Southeastern Vermont Backroads

History
Fort Bridgman, Vernon, was burned in 1755, a casualty of the French and Indian War.[4] The Court of Common Pleas (established 1768) of the County of Cumberland (established July 3, 1766) of the Province of New York was moved to the town of Westminster in 1772. On July 4, 1776, the Province of New York became an independent state.
On January 15, 1777, Vermont declared its independence from New York, and functioned as an independent republic until statehood in 1791. Cumberland County (N.Y.) and Gloucester County (N.Y.) were extinguished when Vermont declared its independence from New York; Albany County (N.Y.) and Charlotte County (now Washington County, N.Y.) were eliminated from Vermont.[5]
Unity County was formed March 17, 1778, the eastern of the two original Vermont Republic counties.[6] Unity County was renamed Cumberland County on March 21, 1778.[7] Cumberland County and Bennington County (the eastern original county) exchanged land, adjusting their early border.[8] On February 16, 1781 Rutland County was created from Bennington County, and Orange, Windham and Windsor Counties were created from Cumberland County.[9] Some authors assume Cumberland County was renamed Windham County in 1781. Several original sources indicate Cumberland County was dissolved rather than renamed.[10] This was probably to make a clean legal break from any connection with Cumberland County, New York, as some authors indicate the Cumberland County, Vermont Republic, records remained in Windham County. Newfane became the Shire Town of Windham County before 1812.
Towns
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In Vermont, towns are contiguous named places, subdivisions of counties, where there is permanent, year-round human population. They are usually formally incorporated, governing themselves in open town meetings (with very few exceptions), and their usual elected administrative body is called a selectboard. Though Brattleboro is by far the most populous town in the county, the historic "shire town" (county seat) is Newfane, and Windham County Superior Court is still there, as are the offices of the County Sheriff and the County Clerk.
Athens
Brattleboro
Brookline
Dover
Dummerston
Grafton
Guilford
Halifax
Jamaica
Londonderry
Marlboro
Newfane (shire town)
Putney
Rockingham
Somerset
Stratton
Townshend
Vernon
Wardsboro
Westminster
Whitingham
Wilmington
Windham
Villages
Villages are named places and sometimes formal census divisions, but may or may not be incorporated separately within a town's borders.
Incorporated villages
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Bellows Falls
Jacksonville
Newfane
Saxtons River
Westminster
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