Lincoln, Vermont

Lincoln is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. Lincoln is located at the base of Mount Abraham in the Green Mountains. It was settled by Quakers in the late 18th Century. The population was 1,323 at the 2020 census. Today, Lincoln is known for its scenic, rural beauty and its proximity to two Vermont ski areas, Mad River Glen and Sugarbush.

Geography
Lincoln is located in northeastern Addison County in the Green Mountains. The Long Trail runs along the crest of the Green Mountains near the eastern border of the town, with elevations ranging from a low of  at Lincoln Gap to a high of  at the summit of Mount Abraham. The lowest elevation in the town is  above sea level near West Lincoln, where the New Haven River exits the town.

The Lincoln Gap Road crosses the Green Mountains at Lincoln Gap, connecting the village of Lincoln on the west with the town of Warren to the east. However, it is only open in the summertime, meaning the town is principally accessed via Bristol. The village of South Lincoln is in the southern part of the town, along the New Haven River. There are no numbered state highways in Lincoln.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which  are land and , or 0.43%, are water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,214 people, 462 households, and 339 families residing in the town.  The population density was 27.6 people per square mile (10.7/km2).  There were 566 housing units at an average density of 12.9 per square mile (5.0/km2).  The racial makeup of the town was 97.53% White, 0.16% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.

There were 462 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,750, and the median income for a family was $51,369. Males had a median income of $30,455 versus $25,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,092.  About 4.3% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

History
Lincoln was chartered to Colonel Benjamin Simonds and 64 associates on November 9, 1780. Simonds, as commander of the Massachusetts militia, fought at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. He named the new town in honor of his commanding officer, Major General Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), who had played a vital role in getting the militia to Vermont. General Lincoln was respected and well liked by his contemporaries.

Lincoln, like Ferrisburgh and several other Addison County towns, was settled by members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. The first Quakers settled in an area known as Mud Flat about 1795. As time went by and other Quakers joined the original group, the area became known as Quaker Stand. The meeting house is gone and the Society has dispersed, but one part of Lincoln village is still called Quaker Street. Lincoln's town government was officially organized in 1798, when the first town meeting was held in the log cabin of early settler Jedediah Durfee.

Until the latter part of the 20th century, Lincoln's economy had been centered around smallholder agriculture, ironworks, and mills. The earliest export products were potash and timber, sold by homesteading farmers after clearing their land. The town's population and economy peaked in the 1880s, when there were 15 lumber mills making shingles and clapboard operational in the town, employing around 100 men. Dairies and potato farming comprised a large remainder of the town's industry. Lincoln also grew to comprise the previous settlements of Downingsville and West, South, and Center Lincoln, bringing it to its present area of 44 square miles. The town's proximity to the New Haven River has caused numerous destructive floods in its history, in 1830, 1869, 1938, 1976 and 1998. 

In 1919, Lincoln-born businessman Walter S. Burnham left a significant endowment to the town in his will, resulting in the creation of the Burnham Trust, a fund intended to "be expended for educational, charitable, and musical purposes." The Trust provided funding for the construction of Burnham Hall, a community meeting place and formerly the town library, as well as establishing a scholarship fund for future Lincoln students. Burnham Hall continues to be the site of Lincoln's town meeting.

Lincoln underwent a significant contraction in the mid-20th century, as its resource-based livelihoods dried up and families moved away. Dairy farms were unable to compete with larger, centralized enterprises elsewhere in the state and country. For Lincoln, the industry's death knell came in the 1980s, when the federal government offered to buy out smaller farms in an attempt to raise the price of milk and therefore make the industry more profitable; Lincoln's last dairy closed in 1992. Most of the mills and other industry also closed by the end of the century, though one pallet mill remains in operation. In 1968 Lincoln lost its post office (and thus its ZIP code) when postal services were transferred to Bristol.

Today, Lincoln's population has rebounded almost to its historic peak. Its proximity to the Green Mountains, tranquility, and well-supported community services have made it attractive as a residential community. Most working age adults commute to jobs in neighboring towns, but Lincoln is still home to a general store, hotel, and multiple small-batch maple syrup producers, with some larger producers (The largest of which boasts an impressive 35,000 trees tapped).

On September 11, 2010, the first Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in North America was consecrated in Lincoln.

People, Religious Life, and the Lincoln General Store
Lincoln is home to only one community Christian church, located in the center of town at the bottom of Quaker Street. The United Church of Lincoln which is known for its open and inclusive model and liberal theology. The current pastor of the church is Rev. Co'Relous C. Bryant, who joined the church in August of 2023, notably a black man in the 99% white town of Lincoln. The previous pastor, Rev. David R. Wood, retired after 38 years of ministry in his only pastorate and continues to be an active member of the church (as Pastor Emeritus) and the town. "Pastor Dave's" ministry saw the burning of the original Baptist church building two years into his ministry. The people of the church and the broader Lincoln community then came together to complete the herculean task of moving the Methodist church building (unused up until that time) to the current position in Lincoln Center. The two churches had been worshipping together for many years at that time, being served by a pastor from the American Baptist Churches. Recently, the church dropped its Methodist affiliation but still emphasizes that they are the "United Church," as there is a broad range of religious and personal backgrounds in the church. 

The people of Lincoln closely follow the church's open and inclusive beliefs. Visitors and residents all remark at how open Lincoln is as a community. Some even say, "When you go to other towns, you're welcomed. When you come to Lincoln, you're adopted." Recently, the town select board drafted and approved a statement of inclusion to be posted on the town's website as an official statement of the town of Lincoln.

The Lincoln General Store serves as a main community hub and stimulates the life in the town. Notably, there is no post office or gas station in Lincoln. The latter is thanks to the work of storeowner Vaneasa Stearns, who has continually rejected promising offers for large gas companies to install pumps in the store's parking lot. This is to ensure the store remains a privately owned business focused on the needs of the town, and is not part of a larger corporation. Stearns purchased the store in 1991 and has owned it ever since. She works there daily with her dedicated crew: Spencer, Krista, Pam, Lisa, Ann, and Wyatt. In August of 2023, nearly 400 people gathered in the town's center to celebrate Vaneasa's 32nd year owning the store, and her impending retirement. 

In 2010, a Buddhist nunnery was consecrated on Downingsville Road, off of Quaker Street called Sun Ray Peace Village. It is now an attraction that hosts gatherings of upwards of 200-300 people.

Weathervane Senior Housing
In 1981, following the burning of the United Church of Lincoln's original building, the church and town rallied to address an urgent issue: senior housing. Named after one of two pieces of the original church that survived the fire (the church's weathervane and brass cross), Weathervane Senior Housing provides dedicated, straightforward independent housing for those who are older than 55.

The church took on the task of renovating the old, decrepit post office that was sitting next to the General Store. They renovated that building and added on, and created three apartments. Later, as demand grew, they built another Weathervane building just across from the church, which contains four more apartments. Again, demand rose and the Weathervane built another building that has four more apartments.

Weathervane operates independently, but it still is under the purview of the United Church of Lincoln. It is in the church bylaws that there must be at least two church members on the Weathervane Board of Directors. The Weathervane waiting list, available to all who are above 55 years old, is operated by the church administrative assistant, and currently has over 50 names. When an apartment becomes vacant (as a result of death (commonly) or a resident moving out (less common)) the board calls those in line on the list in "first come, first serve" order. Those who get on the list faster are going to be called earlier. 

Weathervane serves as another impressive reminder of the dedication and resolve this community has.

References

External links

 Town of Lincoln official website

 
Towns in Vermont
Towns in Addison County, Vermont