Stowe, Vermont


Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,314 at the 2010 census. The town lies on Vermont Route 108, locally known as the Mountain Road. 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

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

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 72.7 square miles, of which 72.7 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is water. By area, it is the second-largest town in the state of Vermont after Chittenden in Rutland County.
Stowe lies 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 Little River, with its main east and west branches and various tributaries, flows southward and above the Village of Waterbury Center, empties into the large reservoir created by the flood control dam. From there the Little River flows southward and eventually empties into the westward flowing Winooski River west of Waterbury Center.

Climate

Mount Mansfield

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Mount Mansfield has a Temperate Continental climate with mild summers, very cold winters and year-around precipitation. Dclc climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥, all months with an average mean temperature < 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 >. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 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 on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values <. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 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 with warm summers, cold winters and year-around precipitation. Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥, all months with an average mean temperature < 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 >. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on 07/08/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 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 on 09/16/1999. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values <. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 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 with warm summers, cold winters and year-around precipitation. Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥, all months with an average mean temperature < 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 >. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on 07/09/1988, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 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 on 08/28/2011. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 4a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on 01/27/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values <. Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 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 would have a dominant vegetation type of Northeast Spruce/Fir with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Conifer forest. 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.

The Lodge at Spruce Peak

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, The Lodge at Spruce Peak would have a dominant vegetation type of Northeast Spruce/Fir with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Conifer forest. 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.

Stowe Village

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Stowe Village would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern s/ with a dominant vegetation form of Northern Hardwoods. 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.

Demographics

As of the census 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. There were 2,728 housing units at an average density of 37.5 per square mile. 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.
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. The median house value was $412,183 in 2012.

Points of interest

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

has conserved 30 properties and over, 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.

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