Berlin

Carved out of parts of several surrounding towns in 1763, Berlin sits just south of the state capital of Montpelier in Washington County. For most of its history, it was a quiet agricultural town overshadowed by its more prominent neighbor. That began to change in the mid-twentieth century as commercial development along Route 302 and the Berlin Mall area transformed the town into a retail and services hub for the capital region.

Berlin Pond, the largest body of water in town, serves as Montpelier's public water supply and is closed to swimming and boating -- a distinction that makes it one of the most protected lakes in the state. The town also hosts the Central Vermont Medical Center, making it a healthcare anchor for the region.

With roughly 2,850 residents, Berlin is a mid-sized Washington County town that straddles the line between rural and suburban. The selectboard and town meeting system governs local affairs, and the annual meeting tackles the particular challenges of a community that absorbs commercial growth while trying to preserve the open land and rural character that define it.