Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index In 1778, Vermont had only two counties: Bennington County: formed in 1778 as one of two original counties, and comprised the western side of the state. County seat: Bennington Orange County: formed in 1778 as Unity County -- one of two original counties, and comprised the eastern side of the state. Renamed Orange County in 1781. County seat: Chelsea The two counties were split into five as of 1781: Rutland County: formed in 1781 from the northern part of Bennington County. County seat: Rutland Windham County: formed in 1781 from part of Unity (Orange) County. County seat: Newfane Windsor County: formed in 1781 from part of Unity (Orange) County. County seat: Woodstock Over time, more counties were carved out: Addison County: formed in 1785 from part of Rutland County. County seat: Middlebury Chittenden County: formed in 1787 from part of Addison County. County seat: Burlington Franklin County: formed in 1791 from part of Chittenden County. County seat: St. Albans Grand Isle County: formed in 1805 from part of Franklin County. County seat: North Hero Washington County: formed in 1810 from parts of Addison County, Caledonia County, Chittenden County, and Orange County. County seat (and the state capital): Montpelier Lamoille County: formed in 1835 from parts of Chittenden County, Franklin County, Orleans County. County seat: Hyde Park Three remaining counties make up what has come to be known as the Northeast Kingdom: Essex County: formed in 1791 from part of Orange County. County seat: Guildhall Orleans County: formed in 1791 from part of Orange County. County seat: Newport Caledonia County: formed in 1796 from part of Orange County. County seat: St. Johnsbury External link: U.S Census map This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.