Moretown, Vermont

Moretown, Vermont
Town
View of Moretown Village Moretown Town Hall Moretown General Store Ward Clapboard Mill Moretown Memorial Library
Location in Washington County and the state of Vermont
Coordinates: 44°14′53″N 72°44′12″W
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Washington
Communities	Moretown Moretown Common
Area
• Total	40.2 sq mi (104.2 km2)
• Land	39.9 sq mi (103.3 km2)
• Water	0.31 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation	1,673 ft (510 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,753
• Density	43.95/sq mi (16.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	05660 (Moretown) 05602 (Montpelier) 05676 (Waterbury)
Area code	802
FIPS code	50-46225
GNIS feature ID	1462153
Website	www.moretownvt.org

Moretown is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,753 at the 2020 census.

History

In 1913, 125 acres were purchased in North Moretown and a talc processing facility was built. To this day, the old structure remains a town landmark in disrepair.

Moretown Village was devastated in 2011 by Hurricane Irene. More than 60 homes and buildings flooded, including the post office, the town offices, the church, the school and the fire station.

Geography

Moretown is characterized by forested hills, mountain streams, and farm fields flanking the Mad River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 square miles (104.2 km²), of which 39.9 square miles (103.3 km²) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.8 km²), or 0.81%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	191		—
1810	405		112.0%
1820	593		46.4%
1830	816		37.6%
1840	1,128		38.2%
1850	1,335		18.4%
1860	1,410		5.6%
1870	1,263		−10.4%
1880	1,180		−6.6%
1890	956		−19.0%
1900	902		−5.6%
1910	686		−23.9%
1920	930		35.6%
1930	889		−4.4%
1940	675		−24.1%
1950	883		30.8%
1960	788		−10.8%
1970	904		14.7%
1980	1,221		35.1%
1990	1,415		15.9%
2000	1,653		16.8%
2010	1,658		0.3%
2020	1,753		5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,653 people, 650 households, and 436 families residing in the town. The population density was 41.2 people per square mile (15.9/km²). There were 727 housing units at an average density of 18.1 per square mile (7.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.19% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 650 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,750, and the median income for a family was $52,202. Males had a median income of $35,270 versus $26,719 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,283. About 5.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Morefest

A photograph of the fireworks show during the 2021 Morefest celebration.

The Morefest festival is held annually in Moretown. Typically celebrated in September, the festival involves vendors, a car show, and a fireworks display.

Economy

Moretown has one retail store, The Moretown General Store, which serves as a gas station, convenience store and delicatessen. The Moretown general store is the center of the town, which often serves as a meeting place and is in many ways a community center.

Gas Station Sign updated with Stewart's Shops branding

The Moretown General Store was purchased by the Stewart's Shops chain in 2026; designated store #506.

Moretown is also home to many successful entrepreneurs in fields such as real estate, carpentry, baking, plumbing, and other trades; however, most residents commute to work in other towns with larger economies such as Montpelier and Burlington.

Moretown also has several small farms, a clapboard mill, three churches, one elementary school, a small library, and a town hall.

Notable people

• Matthew H. Carpenter, US senator from Wisconsin
• Harvey Clapp, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, was born in Moretown
• William B. Mayo, Medical doctor and politician in Northfield, Vermont

Gallery

• 
  Driving north on Route 100B in the winter
• 
  Camel's Hump viewed from Moretown in autumn.
• 
  A creek near Moretown Common
• 
  Town Hall in 2016
• 
  Saint Patrick Church
• 
  Backside of Saint Patrick Church
• 
  Moretown General Store Sign
• 
  United Methodist Church
• 
  United Methodist Church Steeple
• 
  Moretown Village & Town Forest Information
• 
  Post Office
• 
  Main War Memorial
• 
  Main Slab of the War Memorial
• 
  Detail View of 1st WWII Section of War Memorial
• 
  Detail View of 2nd WWII Section of War Memorial
• 
  Vietnam War and Korean Conflict Memorial
• 
  Backside of Vietnam War and Korean Conflict Memorial

External links

• Media related to Moretown, Vermont at Wikimedia Commons
• Town of Moretown official website