Westfield is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. It is located in the state's Northeast Kingdom region. The population was 534 at the 2020 census.
History
The town was chartered on May 15, 1780, and was named after William West, a general and politician from Rhode Island who was a supporter of Vermont statehood. Westfield was one of six towns granted as part of a fundraising effort.
In 1981, the Abbey Sainte-Marie de Deux-Montagnes, near Montreal, Canada, founded the Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westfield, a contemplative order of women following the Benedictine rule.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 square miles (104.1 km²), all land. Hazens Notch is located within the town. Westfield is situated along Vermont Route 100, a major north-south scenic corridor.
Demographics
As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 534. The population density was approximately 13 people per square mile (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town in the 2000 census was 96.02% White, 0.40% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
The median household income was $38,021, and the per capita income was $18,098. Approximately 9.7% of the population was below the poverty line.
Notable People
- Thomas J. Boynton – Massachusetts Attorney General
- Elisha W. Keyes – Wisconsin politician
- Jack Lazor – Pioneering organic dairy farmer
- Carroll S. Page – Governor of Vermont
- Harrison Stebbins – Wisconsin politician
Climate
Westfield experiences a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers. The record low temperature is −40 °F (−40 °C), and the record high is 98 °F (37 °C). Average annual precipitation is approximately 40.78 inches (1,036 mm).
