History of Jamaica, Vermont, USA

Jamaica is a charming town in southern Vermont, known for its scenic beauty and proximity to Stratton Mountain Resort.


In the colonial period, what is now Vermont was disputed territory, with land claims rising from both New York and New Hampshire. The original grants for this area were issued by the Royal Governor of New York in 1767 and 1772 and were for two towns. In 1777 the Independent Republic of Vermont was established and in 1780, ignoring the previous grants, gave charter for "a tract of vacant land within this state which has not heretofore been granted". The Charter goes on to say "that the same be and is hereby Incorporated into a Township by the name of Jamaica". The grant encompassed forty two square miles. The land lies at an altitude ranging from 688 above sea level along the West River to 2,542 feet on The Pinnacle. There were sixty-seven grantees listed on the Charter, and many of those names can be found among Jamaica’s residents today. Jamaica is one of only two civic entities in Vermont whose modern name is derived from a Native place name, in this case the Natick word for "beaver".

Rawsonville is a village in the town of Jamaica.
jamaicavermont.org