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.)

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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.

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