Whiting Census of 1810

The 1810 U.S. Census listed a total of 565 residents in The Town of Whiting. The most numerous age-category - accounting for about one-third of the town population - was also the youngest. There were 93 males under age 10 and 95 females under age 10. Young adults were the second largest segment of the Whiting population. With 67 males and 66 females between the ages of 16 and 25, this group claimed 23.5% of residents. Older children, ages 10 through 15, were the smallest segment of the population, just 13%.

Children of all ages amounted to about 46.4% of Whiting's population. This figure remained fairly constant between 1800 and 1810. The percentage of older adults - there were 80 residents over the age of 45 - climbed a bit. It was 11% in 1800 and just over 14% ten years later.

The U.S. Census of 1800 showed a total of 404 residents in the town. So, Whiting had grown by 161 people, or almost 40%, through the decade of 1800-1810. The population had more than doubled (increasing by 127%) since the first U.S. Census in 1790.

The last two columns of the Whiting census were unused. They were designated for Non-White Free Persons and Slaves. Whiting had neither in 1810 (slavery was never permitted within Vermont). Its one non-white resident of the 1800 Census did not show up in the document 10 years later.

(See the related posts for the 1800 Census and the 1790 Census.)

Otter Valley Boys Soccer Schedule 2013

WCAX reports on mosquito spraying

Last night's WCAX broadcast on the aerial mosquito spraying over swampy areas of Whiting.

 WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Personal note: I am glad that the EEE threat is getting attention from state government. It is a subject that requires careful research. But I cannot help but feel that the spraying program is little more than an elaborate and expensive pacifier.

EEE does not originate with the mosquitoes. A certain type of bird-loving mosquito appears to pick it up from infected birds and then deliver it to other birds. But birds cannot carry it for long without dying. No one seems to know where the EEE resides over the wintertime, when there are no mosquitoes to move it around and the time is long enough for infected animals to pass away. In back-to-back years, EEE has merely popped up in the Whiting-area swamp in August, with no idea of the path it took into the swamp and no idea if it traveled beyond the swamp.

I also have not heard whether EEE has been found to be transmitted by other types of mosquitoes, such as those that directly bother humans, though that hypothetical "secondary vector" has been targeted by the CDC. (We know that one of last year's victims lived on a farm that raised large birds especially susceptible to EEE.)

It appears from the available research that EEE may exist in some form apart from birds and the feared type of mosquitoes. (For all we know, we humans may be the over-winter carriers!) Until we have the answers, periodically reducing the mosquito population through spraying may make people feel better about the threat, but it may not really be addressing the threat at all.

Mosquito spraying plan

UPDATE (8/22 4:36pm) We had been told that rain could cause postponement of the mosquito spraying, but Health Department just tweeted: "Weather conditions are favorable for... targeted mosquito spraying tonight. Will tweet progress from start to finish."
 WCAX interviews Dr. Harry Chen of the Vermont Department of Health:
  WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Whiting's 250th birthday party is Sept. 7

These FREE events will take place on the Whiting School grounds

• 4-5 p.m.- Social Hour
• 5 p.m. - National Anthem and Reading of the Charter
• 5:15 p.m. - Free Pig Roast and Pot Luck Dinner (Bring a dish to share)
• 6-9 p.m. - Street Dance on basketball courts (Music by Jam Man Entertainment)
• Dusk - Fireworks.

ONGOING EVENTS:

Historical Display of Whiting, 

Bouncy House, Snow Cones, Pop Corn, 

Fire Department equipment on display.

"Our Whiting" books will be on sale.

Bring your own chairs to watch fireworks and listen to the music.

Otter Valley Football Schedule 2013

Aerial mosquito-spraying announced

The Vermont Department of Health has announced that it will conduct aerial insecticide spraying August 22 and 27 of a swampy area of Whiting in an effort to combat the spread of deadly mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Spraying of a low concentration of Anvil 10+10 (Sumithrin) will be performed within a two-mile radius centered round the swampy area north of Stickney Road in Whiting. The activity is scheduled to begin at dusk each evening and continue to about 11 p.m. The spraying may be postponed in case of rain.

EEE was detected for the first time in Vermont last year. Two people became ill with the virus and later died. The health department has stepped up testing of mosquito pools in certain areas of the state this year. No EEE was detected through the early summer.

Charts shows results of state mosquito testing in 2013.

That changed with testing of a mosquito pool collected from the Whiting area on Aug. 1. EEE turned up in test results, and the health department warned residents to take reasonable precautions against mosquito bites, including wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts outdoors during times of mosquito activity and using insect repellants.

Today the health department announced that four more mosquito pools from the area, collected on Aug. 10 and 12, have tested positive for EEE. The virus has not been detected in humans or animals so far this year.

"These newest detections only intensify our recommendations to Vermonters to fight the bite, no matter where you live," Health Commissioner Harry Chen said. "We can't kill every mosquito, but targeted spraying may knock back the local population of mosquitoes that are carrying the EEE virus.

"Spraying could reduce risk of infection," he explained, "but it's still important that we all take precautions against mosquito bites."

State health officials believe EEE is present in other parts of the state, but it has so far been positively identified only in mosquito pool tests from southern Addison and northern Rutland counties. Testing is being concentrated in in certain areas of the state (See map).