Newfane

The white-clapboard buildings surrounding Newfane's village green form one of the most photographed scenes in Vermont. The Windham County Courthouse, built in 1825, anchors the green alongside the Congregational Church and the Old Newfane Inn. It's a composition that could serve as the dictionary illustration for "New England town center."

Chartered in 1753, Newfane was originally settled on Newfane Hill, about two miles from the current village. In 1825 the town voted to relocate the center downhill — an unusual move that required dismantling and rebuilding several structures. The result is a village that looks as though it was designed all at once, because in a sense it was.

Newfane serves as the shire town of Windham County, meaning the county courthouse and related offices are located here. With about 1,725 residents, the town balances its role as a judicial center with its identity as a small rural community. The annual Newfane Heritage Festival and the town's proximity to skiing and hiking keep visitors coming, but the real civic life happens at town meeting, where the budget is set and the selectboard reports to the people it serves.