Golden arches and green mermaid logos are about as common in American cities as stop signs. You'd expect every state capital, with its lawmakers, lobbyists, and busy office workers, to have at least one of each. But one capital has neither.
Here's the short answer: that capital is Montpelier, Vermont. It's the least populous state capital in the United States, with 8,074 residents at the 2020 census, and it's the only state capital without a single McDonald's or Starbucks.
America's Smallest Capital
Montpelier sits in north-central Vermont, where the Winooski River and its tributary, the North Branch, flow through town. Its population swells during the workday, because so many people come in for jobs within city limits.
Its first permanent settlers arrived in May 1787, when Colonel Jacob Davis and General Parley Davis came from Charlton, Massachusetts. The general surveyed the land while the colonel cleared forest and built a large log house beside the North Branch. By 1791, the town had 117 people.
The city was named after Montpellier, a city in the south of France. Colonel Jacob Davis chose the name at a time when Americans felt a general enthusiasm for all things French, because of France's help during the Revolutionary War. Montpelier became the permanent home of the state government in 1805, chosen for its central location and because local residents donated land and money.
A Golden Dome Instead of Golden Arches
The city does have one famous golden landmark: the Vermont State House. Its gold-leaf dome stands out against a wooded hillside and can be seen as you approach town. On top stands a statue called Agriculture, representing Ceres, the Roman goddess of farming.
The statue has been replaced a few times. The original was installed in 1858. When it rotted, an 87-year-old state official carved a replacement in 1938. The current version, carved from laminated mahogany, went up after the second statue was removed in 2018. The architect Stanford White once called the building the finest example of Greek Revival style in the country.
Because of its hilly setting, Montpelier is sometimes compared to Rome as a city on seven hills, and it's arguably the smallest city that could make that claim.
A Town That Knows Floods
Life by the river has its challenges. Montpelier has suffered three serious floods, in 1927, 1992, and 2023. In the Great Flood of 1927, more than seven inches of rain fell in six hours, and rivers rose 13 feet or more above normal. At least a foot of mud covered the floors of downtown stores. President Calvin Coolidge, a Vermonter himself, praised the state's "indomitable spirit" during the recovery.
In 1992, an ice jam on the Winooski flooded downtown in less than an hour, closing 120 businesses. The city also survived fires in 1875 that destroyed 38 buildings, after which the commercial district was rebuilt in brick.
Small-Town Charm
Montpelier's economy leans on state government, insurance, and tourism. The insurance industry there dates back to the early 1800s, and ski areas are close by. The Vermont College of Fine Arts calls the city home too.
So if you visit, plan on a local diner or café instead of a drive-through. In a capital this size, you might end up chatting with the person behind the counter, and that might just be the best part of the trip.
