Pownal

At the southwestern tip of Vermont, Pownal shares borders with both Massachusetts and New York — the only town in the state to touch both neighboring states. The town was chartered in 1760, making it one of the earliest grants under the New Hampshire system, and it figured in the territorial disputes between New Hampshire, New York, and the nascent Vermont Republic.

Pownal's terrain descends from the Green Mountains on its eastern side to the Hoosic River valley in the west. The town has about 3,520 residents spread across several villages, including Pownal, Pownal Center, and North Pownal. The Green Mountain racetrack operated here for years, and the town retains a working-class character distinct from the more tourist-oriented communities to the north.

The town governs through a selectboard and town meeting. Pownal's position at the state's corner means its residents sometimes feel remote from Montpelier's attention, which only reinforces the importance of local self-governance — the decisions that matter most to Pownal are made right here, by the people who live here.