Vermont Genealogy Facts
The Vermont region was explored and claimed for France by Samuel de Champlain in 1609, and the first French settlement was established at Fort Ste. Anne in 1666. The first English settlers moved into the area in 1724 and built Fort Dummer on the site of present-day Brattleboro. England gained control of the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars.
- Vermont entered the union as the 14th state on March 4, 1791 .
- Vermont has 14 Counties
- Vermont’s capital is Montpelier and the official state website is www.vt.gov/.
- Vermont is bordered by Massachusetts (south), New Hampshire (east), New York (west) and Canada (north)
- Vermont has a land area of 9,615 square miles making it the 45th largest state.
- Vermont’s 2010 population was 625,741 .
- Vermont largest cities (2010) are Burlington, 42,417; Essex, 19,587; South Burlington, 17,993; Colchester 17,067; Rutland, 16,495; Bennington 15,764, Brattleboro 12,046; Milton, 10,352; Hartford, 9,952; Springfield, 9,078; Barre, 9,052; Williston, 8,698; Middlebury, 8,496.
- Vermont’s name comes from the French words for green mountain, “mont vert.”
- Vermont’s nickname is ” Green Mountain State “
- Vermont State Motto is ” Freedom and Unity “.
Vermont County Genealogy
Between 1772 and 1777, four counties existed in what is now Vermont—Albany, Charlotte, Gloucester, and Cumberland. All were politically New York counties even though they encompassed a sizable number of New Hampshire granted towns. Gloucester County court records are extant and have been published. In 1777 two Vermont counties were erected—Bennington, for the west part of the state, and Cumberland for the east. However, the name Cumberland was abandoned in 1781 when four new counties were created—three replacing Cumberland, namely Windham, Windsor, and Orange; Bennington County was subdivided to form Rutland County.
Even though the political division of county has little meaning in Vermont, there are some county land records, primarily for unorganized towns, and county court records located at the appropriate county office. In addition, county designation is necessary for census research. For nine of Vermont’s counties, the probate district follows the county’s political boundaries. For six counties—Addison, Bennington, Orange, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor—there are, or have been, two probate districts within the county’s boundaries. The divisions for Addison and Orange were dissolved in 1962 and 1994, respectively.
Select a County Below
COUNTY PAGES UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Vermont has counties that no longer exist. They were established by the state, provincial, or territorial government. Most of these counties were created and disbanded in the 19th century; county boundaries have changed little since 1900 in the vast majority of states. These counties need to be looked at when doing genealogy research. Pay close attention where the courthouse records went to if the county was abolished or combined with another county.
- Cumberland County: Originally a New York county, it went out of existence as a New York entity in 1777 when Vermont became independent. Land that had been in Cumberland and Gloucester counties, N.Y., then fell under Cumberland County, Vermont, jurisdiction. Cumberland County, Vermont, was abolished in 1781 when Windham, Windsor, and Orange counties were formed.
- Jefferson County: Formed in 1810; renamed Washington, 1814.
Vermont Genealogy Links
See Vermont County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.
- Vermont General Website Links
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) – The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
- Vermont Historical Records (ancestry.com) – Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists.
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data (familylink.com) – For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons.
- Vermont Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- USGenweb – Vermont Genealogy (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- The Vermont Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
- Free GenForum Message Boards – Vermont (genforum.genealogy.com)
- Free Rootsweb Message Boards – Vermont (boards.ancestry.com)
- Cyndis List Vermont Links (cyndislist.com)
- Vermont Mailing List (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Vermont American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Vermont (wikipedia.org)
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) – Vermont (raogk.org)
- Vermont Genealogy Look Ups (geneasearch.com)
- USGenWeb Archives Project for Vermont (usgwarchives.org)
- Background Sources for Vermont (ancestry.com) from Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
- Vermont Migrations Project (usgennet.org)
- Vermont History Links Website Links
- History of Vermont Genealogy (ancestry.com) from Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
- Vermont History Books at Amazon.com (amazon.com)
- Vermont US Genweb County Site Links
Vermont State History
Vermont, constituent state of the United States of America. One of the six New England states lying in the northeastern corner of the country, it was admitted to the union on March 4, 1791, as the 14th state. It is sparsely populated, and its capital, Montpelier, is one of the least-populous U.S. state capitals. Vermont is bordered to the north by Quebec, Can., to the east by New Hampshire, to the south by Massachusetts, and to the west by New York. From the Canadian to the Massachusetts border, the Connecticut River separates Vermont from New Hampshire. The river, from the mean low-water line on the western bank, is entirely within New Hampshire’s borders.
Many people left their birthplaces in Vermont to pursue opportunities in the opening West or in urban centres of the Northeast. In turn, many creative personalities have sought the spiritual refuge offered by the state. Vermont has never stood in the mainstream of the country’s history, but its people and land have poured into their country a strength and a sense of continuity that joins the achievements of the nation’s past with the purposes of its present. Area 9,615 square miles (24,903 square km). Pop. (2000) 608,827; (2009 est.) 621,760.
