CHAPTER IX. Divisions of the State. Vermont contains (1895-6) two hundred forty-three towns, three being unorganized towns, six gores and five cities. The five cities are Vergennes, Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier and Barre, chartered in the order given. A town is a body of people living on a definitely bounded territory and organized under the laws of the State for self-government. The word town is sometimes applied to a piece of land on which there is or may be a town, as described. An unorganized town is a portion of territory granted with the condition that the inhabitants may organize as a town when they have become sufficiently numerous. A gore is a portion of territory granted without the condition that the inhabitants may organize as a town. A city is a town to which some special privileges with respect to government have been granted by the State. At first the towns were laid out to average six miles square as nearly as was practicable. But there were inequalities at the beginning, and many changes have been made so that the towns are now very unequal in area, and some are quite irregular in shape. A county There are fourteen counties in Vermont. is a group of towns united for the convenient administration of justice. The town in which the county courts are held, and where the county buildings are, is called a shire town. Bennington County has two shire towns called half shires. Each of the other counties has one shire town. The county buildings are a court house and a jail. The capital of a State is the town in which the General Assembly meet and make laws. There are twenty probate districts in the State. Each of the six southern counties contains two probate districts; each of the other counties constitutes one probate district. A probate district is a group of towns united for the holding of probate courts. There are two congressional districts in Vermont. These are divisions of the State for the election of Representatives in Congress. CHAPTER X. Some Important Towns and Cities. In Vernon, in the southeast corner of the State, was the first settlement in Vermont, not later than 1690. At South Vernon is a railroad junction. Brattleboro, by the Connecticut River in the southeastern part of the State, and at the junction of several railroads, is distinguished for the manufacture of Estey Organs. It also contains an asylum for the insane. Fort Dummer, important in the early history of Vermont, was beside the Connecticut River near the present village of Brattleboro. Westminster, beside the Connecticut River, just below Bellows Falls, was once the shire town of Cumberland County. It was here that Vermont was declared to be an independent State. - 21 Wallingford 1 Alburgh 3 North Hero 25 Pawlet E Bradford I Fair Haven Each of the other Probate Districts is entire county and is known by the name of the county. an NOTE. The cities of Vermont are Vergennes, Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier and Barre, and are given in the order of their incorporation; the last two were chartered in 1894. Newfane on West River is the shire town of Windham County, and South Londonderry on the same river is the terminus of a railroad from Brattleboro. Bellows Falls is an important railroad center and has an immense water power. It is extensively engaged in the manufacture of paper and of farm machinery. Saxton's River, a village on the Saxton's River, about four miles from Bellows Falls and in the same town, Rockingham, is the seat of the Vermont Academy. Wilmington, a thriving town on the Deerfield River, is the terminus of the Hoosac Tunnel and Wilmington Railroad. Springfield is a manufacturing town on the Black River, and extending to the Connecticut River. Windsor contains the Vermont State Prison, an United States Court House, and has some manufacturing. It was here that the first constitution of Vermont was framed in July, 1777, and that the first legislature elected under that constitution met and organized in March, 1778. Hartford lies on the Quechee, White and Connecticut rivers and contains four thriving villages, of which the most widely known is White River Junction, an important railroad center; and Olcott by Olcott Falls in the Connecticut is the newest. Hartford is distinguished for the great variety of its industries. South Royalton on the White River is the railroad center for several towns and manufactures shoes. Bethel on the White River has a well endowed public school, and manufactories of leather and shoes. Woodstock, the shire town of Windsor County and |