Fair Haven

Chartered in 1779 by the Republic of Vermont, Fair Haven sits at the western edge of Rutland County near the New York border. The town grew rapidly in the nineteenth century thanks to its proximity to the slate quarries of the Taconic Range, and by the 1850s Fair Haven had become a commercial hub for the regional slate industry. Matthew Lyon, one of the most colorful figures in early American politics, settled here and represented Vermont in Congress before his infamous sedition conviction in 1798.

Today Fair Haven is home to roughly 2,900 residents and serves as a service center for surrounding communities. The town's compact village features a classic Vermont green, a public library, and a mix of Federal and Victorian-era architecture. Fair Haven is also the home of the Fair Haven Free Library, one of the older continuously operating libraries in the state.

Local governance follows the selectboard-town meeting model, with residents gathering each March to debate budgets, elect officers, and shape the direction of their community.