WASHINGTON, comity of Vermont, bounded by Orange county of the same state S.E. and S., Addison S.W., Chittenden W. and N.W., N. by Orange, and N.E. and E. by Caledonia. Length from S.W. to N.E. 26 miles; mean breadth 20, and area 520 square miles. Extending in Lat. from 05' to 44° 32' N., and in Long. from 4° to 40' E. from W. C.
The eastern border of this county, in common with Caledonia, is a chain of mountains, from the western flank of which issues numerous sources of . Onion river. These sources mingle their waters with other streams from the mountain valleys on both sides, but the main channel flowing to the northwestward gives that declination to the sur face. The country is indeed nearly commensurate with the higher part of the valley of Onion river. It may be, however, well to observe, that though the general slope is N.W. that the counter valleys between the mountain chains arc at nearly right angles to that direction. The face of the county is very greatly diversified by hill, dale, valley and the most rugged mountain scenery. The soil is as
varied as the physiognomy, but generally produc tive in grain, grasses, pasturage and fruit. Popu lation in 1820 was 14,113; and in 1830 had risen to 21,378.
There is, perhaps, no point in this county at which the arable surface does not exceed an eleva tion of 500 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, whilst the higher margin at the extreme sources of Onion river exceeds a relative height above tide of 1300 feet. In effect or temperature at least two degrees of Fahrenheit may he allowed for the mean height of the county. II', therefore, we allow a central Lat. of 44° 15', the real aerial temperature of 46° 15' must be taken when compared with the ocean border.
Montpelier, the seat of justice of the county and of the government for the state, is situated on the right bank of Onion river, 25 miles N.N.E. from Middlebury, 25 miles N.W. by W. from Haverhill in New Hampshire, and by post road 524 miles N.E. from W. C. N. Lat. 44° 16'. Population, 2500.