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History · Rupert

Rupert dates to 1761, and 49% of its homes were built before 1940

2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 62 buildings. Below: maps from 1894 on and the census since 1790.

1761founded
2on the National Register
49%homes built before 1940
2famous people
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Quick answers

How Rupert began

When was Rupert founded?

1761

Rupert dates its founding to 1761 (Wikidata). It appears in the first U.S. census, 1790.

First census: 1,033 in 17902020 census: 698265 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1816.The full story ↓

What stands out about Rupert’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Rupert are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18943 editions of the USGS map, 1894 to 1995. Watch Rupert change.A historic districtThe Rupert Village Historic District takes in 62 historic buildings.Lost villages2 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Rupert, and 3 old place names are still on the map.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Rupert’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Rupert’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Rupert on the map, 1894 to 1995

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Rupert. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Rupert on the 1894 USGS mapRupert on the 1967 USGS mapRupert on the 1995 USGS map1894Pawlet sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Rupert.

On the National Register

2 listings protect 63 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
63
each building in a district counts
first listed
1994
Jenks Tavern
Jenks Tavern, built 1807Rupert Village Historic District
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Federal1
Jenks TavernFederal · Built 1807
Rupert Village Historic DistrictDistrict

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

The story

How Rupert came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Rupert.

Read it all →

Many historians agree that Benning Wentworth, colonial governor of New Hampshire, gave Rupert its name, after Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619–1682). Prince Rupert was a prominent figure in the English Civil War and afterwards.

One of Rupert's first settlers was Reuben Harmon, a metalsmith, who was given the right to mint coins, called Vermont coppers, for the Republic of Vermont. Harmon's Mint was originally located in East Rupert on a small stream known as Hagar's Brook. It was later moved Southwind Farm in North Rupert.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Rupert, 1761 to 1926

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1761
    FoundingRupert is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1800CensusPopulation peaks at 1,648
  5. 1807BuiltJenks Tavern is built
  6. 1816Post officeThe Rupert post office opens
  7. 1827Post officeThe East Rupert post office opens
  8. 1837Post officeThe West Rupert post office opens
  9. 1853Born hereMoses Sherman is born here
  10. 1894On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  11. 20th century
  12. 1904Post officeThe East Rupert post office closes
  13. 1926Born hereSheldon Roberts is born here
By decade

Rupert, decade by decade

Today27 recent
RupertVT JenksTavern2018RupertVT JenksTavernRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont post office2010Rupert, Vermont post officeRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontRupert, Vermont2010Rupert, VermontChurch in2010Church inVermont State Route 315 ending in2007Vermont State Route 315 ending inEastrupert2007EastrupertVermont State Route 30 at Vermont Route 315 junction2006Vermont State Route 30 at Vermont Route 315 junctionRupert vt highlight2004Rupert vt highlight
People over time

Rupert, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001,4001,6001,80018001850190019502000Peak: 1,648

Peaked at 1,648 in 1800; 698 people lived here in 2020.

24 censuses, 1790–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Rupert’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in Rupert

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
S
Sheldon RobertsAmerican metallurgist · b. 1926
Moses ShermanLos Angeles land developer · b. 1853
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Rupert’s post office has been open since 1816. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Rupert
1816–today
East Rupert
1827–1904
West Rupert
1837–today
North Rupert
1877–1904
18101920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
East RupertNorth RupertWest Rupert
5cemeteries and burying grounds inside Rupert
Graves FamilyKent HollowNorth RupertRupert StreetWest Rupert

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Pawlet3 historic placesASandgateIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townDorset4 historic placesA+

Questions about Rupert’s history

What year was Rupert founded?

In 1761, according to Wikidata. Rupert’s post office opened in 1816, and the first U.S. census counted 1,033 people here in 1790.

What is on the National Register in Rupert?

Two places: the Jenks Tavern (listed 1994) and the Rupert Village Historic District (2022).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (27), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.