Montpelier, Vermont

Montpelier, Vermont is the capital city of the U.S. state of Vermont and the county seat of Washington County. As the site of Vermont General Assembly, the legislature of Vermont, Montpelier is the least populous state capital in the United States. The population was 7,855 at the 2010 United States Census.

History

Montpelier was first settled in 1787 by Colonel Jacob Davis and General Parley Davis, and was incorporated as a village in 1805. The community developed into a center for manufacturing, especially after the Central Vermont Railway opened in Montpelier on June 20, 1849.

Geography

Montpelier is located in the north-central area of Vermont. The city center is a flat plain, surrounded by hills and granite ledges. Towne Hill runs in a 2-mile (3.2 km) ridge along the northern edge of the city.

Demographics

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 square miles (27 km2), of which 10.2 square miles (26 km2) is land and 0.10% is water.

Economy

The economy of Montpelier was long based on manufacturing, but the city's economy has since diversified. Today, Montpelier's economy includes the headquarters of several insurance companies as well as state government. The Vermont History Museum, the Vermont State House, and the Vermont College of Fine Arts are significant contributors to the cultural and educational sector of the economy.

Education

Montpelier is served by Montpelier Public Schools, which includes Montpelier High School and Main Street Middle School. The city is also home to the Vermont College of Fine Arts and the New England Culinary Institute.

Transportation

Montpelier is served by the Green Mountain Transit, which provides local bus service, and Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides daily service with its Vermonter train.

Notable people

Montpelier has been home to many notable individuals, including Thomas Waterman Wood, an American painter and George Dewey, a United States Navy Admiral.

See also

• List of capitals in the United States
• Vermont History Museum
• Vermont State House

Also see

► Healthcare providers in Vermont

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