What Is the Capital of Vermont?

The capital city of Vermont is Montpelier.

Montpelier, the capital of Vermont.

Vermont is an American state in the New England region of the North-Eastern part of the United States. Its capital city is Montpelier and it has the designation of being the least populous capital in America. The name Montpelier originated from the French city Montpellier given by Colonel Jacob Davis when he arrived in the area from Charlton, Massachusetts. Montpelier has a population of 7,855 people, although during the day the population increases to 21,000 brought about by employment within the city. It is also home to the famous gold leaf dome which is the Vermont state house also known as Capitol. The Winooski River is the major water mass flowing on the western side of the city. Montpelier is graced by Vermont College of Fine Arts and New England Culinary Institute as their major institutions of higher education.

History

Settlement began as early as 1787, and within four years the population had increased to 117 people. In the early 1800’s it was incorporated as a village and in 1895 it was declared a city. The central Vermont railway was opened in 1849 which resulted to Montpelier becoming a manufacturing hub. The falls from the Winooski River was used to provide power for the mills, and finally, the iron foundry was introduced. In 1884 the town had its first municipal water pumped and electricity generated to supply their streetlights.

Economy

The current per capita income of Montpelier is $32,108 with 9.8% of the population living below the poverty line. The main contributors of the city’s economy include the government, insurance, tourism, and higher education sectors. Since 1805, the primary contributors to the Montpelier GDP have been generated from the government, however in the 19th century, life and fire insurance were introduced. This created companies like The National Life Group which is headquartered in the city. The city is also known for its worldwide production of the granite memorial and is home to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. There is also the presence of for-profit schools and colleges like New England Culinary Institute and Vermont College of fine arts. Montpelier is the geographic center of Vermont State making it easily accessible and a hub for a business like its famous maple syrup.

Culture

In the early years, Montpelier was first occupied by the Abenaki tribe known as the Sokoki, then later by the French, and finally, the Americans settled in the present day city location. Currently, it has diverse occupants from different cultures. Its unique blend of the racial composition is comprised of Caucasians, African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Hispanic, Latinos, Pacific Islanders among other races all these made possible by its thriving industry sector and demand for employment. It has a robust arts community with different events taking place and has many galleries and studios.  Its rich history is preserved in the Vermont History Museum and The Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The two major theatres are Lost Nation Theatre and Montpelier Theatre Guild. The city also prides of one major event that takes place annually called the Valentine Phantom which occurs every February 14th and entails covering storefronts and public buildings with red hearts, a tradition which began in the 1990s. Montpelier also has many nature parks including Hubbard Park, the North Branch River Park, and the Mill Pond Park.

•By Joseph Kiprop

•culled from www.worldatlas.com