Hancock

Straddling the spine of the Green Mountains in Addison County, Hancock was chartered in 1781 and sits at the junction of Route 100 and Route 125 — the latter being the scenic highway that climbs through Middlebury Gap. The town's mountainous terrain made farming a challenge, but the White River's headwaters provided waterpower for early mills, and logging sustained the community through much of the nineteenth century.

Hancock has about 360 residents and remains a small, quiet town. The Texas Falls Recreation Area, located within the Green Mountain National Forest just south of the village, draws hikers and picnickers with its dramatic cascading waterfalls. The town sits at a geographic crossroads but retains the unhurried character of a mountain community.

Local governance follows the selectboard and town meeting model. Hancock's small population means that civic participation is personal — debates are between neighbors, and the outcomes of each March's meeting shape daily life in immediate, visible ways.