Searsburg, Vermont

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Searsburg, Vermont
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Searsburg, Vermont


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Vermont
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Bennington

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 55.9
area_land_km2 = 55.8
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 21.6
area_land_sq_mi = 21.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 96
population_density_km2 = 1.7
population_density_sq_mi = 4.5

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 670
elevation_ft = 2198
latd = 42 |latm = 53 |lats = 22 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 57 |longs = 48 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 802
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 50-63175GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1462202GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Searsburg is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 96 at the 2000 census.

Searsburg is the home of a six megawatt wind turbine farm owned by Green Mountain Power. The town officers have supported the electrical generating station consisting of multiple towers atop a ridgeline in a prime black bear mating habitat. There is a massive expansion proposed for the generating station. Seventeen 410' tall turbines would be located within the Green Mountain National Forest and enclose most of the higher altitudes of the town. In 2007, town residents voted overwhelmingly to oppose the expansion.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.6 square miles (55.9 km²), of which, 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 96 people, 40 households, and 24 families residing in the town. The population density was 4.5 people per square mile (1.7/km²). There were 87 housing units at an average density of 4.0/sq mi (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.

There were 40 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 152.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $25,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,472. There were 10.0% of families and 17.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 12.9% of under eighteens and 35.7% of those over 64.

Third-party support

Searsburg has a history of unusually good showings for third-party candidates in Presidential elections.
* In 1992, Searsburg was one of four Vermont towns to support Reform candidate H. Ross Perot, who received 14 votes. Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican Bush tied with 12 votes, with Marxist New Alliance Party member Lenora Fulani receiving one vote.
* In 1996, the town gave 45 percent to Clinton, with Perot polling at a significantly above-average 39 percent, but lost to Bill Clinton, with Republican Bob Dole coming in a distant third.
* In 2000, Libertarian Harry Browne won Searsburg with 51 percent. Democrat Al Gore polled at 40 percent, and Nader received 9 percent. Notably, Republican George W. Bush received no votes. Browne's victory was particularly unusual, because he polled at under half a percent statewide.
* In 2004, however, third-party candidates received only 4 percent (one vote each for Nader and Libertarian Michael Badnarik). Democrat John Kerry defeated Bush, 30 votes to 22.

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2068/searsburg1.html History of Searsburg Vermont]

*Geolinks-US-cityscale|42.88917|-72.96389