Ira

Named for Ira Allen, the younger brother of Ethan Allen and one of the founders of the University of Vermont, this small Rutland County town was chartered in 1781. Ira Allen was instrumental in Vermont's early development — he negotiated the state's constitution, helped establish its educational institutions, and was one of the most consequential figures in Vermont's transition from republic to state.

The town of Ira has about 370 residents and covers a small area of hilly terrain east of Castleton. Agriculture and forestry have been the primary land uses throughout its history, and the town retains a rural, undeveloped character. There is no village center, and residents travel to neighboring Castleton or Rutland for services and commerce.

Ira is governed by a selectboard with decisions made at annual town meeting. In a community named for one of Vermont's most important political figures, the tradition of local democratic governance feels like a living connection to the state's founding ideals.