Orwell

Looking west from Orwell across Lake Champlain, you can see the ramparts of Fort Ticonderoga on the New York shore — a reminder that this Addison County town sits on historically contested ground. Mount Independence, within Orwell's boundaries, was the site of a major American fortification during the Revolutionary War. In 1776, thousands of soldiers garrisoned the promontory to defend against a British invasion from Canada.

Chartered in 1763, Orwell developed as an agricultural community once the war was over. The town's relatively flat terrain and fertile soils made it productive farmland, and dairy farming has been a mainstay for generations. About 1,260 people live here today.

The Mount Independence State Historic Site preserves the Revolutionary War fortifications and offers trails through the ruins, making Orwell a destination for history enthusiasts. Town meeting continues each March, connecting the civic traditions of the present to the principles of self-governance that were being fought over on this very ground 250 years ago.