Sunderland

Chartered in 1761, Sunderland stretches along the valley between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range in Bennington County. The Battenkill River, one of Vermont's finest trout streams, flows through the eastern part of town, drawing fly fishers from across the Northeast. The town's flat, fertile valley floor made it attractive to early settlers, and farming has been part of the landscape ever since.

Sunderland's population of about 990 reflects a community that has stayed small despite its location along Route 7A between Arlington and Manchester. The Green Mountain National Forest covers much of the eastern portion of town, and Stratton Road climbs through the mountains to points east. The town operates under a selectboard, and residents gather each March for town meeting — the annual exercise in direct participation that connects this valley community to the democratic traditions Vermont has maintained for over two and a half centuries.