On January 15, 1777, Vermont declared its independence from New York. Although not recognized as a separate state by the Continental Congress, Vermont was included in American territory by the 1783 Treaty of Paris and functioned as an independent republic until statehood in 1791. 

On March 17, 1778, the first two Vermont counties were establish: Bennington County on the western side of the state and Unity County (which, 3 days later, was renamed Cumberland) on the eastern side.

In 1781, Cumberland County was divided into 3 counties in Vermont, plus created another county named Washington (not the same as the modern Washington County) that eventually became part of New Hampshire. The State of Vermont entered the union as the 14th state on March 4, 1791 with 7 counties.