Vermont

Vermont Census Research

Federal censuses in Vermont began in 1800 and continued every ten years thereafter. Because Vermont joined the union as the fourteenth state in 1791, it missed the first federal census by one year. The census labeled 1790 was actually taken one year later.

Families which migrated to Vermont from other states may be listed on their home state's 1790 census, and again in Vermont's enumerations one year later, having migrated in the interim. The 1810 and 1820 censuses for some Vermont towns include a tally of such things as the number of yards of material made on the premises and the amount of lumber milled. When using the census records, care should be taken to consider alternate spelling, especially for French Canadians, Italian, and Greek names of new immigrants after 1850.

Vermont Research Resources

The organizations listed below provide information about Vermont history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.

Vermont Vital Records

Vital record registration in Vermont is recorded at the town level. The vital records are incomplete before mandatory registration began in 1857. However, it is not uncommon to find an entire family recorded as a family group before 1820. In some cases, although the event was recorded in a particular town, it may have actually occurred in another town or state where the family previously resided, and not all events for a family were recorded. Marriages and deaths in the pre 1857 period were less likely to be recorded.

•  Vermont Vital Records: Holds records of births, marriage, civil unions, divorces, and deaths for the most recent five years. Records older than five years are held by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration or by the clerk of the town where the event occurred.

Vermont Research Resources

The organizations listed below provide information about Vermont history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.

Statewide Research Resources

• Vermont State Archives
• Vermont Historical Association: Some holdings in the extensive collections at the Leahy Library include family histories, cemetery records, published town records, Sanborn maps, and Civil War manuscripts.
• Genealogical Society of Vermont
• Vermont GenWeb
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at Boston: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in Vermont, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.

Specialty and Regional Research

•  New England Historic Genealogical Society: NEHGS holds a wide range of records on New England states.
• Vermont Folklife Center: Focused on the folk arts and cultural traditions of Vermont and the surrounding area. Resources available in the Archive include images, audio, and interviews.