Holland

Chartered in 1779, Holland sits in the northeastern corner of Orleans County, with its northern border touching Canada. The town's defining features are its ponds — Holland Pond and the southern end of Lake Memphremagog's watershed provide water and wetland habitats throughout the area. The terrain is hilly and forested, characteristic of the Northeast Kingdom.

About 600 people live in Holland, and the town retains a deeply rural character. There is no commercial center to speak of, and residents rely on neighboring Derby and Newport for most services. The landscape is a patchwork of forest, small farms, and seasonal camps along the ponds. Hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling are not just recreation here but part of the fabric of daily life.

Holland's selectboard and annual town meeting provide local governance. In a town this close to the border and this far from Vermont's population centers, the tradition of self-governance takes on a practical significance — these are people accustomed to solving their own problems and making their own decisions.