Clarendon

Chartered in 1761 under a New Hampshire grant, Clarendon was among the first towns settled in what would become Rutland County. The Clarendon River (now called the Mill River) powered early sawmills and gristmills, and by the early nineteenth century the town had developed a modest industrial base. Clarendon Springs, a village in the northwestern part of town, became a popular mineral-spring resort destination in the 1800s, drawing visitors who believed the waters had healing properties.

Today Clarendon is home to about 3,100 people and sits along the Route 7 corridor just south of Rutland. The town retains a rural character despite its proximity to the city, with active farms and forested hillsides flanking the main road. Clarendon's selectboard oversees town operations, and the annual Town Meeting in March gives every voter a chance to weigh in on budgets, road maintenance, and the other practical questions that keep a Vermont town functioning. It is a community that has adapted to change over 260 years while holding onto its tradition of local self-governance.