Royalton (Vermont)

Windsor County

50-60850

Royalton is a town in Windsor County, the State of Vermont in the United States with 2,773 inhabitants ( according to the census of 2010). Royalton is located in the valley of the White River, a tributary of the Connecticut River, in the eastern ridges of the Green Mountains. The main settlement is located on the south bank of the South Royalton White River; Another important settlement is a few miles upstream location Royalon village.

The area had been declared for settlement on November 13, 1769 the State of New York and sold. The first permanent settlement was made during winter from 1771; then the population grew very rapidly. Already in 1778 could convene a consolidating city council the settlement; but only from 1781, the Town was permanently represented in the Senate of the former Vermont Republic.

Previously, on October 16, 1780 there had been an event that became known as " Burning of Royalton ": A group of about 300 Indians under the leadership of the British Lieutenant Horton raided in the early hours of the place and its surrounding farms, burned about 20 houses, a large part of the settlement, down, killed two residents and abducted 25 men, women and children. In addition, the newly introduced crop was destroyed as well as the cattle, including 150 cows and all the sheep were killed, so that the 300 residents of the settlement were no food reserves for the winter and the settlement had to be temporarily abandoned. Background of the attack was apparently the search for an American officer, a Lieutenant Whitcomb, killed in 1776 during a reconnaissance ride a British officer and his clock and saber had taken itself. This was considered by the British as unacceptable behavior for an officer and vigorously pursued. The unit belonged to Whitcomb and which was originally stationed in Royalton, but was postponed shortly before the attack to Bethel.

A tracking troop from residents of surrounding villages presented in the following night, the camp of the retreating Indians and launched an attack. Two of the hostages were killed and then left their bodies tied; another, aged hostage was sent to the tracker squad with the news that the remaining hostages would also be killed if there were more attacks. Then the pursuit was terminated. The deportees lived in part for more than a year in Canada before they could escape or were released. The story of the hostages can be found in many books and was held by memorial stones in memory that were set up in several places.

Already in the year after the invasion in 1781, the settlement was rebuilt; almost all of the original settlers returned. The documents local history though they were destroyed in the fire of 1780, so that only exist from the recolonization documents with saved data for the city's history. Exception is the foundation charter of 1770, which was spent after the reconstruction of the city.

The fertile soils of the river valley and its surroundings were the place continues to grow rapidly. A first church was consecrated in 1792; the Royalton Academy was founded in 1807. Already in 1818 the church was so thickly populated that some citizens emigrated to the West: In the state of Ohio under the name of Royalton Township (now North Royalton ), founded a new settlement.

With the founding of the Vermont Central Railroad in 1843, the plan was to lead the then new railway through the valley of the White River through the Green Mountains and the Connecticut River to the capital of Vermont, Montpelier, for commercial and industrial center of Burlington on Lake Champlain lead, put into action. The railway Windsor Burlington was opened on June 26, 1848 between Windsor and Bethel and Royalton thus also connected to the railway line. The rest of the route through the mountains went up to 31 December 1849 in operation. For Royalton, as well as for the other settlements in the valley of the White River, thus opened up new, larger markets, which led to a highly prosperous economy.

Passenger traffic on the rail link between Essex Junction and Burlington was set in 1938, 1966 was followed by the complete cessation of passenger service on the entire route. Since 1972, however, run once a day again express trains on the route: to 1995 (with a two -year break ) to Montréal, then the trains running today Vermonter. Freight traffic on the track but was maintained continuously.

After extensive decline of the rail link is now Interstate 89, a freeway that runs through the valley of the White River, while Royalton with Montpelier and Burlington in the north and Concord connects to the southeast, the most important roads in the municipality. In addition, two country roads, the Vermont Routes 14 and 107, through the area. The village has a primary school and two larger parishes, each a Methodist and a branch of the United Church of Christ, as well as several smaller religious communities such as the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Journey Church. The responsible hospital is in nearby Randolph. A 107 located on Vermont Route area of 55 acres ( about 22 hectares) with partly abandoned fields and pastures in 1997, the Town is about to Royalton Town Forest explains, is to be a tourist attraction.

Population Development

Nearby Cities

All information bee-line distances from the center of Town.

North: Chelsea, 20.0 km
Northeast: Bradford, 38.5 km
East Thetford, 25.0 km
Southeast: Sharon, 10.0 km
South Woodstock, 23.0 km
Southwest: Killington, 26.5 km
West Bethel, 6.0 km
Northwest: Randolph, 14.0 km

Sons and daughters of the town

Charles Durkee (1805-1870), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and governor of the Utah Territory
Dudley Chase Denison (1819-1905), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

694746