Vermont's Borders: A New England Quadrilateral

Vermont's boundaries form a near-rectangle in northern New England, defined by natural features and colonial charters.

The Four Borders

• North: International boundary with Quebec, Canada (45th parallel north, surveyed 1772, refined 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty).
• East: Connecticut River separates Vermont from New Hampshire—the river's western mean low-water mark is the legal line (Vermont v. New Hampshire, 1933).
• South: Massachusetts border—straight east-west line at 42°44'N, established by 1740 royal decree resolving Massachusetts Bay vs. New Hampshire grants.
• West: New York border—largely follows Lake Champlain's midline north to the Canadian border, then a short land segment. The "Vermont panhandle" west of the lake dates to 1790 NY-VT agreement.

Geographic Implications

Lake Champlain (120 miles long) dominates the western boundary, connecting to the Richelieu River and St. Lawrence Seaway. The Green Mountains run north-south through the state's center, creating distinct eastern and western watersheds.

Historical Quirk

Vermont was an independent republic (1777-1791) before statehood—its borders were negotiated with neighboring states and Britain, not imposed by federal territory lines.