They were part of the large Wabanaki confederacy of related Algonguian-speaking peoples that extended into what is now Canada.

Both groups pushed the Abenaki aside when they wanted the land, and the natives suffered high mortality due to new infectious diseases.

France and England continued their European competition in North America, including in wars of the early 18th century.

There was frequent raiding by each group of colonists and their Native American allies between their settlements, leading to a brisk trade in ransomed captives.

In the latter warfare, Rogers' Rangers attacked Saint-Francis, Quebec in 1759, but were forced to retreat.

One group followed the Barton River south to the falls at the outlet of Crystal Lake, where they caught fish to eat.

[8] The land was granted in lieu of pay to 60 Revolutionary War veterans, mainly from Rhode Island.

They included Admiral John Paul Jones, General William Barton after whom the town was named, and Ira Allen.

They noted that Foosah, an Abenaki, said that he had killed 27 moose, besides large numbers of beaver and otter, near this pond in the winter of 1783–1784.

[9] On June 6, 1810, the body of water known today as Runaway Pond flooded the Barton River Valley, resulting in widespread destruction.

Fred Kimball opposed slavery and became an agent on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War, assisting refugee slaves from the South to reach freedom in Vermont or pass into Canada.

[15] By 1863, enthusiasm for the war had waned, and Congress passed legislation to start a draft of soldiers.

Individuals were allowed to buy their way out of the draft for $300, a steep sum for many men at the time, or find a substitute, usually paying a bounty of $100.

300 townspeople performed, and they were watched by 4,500 paying spectators, a record audience for the county at the time.

It wanted to avoid the risk of U-Boat attacks that resulted from shipping by sea.

There had been insufficient snow to insulate homes against the cold, and a life-threatening emergency developed after electric power failed.

It was off for 12 hours, jeopardizing the lives of many residents, particularly the elderly, among those who depended on electrical fired furnaces.

[21] The unincorporated village of South Barton, sometimes called Kimball Station, no longer exists.

It was located near the Wheeler Mountain Road south of Crystal Lake on present-day Route 5.

South Barton tried to rely on steam power, but by the early 1940s, the village was no longer viable.

Eventually the relocation of the latter to New York state took enough jobs that remaining residents left the village.

About two miles (3 km) from the Irasburg line, and parallel with it, there is a narrow vein of hornblende schist the whole length of the town.

In the eastern corner, covering an area of several square miles, the rocks are a mixture of granite, syenite, and protogine.

Prior to 2010, a study was taken which showed that second home ownership in town was 30%; this was similar to other locations across the county.

[24] Ethan Allen Manufacturing, in the village of Orleans, employs about 400 workers locally.

[27][28] Water is separately distributed to local village residents in Barton and Orleans.

[31] Rural Community Transportation provides on-demand rides for medicaid and medicare patients, disabled individuals, and older adults.

[32] While the Washington County Railroad (The Vermont Railway System) runs through Barton about twice a day, it does not make scheduled stops.

Barton village contains three areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[40] His praise of girlie shows aroused an uproar among some residents, and resulted in these being shut down as part of the attractions.