Montpelier, Vermont
Encyclopedia
Montpelier m
is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont
that serves as the state capital and the shire town (county seat
) of Washington County
. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House
, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010 census. By population, it is the smallest state capital in the United States. The Vermont History Museum
and Vermont College of Fine Arts
are located in Montpelier.
Chartered by the Vermont General Assembly
on August 14, 1781, the town was granted to Timothy Bigelow and 58 others. The first permanent settlement began in May 1787, when Colonel Jacob Davis and General Parley Davis arrived from Charlton, Massachusetts
. General Davis surveyed the land, while Colonel Davis cleared forest and erected a large log house on the west side of the North Branch of the Winooski River
. His family moved in the following winter.
It was Colonel Davis who selected the name Montpelier after the French city Montpellier
. There was a general enthusiasm for things French as a result of the country's aid during the American Revolution
. The settlement grew quickly, and by 1791 the population reached 117.
In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Montpelier on a triumphal tour of America, 50 years after the Revolutionary War.
The town developed into a center for manufacturing, especially after the Vermont Central Railroad opened in Montpelier on June 20, 1849—the same year East Montpelier
was set off as a separate town. Falls
on the Winooski River provided water power for mills. There was an iron
foundry
.
Today, government, higher education, insurance and tourism are principal businesses. The Vermont History Museum, operated in The Pavilion by the Vermont Historical Society
, is an attraction.
The town had the first municipal water driven hydro system in Vermont in 1884. Water pressure generated sufficient electricity for streetlights.
The state proclaimed October 12, 1899, as "Dewey
Day" to honor the hero of Battle of Manila Bay and the Spanish-American War
. Thousands turned out from the state to his hometown of Montpelier for the celebration.
In 2008, the City's wastewater treatment plant, operating pursuant to its Clean Water Act
permit, discharged 3192 pounds (1,447.9 kg) of phosphorus into the Winooski River, and ultimately into Lake Champlain
. As part of the City's discharge permit, it is allowed to discharge up to 7253 pounds (3,289.9 kg).
Montpelier is located at 44°15′N 72°34′W (44.2500, -72.5667). The city center is a flat clay zone (elevation ~520 ft/158 m), surrounded by hills and granite ledges. Towne Hill runs in a 2 miles (3.2 km) ridge (~900 ft/275 m) along the northern edge of the city. Montpelier is situated among foothills just to the east of the Green Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²), of which 10.2 square miles (26.4 km²) is land and 0.10% is water. The Winooski River
flows west along the south edge of downtown village and is fed by several smaller tributaries that cut through residential districts. Montpelier is subject to periodic flooding in the flat city center, with two major floods occurring in 1927 and 1992.
On its borders are the towns of Middlesex
to the west, Berlin
to the south, and East Montpelier
to the north and east. Montpelier lies nearly in the geographic center of the state.
(Köppen
Dfb), with long, cold, and snowy winters, short springs and autumns, and warm summers. From January to July, daily means range from 16.4 to 67.3 °F (-8.7 to 19.6 C). In winter, lows fall below 0 °F (-18 °C) on 24 nights and daytime highs stay below freezing for the majority of days from December to February. Snow is also frequent and remains on the ground for long, though thaws are by no means infrequent. Summers are warm and often humid, with 2 or 3 days above 90 °F (32 °C), but rarely reaching 95 °F (35 °C).
Extremes have ranged from −34 F in January 1981 to 97 °F (36 °C), most recently recorded in July 1977.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 8,035 people, 3,739 households, and 1,940 families residing in the city. The population density
was 784.0 people per square mile (302.7/km²). There were 3,899 housing units at an average density of 380.4 per square mile (146.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.55% White, 0.65% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 3,739 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.1% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
The City provides municipal services for its residents and businesses. These include local law enforcement, firefighting, planning and zoning regulation, and provision for potable drinking water and wastewater.
for the city was $22,599. About 7.2% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Located in Montpelier are the New England Culinary Institute
, the annual Green Mountain Film Festival
and the headquarters of several insurance companies. The majority of businesses in the downtown area, mostly retail, are locally owned.
- There are 9 locations of the Community College of Vermont and one of them is in Montpelier on the top of college hill and will be moving to elm street at the end of summer 2012.
Interstate 89
, while east-west
U.S. Route 2
and north-south
Vermont Route 12
are two other principal routes that intersect in Montpelier. Both I-89 and U.S. 2 provide a direct link to Burlington and the populous Lake Champlain Valley in the northwestern corner of the state. In addition,
U.S. Route 302
has its western terminus in Montpelier, connecting it with the nearby city of Barre and points east.
Amtrak
, the national rail passenger system, provides daily service from Montpelier, operating the Vermonter
between St. Albans, Vermont
and Washington, D.C. Greyhound Bus Lines operates buses that serve Montpelier. The Green Mountain Transit Authority
(GMTA) operates a local bus network throughout the micropolitan area, with stops in Montpelier and Barre, including nearby Waterbury
, the Vermont State House
, Ben & Jerry's
factory, and the local Berlin Mall. GMTA and its sister bus company in Burlington, the Chittenden Country Transit Authority, operate a series of LINK commuter buses with stops in Montpelier, Burlington and Waterbury. A few small taxi
companies serve the area.
Air travelers in private planes can use the Edward F. Knapp State Airport in Berlin
to access Montpelier. The closest commercial air service is located 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Montpelier, at the Burlington International Airport
.
Two shared-use paths for walking and bicycling connect to Montpelier: the Cross Vermont Trail and the Central Vermont Regional Path. Montpelier's downtown is relatively compact and pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the downtown area.
of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
play at the Montpelier Recreation Field
.
An annual local vernacular culture
phenomenon, the Valentine Phantom
, a tradition of covering downtown storefronts and public buildings with red hearts each February 14, began in Montpelier in the 1990s.
is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
that serves as the state capital and the shire town (county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
) of Washington County
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House
Vermont State House
The Vermont State House, located in Montpelier, is the state capitol of Vermont and the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The current Greek Revival structure is the third building on the same site to be used as the State House...
, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010 census. By population, it is the smallest state capital in the United States. The Vermont History Museum
Vermont Historical Society
The Vermont Historical Society was founded in 1838 to preserve and record the cultural history of the US state of Vermont. Headquartered in the old Spaulding School Building in Barre, the Vermont History Center is home to the Vermont Historical Society's administrative offices, the Leahy Library...
and Vermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts offers four distinct graduate programs, awarding Master of Fine Arts degrees in Visual Art, Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults and Graphic Design. The student to faculty ratio at VCFA is 4-to-1.. The faculty and alumni of VCFA have won many literary awards,...
are located in Montpelier.
History
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
on August 14, 1781, the town was granted to Timothy Bigelow and 58 others. The first permanent settlement began in May 1787, when Colonel Jacob Davis and General Parley Davis arrived from Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...
. General Davis surveyed the land, while Colonel Davis cleared forest and erected a large log house on the west side of the North Branch of the Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
. His family moved in the following winter.
It was Colonel Davis who selected the name Montpelier after the French city Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. There was a general enthusiasm for things French as a result of the country's aid during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The settlement grew quickly, and by 1791 the population reached 117.
In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Montpelier on a triumphal tour of America, 50 years after the Revolutionary War.
The town developed into a center for manufacturing, especially after the Vermont Central Railroad opened in Montpelier on June 20, 1849—the same year East Montpelier
East Montpelier, Vermont
East Montpelier is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.1 square miles , of which 32.0 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
was set off as a separate town. Falls
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
on the Winooski River provided water power for mills. There was an iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
.
Today, government, higher education, insurance and tourism are principal businesses. The Vermont History Museum, operated in The Pavilion by the Vermont Historical Society
Vermont Historical Society
The Vermont Historical Society was founded in 1838 to preserve and record the cultural history of the US state of Vermont. Headquartered in the old Spaulding School Building in Barre, the Vermont History Center is home to the Vermont Historical Society's administrative offices, the Leahy Library...
, is an attraction.
The town had the first municipal water driven hydro system in Vermont in 1884. Water pressure generated sufficient electricity for streetlights.
The state proclaimed October 12, 1899, as "Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
Day" to honor the hero of Battle of Manila Bay and the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Thousands turned out from the state to his hometown of Montpelier for the celebration.
In 2008, the City's wastewater treatment plant, operating pursuant to its Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
permit, discharged 3192 pounds (1,447.9 kg) of phosphorus into the Winooski River, and ultimately into Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. As part of the City's discharge permit, it is allowed to discharge up to 7253 pounds (3,289.9 kg).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²), of which 10.2 square miles (26.4 km²) is land and 0.10% is water. The Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
flows west along the south edge of downtown village and is fed by several smaller tributaries that cut through residential districts. Montpelier is subject to periodic flooding in the flat city center, with two major floods occurring in 1927 and 1992.
On its borders are the towns of Middlesex
Middlesex, Vermont
Middlesex is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,729 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.9 square miles , of which, 39.7 square miles of it is land and 0.2 square miles of...
to the west, Berlin
Berlin, Vermont
Berlin is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,864 at the 2000 census. Being the town between Barre, Vermont and Montpelier, Vermont, the two largest cities in the region, much of the commercial business of the region can be found in Berlin, including parts of...
to the south, and East Montpelier
East Montpelier, Vermont
East Montpelier is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.1 square miles , of which 32.0 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
to the north and east. Montpelier lies nearly in the geographic center of the state.
Climate
Montpelier features a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb), with long, cold, and snowy winters, short springs and autumns, and warm summers. From January to July, daily means range from 16.4 to 67.3 °F (-8.7 to 19.6 C). In winter, lows fall below 0 °F (-18 °C) on 24 nights and daytime highs stay below freezing for the majority of days from December to February. Snow is also frequent and remains on the ground for long, though thaws are by no means infrequent. Summers are warm and often humid, with 2 or 3 days above 90 °F (32 °C), but rarely reaching 95 °F (35 °C).
Extremes have ranged from −34 F in January 1981 to 97 °F (36 °C), most recently recorded in July 1977.
Demographics
Along with Barre, the city forms a small micropolitan area in the center of the state; together they are known as the twin cities.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,035 people, 3,739 households, and 1,940 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 784.0 people per square mile (302.7/km²). There were 3,899 housing units at an average density of 380.4 per square mile (146.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.55% White, 0.65% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 3,739 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.1% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
Government
Montpelier's government follows the council/manager plan. The city council consists of a mayor and six members each elected from districts with each district electing two members for two year terms. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote to a two year term. The council appoints the city manager who is the chief administrative officer of the city.The City provides municipal services for its residents and businesses. These include local law enforcement, firefighting, planning and zoning regulation, and provision for potable drinking water and wastewater.
Personal income
The median income for a household in the city was $37,513, and the median income for a family was $51,818. Males had a median income of $35,957 versus $29,442 for females. The per capita incomePer capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,599. About 7.2% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
Since the city's establishment as capital in 1805 the primary business in Montpelier has been government, and by the mid-nineteenth century government and life and fire insurance.Located in Montpelier are the New England Culinary Institute
New England Culinary Institute
The New England Culinary Institute is a career oriented, culinary college located in Montpelier, Vermont, founded on June 15, 1980, by Fran Voigt and John Dranow. The first NECI class, conducted by Chef Michel LeBorgne, had just seven students . A second campus was operated in Essex, Vermont,...
, the annual Green Mountain Film Festival
Green Mountain Film Festival
The first Green Mountain Film Festival took place in Montpelier, Vermont in 1997. In March 1999, a second festival was held and it has been an annual March event ever since. In 2010 the festival was extended to include a series of satellite screenings in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.The program focuses...
and the headquarters of several insurance companies. The majority of businesses in the downtown area, mostly retail, are locally owned.
Education
- Montpelier High SchoolMontpelier High School225-8000 Established 1914 Current building built 1956, addition 1998 School type Public secondary Principal Peter Evans Location Montpelier, VT Enrollment 420 Activities 13 Clubs and organizations Athletics...
is the city's only high school. - Main Street Middle School is the city's only middle school.
- Union Elementary School is Montpelier's only elementary school.
- River Rock School is a private school serving kindergarten through 8th grade students.
- Vermont College of Fine ArtsVermont College of Fine ArtsVermont College of Fine Arts offers four distinct graduate programs, awarding Master of Fine Arts degrees in Visual Art, Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults and Graphic Design. The student to faculty ratio at VCFA is 4-to-1.. The faculty and alumni of VCFA have won many literary awards,...
is a low-residency graduate school offering Masters of Fine Arts degrees in visual arts, writing, and writing for children and young adults. - New England Culinary InstituteNew England Culinary InstituteThe New England Culinary Institute is a career oriented, culinary college located in Montpelier, Vermont, founded on June 15, 1980, by Fran Voigt and John Dranow. The first NECI class, conducted by Chef Michel LeBorgne, had just seven students . A second campus was operated in Essex, Vermont,...
, named one of the top three culinary schools in the nation. - The Union Institute and University of Vermont Center Master of Education program offers education students a low-residency program that combines independent study with academic classes and workshops.
- There are 9 locations of the Community College of Vermont and one of them is in Montpelier on the top of college hill and will be moving to elm street at the end of summer 2012.
Transportation
Because Vermont's founders deliberately placed the capital near the geographic center of the state, Montpelier is one of Vermont's most readily accessible cities and towns. The city is located along Interstate 89Interstate 89
Interstate 89 is an interstate highway in the New England region of the United States travelling between Bow, New Hampshire and Highgate Springs, Vermont. As with all odd-numbered primary interstates, I-89 is signed as a north–south highway...
, while east-west
U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
and north-south
Vermont Route 12Vermont Route 12
Vermont Route 12 is a north-south state highway in Vermont that runs from Weathersfield to Morrisville.-Route description:Route 12 begins at the New Hampshire state line on the Connecticut River in the town of Weathersfield. It continues north along the west bank of the Connecticut River,...
are two other principal routes that intersect in Montpelier. Both I-89 and U.S. 2 provide a direct link to Burlington and the populous Lake Champlain Valley in the northwestern corner of the state. In addition,
U.S. Route 302U.S. Route 302
U.S. Route 302 is a spur of U.S. Route 2. It currently runs 171 miles north from Portland, Maine, at U.S. Route 1, to Montpelier, Vermont, at US 2...
has its western terminus in Montpelier, connecting it with the nearby city of Barre and points east.
Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national rail passenger system, provides daily service from Montpelier, operating the Vermonter
Vermonter
Amtrak's Vermonter is a 611-mile passenger train service between St. Albans , New York City and Washington, D.C. One trip runs in each direction per day....
between St. Albans, Vermont
St. Albans (town), Vermont
St. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont. The population was 6,392 at the 2010 census. The town completely surrounds the city of St. Albans, which was separated from the town and incorporated in 1902. References to "St. Albans" prior to this date generally refer to the town center, which...
and Washington, D.C. Greyhound Bus Lines operates buses that serve Montpelier. The Green Mountain Transit Authority
Green Mountain Transit Authority
Green Mountain Transit Authority provides public transportation in central Vermont, specifically in Washington and Lamoille counties and parts of Orange County, expanding in 2009 to include Franklin and Grand Isle counties...
(GMTA) operates a local bus network throughout the micropolitan area, with stops in Montpelier and Barre, including nearby Waterbury
Waterbury, Vermont
Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, in the United States. It is also the name of a village within that town. The population was 4,915 at the 2000 census.-Economy:-Industry:...
, the Vermont State House
Vermont State House
The Vermont State House, located in Montpelier, is the state capitol of Vermont and the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The current Greek Revival structure is the third building on the same site to be used as the State House...
, Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's is an American ice cream company, a division of the British-Dutch Unilever conglomerate, that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream novelty products, manufactured by Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc., headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, United...
factory, and the local Berlin Mall. GMTA and its sister bus company in Burlington, the Chittenden Country Transit Authority, operate a series of LINK commuter buses with stops in Montpelier, Burlington and Waterbury. A few small taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
companies serve the area.
Air travelers in private planes can use the Edward F. Knapp State Airport in Berlin
Berlin, Vermont
Berlin is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,864 at the 2000 census. Being the town between Barre, Vermont and Montpelier, Vermont, the two largest cities in the region, much of the commercial business of the region can be found in Berlin, including parts of...
to access Montpelier. The closest commercial air service is located 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Montpelier, at the Burlington International Airport
Burlington International Airport
Burlington International Airport is a joint-use public and military airport in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It is owned by the City of Burlington...
.
Two shared-use paths for walking and bicycling connect to Montpelier: the Cross Vermont Trail and the Central Vermont Regional Path. Montpelier's downtown is relatively compact and pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the downtown area.
Sports
The Vermont MountaineersVermont Mountaineers
The Vermont Mountaineers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Montpelier, Vermont. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, plays their home games at Montpelier Recreation Field.-History:...
of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August...
play at the Montpelier Recreation Field
Montpelier Recreation Field
Montpelier Recreation Field is a baseball venue located in Montpelier, Vermont, USA and is the home field of the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League...
.
Cultural
- Kellogg-Hubbard Library—with a copy of the Parthenon frieze
- Lost Nation Theater
- Montpelier Theatre Guild
- Vermont History Museum—in The Pavilion
- Vermont State HouseVermont State HouseThe Vermont State House, located in Montpelier, is the state capitol of Vermont and the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The current Greek Revival structure is the third building on the same site to be used as the State House...
- T. W. Wood Gallery & Arts Center
- Capital City Concerts
An annual local vernacular culture
Vernacular culture
Vernacular culture is a term used in the modern study of geography and cultural studies. It refers to cultural forms made and organised by ordinary, indigenous people for their own pleasure, in modern societies...
phenomenon, the Valentine Phantom
Valentine Phantom
The Valentine Phantom, often referred to as the Valentine Bandit in media reports, refers to an individual or group who each Valentine's Day secretly decorate the downtown area of a city with a flurry of red hearts printed on sheets of letter-sized paper...
, a tradition of covering downtown storefronts and public buildings with red hearts each February 14, began in Montpelier in the 1990s.
See also
- List of people from Montpelier, Vermont
- Athenwood and the Thomas W. Wood StudioAthenwood and the Thomas W. Wood StudioAthenwood, located at Montpelier in the U.S. state of Vermont, was the home of Thomas Waterman Wood , American painter and native of Montpelier....
- Christ Episcopal ChurchChrist Episcopal Church (Montpelier, Vermont)Christ Episcopal Church is an historic church located at 64 State Street in Montpelier, Vermont in the United States. It was founded in 1840. Among its founders was Dr...
- Montpelier City HallMontpelier City HallMontpelier City Hall is located in Montpelier, Vermont. The four-story structure opened on the banks of the Winooski River in 1909....
- Montpelier Recreation FieldMontpelier Recreation FieldMontpelier Recreation Field is a baseball venue located in Montpelier, Vermont, USA and is the home field of the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League...
- Saint Augustine's ChurchSaint Augustine's Church, MontpelierSaint Augustine Church is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Augustine and located on Barre Street in Montpelier, Vermont. - Beginning :...