Randolph

Sitting at the geographic center of Vermont, Randolph developed as a railroad town in the mid-1800s when the Central Vermont Railway built a major junction here. The town was chartered in 1781, but it was the railroad that transformed Randolph from a hill-farming community into a regional center with hotels, shops, and a commercial district that served travelers and the surrounding agricultural area.

Randolph is home to Vermont Technical College (now Vermont State University's Randolph campus), which has trained the state's engineers, nurses, and technicians since 1866. The Chandler Music Hall, built in 1907, is one of the best-preserved performance spaces in Vermont and hosts concerts, lectures, and community events year-round. With about 4,756 residents, Randolph is the largest town in Orange County.

The town's two distinct centers — Randolph village near the college and Randolph Center on the hill — reflect its dual identity as both a commercial hub and a farming community. Town meeting governance continues here, and the discussions often center on balancing growth with the rural character that makes Randolph worth living in.