From ehow.com:
Rubber overshoes originated in South America and Wellingtons come from England. The most notable advances in the production of rubber boots, however, occurred in the United States. The vulcanization technique invented by Charles Goodyear was the most significant advancement in rubber history. In 1847, the rubber boot trade was centralized in Rhode Island and Connecticut; by World War I, the functionality of rubber boots caused production to spread worldwide.
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http://www.ehow.com/about_5127251_history-rubber-boots.html#ixzz2h3cOT42N
