1,926		2.1%
1910	1,991		3.4%
1920	1,800		−9.6%
1930	1,654		−8.1%
1940	1,741		5.3%
1950	1,720		−1.2%
1960	1,901		10.5%
1970	2,388		25.6%
1980	2,991		25.3%
1990	3,433		14.8%
2000	4,339		26.4%
2010	4,314		−0.6%
2014 (est.)	4,411	[10]	2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 4,339 people, 1,905 households, and 1,129 families residing in the town. The population density was 59.7 people per square mile (23.1/km²). There were 2,728 housing units at an average density of 37.5 per square mile (14.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.51% White, 0.28% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 1,905 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.

Economy[]

There has been some manufacturing in Stowe, such as the Tubbs Snowshoe factory, but it closed in 2009 and moved its manufacturing overseas.^{[citation needed]}

The median income for a household in the town was $52,378, and the median income for a family was $64,700. Males had a median income of $37,788 versus $31,689 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,474. About 3.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.^[4] The median house value was $412,183 in 2012.^[12]

Points of interest[]

• Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa
• Trapp Family Lodge
• Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum
• Stowe Mountain Resort - Stowe, "The Ski Capital of the East", has long been known for its winter recreation. Its ski area was purchased by Vail Resorts in 2017 for $41 million.^[13] It has 117 ski runs spread over Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, and boasts 13 lifts.^[14]
• Stowe Recreation Path - a recreation trail^[15] that runs 5.3 miles (8.5 km), and was completed in 1989 at a total cost of $680,000. The path stretches from the Village downtown all the way to the TopNotch Lodge. It has received several awards and honors.^[16]
• Cady Hill Forest on the western edge of Stowe village was conserved by the Stowe Land Trust in 2012 and transferred to the town of Stowe. It offers more than 11 miles (18 km) of hiking and mountain bike trails, with an access point off Route 108 (Mountain Road). The Stowe Mountain Bike Club is currently responsible for maintaining the trail network.^[17]

Education[]

There are three public schools in town: Stowe Elementary School, Stowe Middle School, and Stowe High School. The Mount Mansfield Winter Academy is located in Stowe, which has a focus on snow sport athletes.

Stowe Land Trust[]

Stowe Land Trust has conserved 30 properties and over 3,500 acres (14 km²), many of which are available to the public. One is Wiessner Woods, conserved by the trust in 1992 through a donation from the Wiessner family.^[18]

Media[]

The Stowe Reporter, covering local politics, business, arts, and personalities, has been the weekly newspaper of record for the town of Stowe since its founding in 1958. The Vermont Community Newspaper Group, owner of the Stowe Reporter and four other community weekly newspapers in Vermont, is based in Stowe.

Radio station WCVT is licensed to Stowe, and programs a classical music format.

Notable people[]

• Walter J. Bigelow, mayor of Burlington^[19]
• Jake Burton Carpenter, CEO of Burton Snowboards^{[citation needed]}
• Rusty DeWees, comedian, actor, and writer
• Joseph Dutton, worked as a missionary with Father Damien
• William "Billy" Kidd, first American man to earn an Olympic medal in alpine skiing
• Joe Kirkwood Sr., golfer
• Graham Mink, former right wing for the Washington Capitals, now playing for Dornbirner EC of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL)
• Tiger Shaw, Olympics alpine ski racer and President of U.S.S.A
• Joseph Skinger, artisan
• Ken Squier, Lap-by-Lap commentator for NASCAR
• Maria von Trapp, matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers
• Ty Walker, youngest member of the 2014 US Olympic Slopestyle Snowboard team
• Fritz Wiessner, pioneer of free climbing

Gallery[]

• 

  Stowe Community Church

• 

  Shaw's General Store lies opposite the Town Hall.

• 

  Mount Mansfield is the highest point in the state of Vermont, and home to the Stowe Mountain Resort.

• 

  Trapp Family Lodge

• 

  Aaron Draper Shattuck. Stowe, Vermont. 1858. Graphite on wove paper; sheet: 28 × 44.3 cm (11 × 17 7/16 in.) National Gallery of Art, Washington. Gift of Paul Magriel. 1980.50.4

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Stowe.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stowe, Vermont.

• Official website