Irasburg Vermont is a small town located in Northern Vermont. Irasburg was established in 1781 when the land was granted to Ira Allen by the General Assembly of Vermont[1]. In 2010 the US census reported that there were 1096 citizens living in Irasburg[2] . Irasburg has a total land area of 40.6 square miles, 40.5 square miles being land and .1 square miles being water. The climate in Irasburg is relatively cool with the location averaging snow 9 out of the 12 months of the year [3]

School District

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There is only one elementary school (Irasburg Village School). The school consists of students in 5th through 8th grade. The number of students by grade is depicted below in 2011. Kindergarten consists of 14 Boys, 3 Girls, 17 total. First grade consists of 12 Boys, 5 Girls, 17 total. Second grade consists of 9 Boys, 8 Girls, 17 total. Third grade consists of 5 boys, 2 girls, 7 total. Fourth grade consists of 8 boys, 8 girls, 16 total. Fifth grade consists of 6 boys, 6 girls, 12 total. Sixth grade consists of 15 boys, 4 girls, 19 total. Seventh grade consists of 7 boys, 5 girls, 12 total. Eighth grade consists of 9 boys, 4 girls, 13 total. The school consists of a total of 130 students [4]

The school provides activities such as three seasons of intramural sports. The address is 292 Route 58 East Irasburg, VT 05845[5] .

Irasburg Village School is part of the Orleans Supervisory Union, which includes five school districts with K through 8 classes. There is no highs school in Irasburg, and therefore students attend the Lake Region Union High School. This school serves as the High School for the Supervisory Union. Lakes Region High School is located at 317 Lake Region Road Orleans, Vermont 05860[6]

Geography

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Climate

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Climate data for Newport, Vermont
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)
62
(17)
83
(28)
87
(31)
92
(33)
95
(35)
98
(37)
95
(35)
96
(36)
84
(29)
74
(23)
66
(19)
98
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 26.3
(−3.2)
31.0
(−0.6)
41.0
(5.0)
54.2
(12.3)
69.0
(20.6)
76.8
(24.9)
80.9
(27.2)
78.8
(26.0)
69.5
(20.8)
57.0
(13.9)
43.1
(6.2)
31.0
(−0.6)
54.9
(12.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 5.5
(−14.7)
7.8
(−13.4)
18.7
(−7.4)
31.3
(−0.4)
43.2
(6.2)
52.4
(11.3)
56.8
(13.8)
54.8
(12.7)
46.8
(8.2)
37.0
(2.8)
27.3
(−2.6)
13.0
(−10.6)
32.9
(0.5)
Record low °F (°C) −38
(−39)
−38
(−39)
−32
(−36)
−2
(−19)
20
(−7)
28
(−2)
36
(2)
32
(0)
20
(−7)
0
(−18)
−7
(−22)
−40
(−40)
−40
(−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.96
(75)
2.16
(55)
2.96
(75)
2.93
(74)
3.67
(93)
3.93
(100)
4.19
(106)
4.18
(106)
3.76
(96)
3.45
(88)
3.47
(88)
3.12
(79)
40.78
(1,035)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 24.7
(63)
17.2
(44)
18.8
(48)
6.9
(18)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.01
(0.03)
1.1
(2.8)
11.0
(28)
23.1
(59)
102.9
(261)
Source: NOAA [7]

The Climate in Irasburg is relatively cool, with record temperatures never exceeding 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and July which is the hottest month, averaging a temperature of just over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The record low occurred in December where temperatures reached -40 degrees Fahrenheit. On average Irasburg sees snow in 9 out of the 12 months of the year. The majority of the snowfall occurs between the months of November and March however, as each of these months average over 10 inches. On the year, Irasburg averages about 103 inches of snow.

Demographics

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As of the census of 2010, there were 1,096 people, 452 households, and 318 families residing in Irasburg. There were 545 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 96.6% White, 1059 people, .5% black, 5 people, .1% Native American, 1 person, 0.5% Asian, 5 people, 0.5% from other races, 6 people, and 1.8% from two or more races, 20 people. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.1% of the population, 12 people.

There were 452 households out of which 27.9%, 127 households, had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 255 households, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 43 people, 4.4 % were males with no family, 20 people, and 21.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 102, and 4.4%, 20 houses had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.81.

The ages of people were found as follows. 54 people, or 4.9% of the population were from 5 to 9 years old. 74, or 6.8% were from 10 to 14 years. 70, or 6.4% were form 15 to 19 years old. 76, or 6.9% were from 20 to 24 years old. 49, or 4.5% were from 25 to 29 years old. 63 or 5.7% were from 30 to 34 years old. 62, or 5.7% were form 35 to 39 years old. 59, or 5.4% were from 40 to 44 years old. 71, or 6.5% were from 45 to 49 years old. 105, or 9.6% were from 50 to 54 years. 89, or 8.1% were from 55 to 59 years old. 86, or 7.8% were from 60 to 64 years old. 63, or 5.7%, were from 65 to 69 years old. 64, or 5.8% were from 70 to 74 years old. 45, or 4.1% were from 75 to 79 years old. 27, or 2.5%, were from 80 to 84 years old. 18, or 1.6% were 85 years and over.

At the time of the 2010 census there were 574 males and 522 females living in Irasburg. The median age for males was 42., and the median age for females was 44.4[8]

History

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The land now known as Irasburg Vermont was granted on February 23, 1781, to Ira Allen, by the General Assembly of Vermont. At this point in time, the lands of Vermont were claimed by both New Hampshire and Maine. The Continental Congress ordered that the land would not be distributed until the inhabitants of Maine, New Hampshire, and the land known as "Vermont" resolved the conflict of who truly owned the land. The General assembly of Vermont ignored this order however and Vermont was granted to 40-70 individuals. Ira Allen, the person known to have been granted the most land, was born in Colchester in 1790 and attended Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. The Allens leased the land which they had received to settlers. Although Ira Allen was the first to be granted land, Irasburg’s first settler was Caleb Leach in 1798. No land was conveyed by deed however, until Ira H. Allen, son of Ira Allen, became town resident in 1814[9] .

In 1812, Irasburg became the Orleans County shire town, and remained this way until Newport became shire town in 1886[10].

The first courthouse and jail were both built in 1815, by Irasburgh residents at their own expense. The original courthouse was moved in 1847 however, and a new one was built in its place on the same site. The original jail was built of timber, and was replaced by one which was made of stone in 1838. This was eventually made of one made of granite in 1862[11].

Captain James Richardson settled Irasburg in 1803 and is credited for opening the first tavern in Town[12].

The production of salts and pearl-ashes was the primary industry in Irasburg for the beginning of the 19th century. Although there was an embargo, these goods were transported to Canada. During this time, there was a large amount of smuggling of the salts and pearl-ashes by town residents[13].

Mills emerged in Irasburg as early as early as 1810. By the 1820s, the town began to prosper as industrial sites began to emerge which included, a woolen mill, tannery, and factory production of stoves and plows[14].

Cultural Events

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The Kingdom run annual road race that takes place in Irasburg Vermont (Northeast Kingdom) each summer. The race both begins and finishes in the Irasburg town commons. The race consists of a down and back course which varies between paved and dirt roads. Runners have the option of participating in a 5km, 10km, or 20km distance. Water stations are placed at the 5km, 10km and 20km turn arounds, as well as the 5 mile mark. Participants have the ability to either walk or run, and the record times are recorded for each distance. When results are analyzed at the end, the participants are grouped by gender. The record holders for each group are seen below.

The woman's 20km record holder is Sara Graves, who broke the record in 2010, with a time of 1:23:56. The men's 20k record holder is Bobby Mack, who broke the record in 2010 with a time of 1:08:21. The woman's 10km record holder is Robyn Anderson, who broke the record in 2008 with a time of 40:40. The men's record holder is Nicholas Wheeler, who broke the record in 2009 with a time of 33:37. The woman's 5k record is held by Lauren Cole, who broke the record in 2011 with a time of 20:10. The men's record holder is Francis Burdett, who broke the record in 2010 with a time of 16:39[15][16] .


The Irasburg Church Fair is a cultural event in Irasburg Vermont which has been taking place since 1952. The church fair originally began in order to raise enough money to carpet the alter of the church. Since this time, the proceeds of the church fair have changed in order to simply maintain the church building. Proceeds are gained through an auction which takes place during the fair, as well as the sales of baked goods[17] .

References

  1. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  2. ^ "2010 Census Population for ZIP Code 05845". 2010 United States Census. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Climatography of the United States No. 20" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Irasburg Village School Enrollment 2010-2011" (PDF). Irasburg Town Report. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Welcome To Irasburg Village School Website". Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  6. ^ "Lake Region Union High School". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Climatography of the United States No. 20" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Population for ZIP Code 05845". 2010 United States Census. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Old Stone House Museum". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Kingdom Run 2012". Kingdom Run. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  16. ^ retrieved July 19, 2007
  17. ^ Green Mountain Designs. "Irasburg Church Fair". Retrieved 24 October 2012.