Montpelier VT – Winooski River Scene

Montpelier, like a lot of major cities, is located along a river. The Winooski River, deriving its name from the Abenaki word for “where the wild onion grows,” is a vital 90-mile waterway in Vermont, flowing from the Cabot area to Lake Champlain. It shaped the region’s history by powering early sawmills and textile industries, most notably through Ira Allen’s developments. Known for severe floods, such as in 1927, 1992, and 2023, the river has been extensively harnessed for hydropower. 

The Abenaki lived along the river from as 400 A.D. until European settlement in the 1700s.

Here is a picture from the 2023 flood. This water line came up to my shoulders!

When I was taking my walks, the river looked very calm and peaceful. The river actually looks low. It is hard to imagine that it rose so high that it covered a bridge and a lot of the streets!

What interesting river scenes have you seen in your travels?