History of Manchester, Vermont
The legacy that we have come to associate with Manchester, is a legacy built upon a foundation of natural beauty, historic charm and a hard working, community-minded citizenry. Although portions of our town have witnessed a good deal of growth and change over the past decade, much of today's Manchester remains a tranquil and comforting alternative to urban America. The splendor and majesty of 3,816 ft. Mt. Equinox, which overlooks our community, serves as a constant reminder of how fortunate we are to live on this relatively peaceful portion of our planet.
Manchester legally came into existence in 1761 when Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, by charter, designated our 42.67 square miles of Vermont as Manchester. After suffering through the trials, tribulations and hardships that many of our forefathers endured in "settling" America in the latter 18th and early 19th centuries, Manchester, by the mid 1800's, had found its niche as a popular vacation destination for the burgeoning middle and upper class that accompanied our country's industrial revolution. At first, Manchester's tourist attraction was largely restricted to the summer season. But as Manchester (and America) evolved over the years our community has become known as a "four season" tourist retreat; offering leaf peeping and hunting in the fall, skiing in the winter, renowned trout fishing in the spring and virtually anything else your heart desires in the summer.
Since its early days Manchester has also served as a regional service and economic center for the "Northshire" (northern Bennington County). At one time or another, Manchester's landscape has been dotted by iron mines, marble mills, and lumber companies. One enterprise which has stood the test of time is The Orvis Company. Founded in 1856, Orvis is a leading manufacturer of quality fishing equipment (rods, flies, etc...) and an international retailer of sporting goods and clothing.
Over the years, the relatively new phenomenon of the "factory outlet" clothing store has become quite popular in Manchester. Today, visitors to our community come to enjoy Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren and J. Crew, as well as, the more traditional recreational activities. Due to the shopping opportunities now existent, our vibrant commercial core remains quite active throughout the year. In fact, the retail segment of our economy has grown so dramatically that Manchester now generates more state sales tax revenue than all, but four other Vermont municipalities.
Although many folks throughout Vermont (especially a good portion of State officialdom in Montpelier) view Manchester as a wealthy Mecca inhabited only by robber barons and the landed gentry, the real Manchester is in many ways quite similar to any other American small town. It is certainly true that we have our share of residents who are fairly well-off. However, of the people who call Manchester "home", most are just average citizens, working hard to make ends meet: the small business person, the construction worker, and the service sector employee who works two or three jobs.