Stamford

Tucked into Vermont's southwestern corner where the state borders both Massachusetts and New York, Stamford was chartered in 1753 — making it one of the earliest grants in what would become Vermont. The town sits in the valley of the Hoosic River's North Branch, surrounded by the heavily forested slopes of the southern Green Mountains. Stamford's remote location and rugged terrain kept it small from the start.

Today about 785 people live in Stamford. The town retains a deeply rural character, with working forests covering much of the land area. Route 8 and Route 100 meet here, connecting Stamford to Readsboro to the east and Bennington to the north. Town governance follows the selectboard model, and the annual March meeting is where residents set the budget and elect officers — a straightforward exercise in direct democracy in one of Vermont's most tucked-away communities.