Sheldon

Chartered in 1763, Sheldon lies in Franklin County along the Missisquoi River, which powered the mills that drove the town's early economy. Sheldon Springs, in the western part of town, once attracted visitors who believed the mineral waters had healing properties — a modest resort operated there in the nineteenth century. The town was also the site of the Sheldon Raid in 1866, when Fenian forces briefly crossed from Canada in an ill-fated attempt to seize British territory.

Today Sheldon is home to about 1,975 residents. Dairy farming has long been central to the local economy, and the open fields along the Missisquoi tell that story at a glance. The town maintains a selectboard form of government, and the annual town meeting each March is where residents come together to set the budget, weigh in on local issues, and carry forward a tradition of self-governance that has defined this community for over 250 years.