[bluejays21]

Vermont is one if the six New England states, and I am curious, what makes it part of New England? It seems a little bit different than the other New England states. Where the other five states were founded as English colonies(Maine too, it was just part of Mass at the time), Vermont did not really have it's own identity until the time of the Revolution in many ways. It was really part of New York during it's early history, although it was settled by many New England colonists. Another thing is that there is really nowhere in Vermont that truly gravitates to Boston. Eastern Connecticut does, Massachusetts does, Rhode Island does, southern New Hampshire does and even part of southern Maine is close to Boston.

I am not saying Vermont isn't part of New England, I simply want to hear why people think it fits in with New England. What characteristics does Vermont have that makes it feel like New England?

[brienzi]

The winter and the Skiing!!
A beautiful state that's very laid back and in no rush..and green all the way from the landscape to the residents. I love it and wouldn't mind retiring there.

[arctichomesteader]

The early settlers waged war against New York with a private militia in defense of the New Hampshire grants. The early settlers were from New England, most New Yorkers were driven away. Then there's the New England town meetings...

[harry chickpea]

In a nutshell:

First, much of Vermont was settled by people from Connecticut, and the Connecticut River which forms the eastern border was the major early route when transport was by rivers. (Connecticut up to Waterbury CT was settled much before the interior of Massachusetts, which had little decent river access.) The water connection of Lake Champlain to the Hudson was lost after the ice ages and only re-established with the construction of the Champlain Barge Canal fairly late on.

The route to the north, through the Richeleu, was fraught with problems. Ice blocked it and the St. Lawrence for a large part of the year, the French and Indian populations weren't always friendly, and the loyalists were booted off their Vermont land into Canada. The only real traffic corridor for Vermont was the Connecticut River until the start of the railroads.

The Central Vermont RR served Connecticut, but there were connections to Boston, which then became the primary market for Vermont potatoes, hay, milk, cheese, lumber and syrup. There was some market towards Albany on the Delaware & Hudson, but it ran on the West side of Lake Champlain. Interchange with the Rutland RR was problematic, involving such oddities as floating RR bridges.

Portland ME did try to get commerce using its port by building a railroad across Vermont to Ogdensburgh NY and the lake traffic from the Great Lakes. It never amounted to much.

New York State to the west of Vermont had no good agricultural land until after the Adirondacks, so there was no significant interchange.

[Rubi3]

Vermont is part of New England because of its location. There's no other reason.
Next question?

[Wicked_Pissah]

I was born in MA, lived there until I was five and then in moved to NH. I grew up in NH but my family had a summer home in York Maine so I spent my summers there. I went to different colleges in ME, MA and NH. I now own a home in NH and am raising a family here.

To me New England is really only ME, NH and MA.

I know Vermont is part of New England and it's a pretty state, for about five minutes. No jobs. No coastline. Not much to do. I live next door to Vermont and have been there 4 -5 times. I've seen the pretty trees, rolling hills, barns and covered bridges and if I never go there again I'll be OK with it.

Connecticut really isn't New England, especially western Ct as they associate with NYC and not NE.

RI is the land of one of the world's worst accents. The providence accent is some type of mutated boston/nyc/something else accent. It's grating on the ears. There are some pretty mansions and coastline. Like VT, I've been there a few times and have absolutely no burning desire to ever return.

Even though I'm from NH, Maine, especially southern Maine, is my favorite place on earth.

[DauntlessDan]

Location, location, location!!

[A.J240]

Originally Posted by Wicked_Pissah

I was born in MA, lived there until I was five and then in moved to NH. I grew up in NH but my family had a summer home in York Maine so I spent my summers there. I went to different colleges in ME, MA and NH. I now own a home in NH and am raising a family here.

To me New England is really only ME, NH and MA.

I know Vermont is par No jot of New England and it's a pretty state, for about five minutes. No jobs. No coastline. Not much to do. I live next door to Vermont and have been there 4 -5 times. I've seen the pretty trees, rolling hills, barns and covered bridges and if I never go there again I'll be OK with it.

Connecticut really isn't New England, especially western Ct as they associate with NYC and not NE.

RI is the land of one of the world's worst accents. The providence accent is some type of mutated boston/nyc/something else accent. It's grating on the ears. There are some pretty mansions and coastline. Like VT, I've been there a few times and have absolutely no burning desire to ever return.

Even though I'm from NH, Maine, especially southern Maine, is my favorite place on earth.

LOL. These equally apply to Maine and NH.

Are you only defining New England as places you like?

OP: Location!!!! And as others have pointed out, the culture.

[Wicked_Pissah]

Originally Posted by A.J240

LOL. These equally apply to Maine and NH.

Are you only defining New England as places you like?

OP: Location!!!! And as others have pointed out, the culture.

Yes, I'm defining it as places I like. That's why I said "to me."

But everyone knows that CT is not really part of New England.

[warren zee]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

The early settlers waged war against New York with a private militia in defense of the New Hampshire grants. The early settlers were from New England, most New Yorkers were driven away. Then there's the New England town meetings...

History and Geography. It's more NE than it is Up State NY.