The Legislature may constitute towns, boroughs, cities, and counties.
Judicial. The judiciary of the State consists of a Supreme Court of seven judges, each receiving $3000 salary; of a Chancery Court, which the Supreme Court judges also hold; of a county court in each county; of justices' courts in the several towns; and of probate courts in each probate district. The Supreme Court judges are elected by the Legislature and hold office two years. All others are elected by the people and hold office for one year.
Executive. A Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Auditor of Accounts are elected by the people biennially. Other State officers, whose election is not otherwise provided for, are chosen by joint vote of the two Houses. The veto of the Governor may be overridden by a majority vote of each House.
Finances. The total expenditures of the State during 1791, the first year of its Statehood, were £3219, which were obtained mainly from a general tax on property and partly from sale of public lands. The budget grew slowly, and direct taxation upon property remained the main source of income. In 1841 it brought in $68,000, out of a total budget of $85,000. The Civil War and the expenses resulting from it forced an issue of bonds, amounting in all to $1,650,000. These were very rapidly redeemed, and by 1870 there were only $841,000 of bonds outstanding. By 1880 the total funded debt did not exceed $140,000, almost all of which the treasury owed to its own college fund. In 1881 and 1884 some laws were passed laying special taxes on banks, railroads, other transportation companies, express, telegraph, telephone, and insurance companies. As the income from these sources grew, the State tax became less important. In 1871-75 it amounted to 90 per cent., and at the end of the eighties about 27 per cent. There is a small direct tax laid annually for school purposes and another for highways. For the period 1900-02 direct taxation brought in only 32 per cent. Other sources of income are an inheritance tax, licenses, fees, etc. The satisfactory condition of the State finances was in no small degree due to the fact that there were never undertaken any considerable public improvements. The expenditures were therefore very limited, and in 1901-02 amounted (excluding loans repaid) to $886,079; of this sum $176,334 was the State school and highway taxes redistributed to the towns, leaving for State expenses proper $710,345. The balance in the treasury on June 30, 1902, was $324,969.
Militia. The men of militia age, in 1900, numbered 70,850. The organized militia, in 1901, numbered 776.
Population. The population grew from 85,425 in 1790 to 280,652 in 1830. Since that year the growth has been very slow, the number being, in 1890, 332,422, and in 1900, 343,641. The State ranked twelfth in population in 1790, twenty-first in 1840, and fortieth in 1900. There has been a large influx of foreigners. The foreign-born, in 1900, numbered 44,747, of whom 25,540 were Canadians. Vermont has the smallest percentage of urban population of any of the North Atlantic States. Burlington, the largest city, had, in 1900, 18,640 inhabitants; Rutland, 11,499; and Montpelier, the capital, 6266.
Religion. The early inhabitants were largely of the English ‘Non-Conformist’ or ‘Independent’ type, who became known as Congregationalists, and they have continued the strongest religious sect in the State. Later the Methodists became important. Still later the influx of foreigners brought a strong Catholic element.
Education. Before the population and wealth began to concentrate in towns the old district system afforded uniformity in school conditions; but as a result of this movement there is a great disparity in school advantages. Many rural schools are very small and have short terms. In 1893 there was a change from the district to the town system, and through better transportation facilities some improvement has been made in the rural schools. Under the town system the high schools have improved, and there has been a 50 per cent. increase in the attendance. The average duration of schools has latterly been above 150 days. In 1900 there were 84,720 children between the ages of five and eighteen, of whom 65,964 were enrolled, and 47,020 in average attendance. There were in that year 256 male and 2714 female teachers. The schools derive their main support from local funds and taxes, though some assistance is secured from a State school tax and a State school fund. Of higher institutions the State supports normal schools at Randolph, Johnson, and Castleton, and a State university, including agricultural and medical departments, at Burlington. The Congregationalists maintain a college at Middlebury.
Charitable and Penal Institutions. There is a State insane asylum at Waterbury, and the insane asylum at Brattleboro is aided by the State. The two have more than 800 patients. The State has no institution for the deaf or blind, but cares for them by contract in institutions of other States. The State soldiers' home is located at Bennington. The State prison is at Windsor. Persons convicted of minor offenses are sent to the House of Correction at Rutland. Youthful offenders, both boys and girls, are sent to the industrial home at Vergennes.
History. The first explorer of this region was Champlain (q.v.), who, in 1609, sailed up the lake which bears his name. The country was said to be inhabited by the Iroquois, but this is doubtful. No settlements were made until 1665, when the French built Fort Saint Anne on Isle la Motte. Frequent French incursions were made through ‘the Wilderness’ against New England and New York, and in 1696 seigniories were granted. Massachusetts built Fort Dummer in 1724 on the site of Brattleboro, and in 1728 a trading house was opened here. French forts were built at Chimney Point and Crown Point in 1730-31, and much loss was inflicted on the English settlers by roving bands who used these posts as headquarters. English blockhouses were built and many battles were fought after 1744. The French abandoned all posts in 1757 except Isle aux Noix, and this was taken the next year. In 1732 Colonel John Henry Lydius bought of the Mohawks a tract of land corresponding nearly to the present counties of Addison and Rutland, and this purchase was confirmed by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, in 1744. New Hampshire claimed the territory to a line drawn 20 miles east of the Hudson River, i.e. as far as the border of the Massachusetts territory, and after
