BENNINGTON, a village in the south-west part of Ver mont, U.S.A., 35m. N.E. of Albany, on the Rutland Railroad, and at the intersection of main highways from three States; the county-seat of Bennington county. The population in 193o was Bennington is picturesquely situated on the Walloomsac river, at the foot of the Green mountains. Nearby is Mt. Anthony which commands a wonderful view. There is an apple orchard of 3,5ooac. 6m. from the village. The distinctive manu factures are knit goods, woollen fabrics, paper, fine furniture, mirrors, brushes, waxed paper and "kiddie-kars," of which more than soo,000 are produced annually. The Vermont Soldiers home, Walloomsac inn (established in 1764), the oldest tavern in the State, and the Old First church (built in 1804-05) are points of historic interest. "Old Bennington," the part first settled, is a beautiful village, with many well-preserved colonial houses.
The town was surveyed in 1749, by the order of Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire, after whom it was named, and was one of the "New Hampshire Grants" disputed by New York. The first log-cabin was built in 1761, the town was organized in 1782, and the village was incorporated in It was the home of Ethan Allen and Seth Warner, and the centre of the activities of the "Green Mountain Boys." During the Revolutionary War an important storehouse of the Continental Army was maintained here. Gen. Burgoyne, on his way to New York from Canada in 1777, sent two detachments of his army (chiefly Hessians and Indians) to seize the supplies. They were decisively defeated by Gen. John Stark in a battle fought on Aug. 16 on New York soil about 6m. W. of the village and this had an important influence on Burgoyne's campaign. The battle is commemorated by a monument 3o 1 f t. high. The flag raised at this battle is said to be the oldest "stars and stripes" in existence. In 1828-29 William Lloyd Garrison lived here, and published The Journal of the Times. The pottery industry, estab lished by Captain John Norton in 1793, flourished for a century, and its products are much sought by collectors.