Moretown

Straddling the Mad River in Washington County, Moretown was chartered in 1788 and named after Shubael More, one of the original grantees. The town sits between the Winooski River valley to the north and the ski-resort corridor of the Mad River Valley to the south, giving it a foot in both worlds — working-class and recreation-oriented.

The village of Moretown clusters along Route 2 near the river's confluence with the Winooski. The town's terrain is steep and wooded, with the river cutting a dramatic gorge that has long been a popular (if unofficial) swimming hole. About 1,660 people live here.

Moretown Common, perched on a hill above the village, offers views of the surrounding mountains and hosts the town's annual events. Civic life follows the standard Vermont pattern: a selectboard manages town affairs between the annual March meetings where residents vote on budgets, road maintenance, and school spending.