Townshend

Chartered in 1753, Townshend is one of the oldest grants in Vermont and sits along the West River in Windham County. The town common, a large and well-maintained green in the center of the village, is one of the finest in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Townshend Dam, built by the Army Corps of Engineers after the devastating 1938 hurricane, controls flooding on the West River and created a popular recreation area.

With a population of roughly 1,154, Townshend serves as a small service center for the surrounding area. The Scott Covered Bridge, spanning the West River, is one of the longest single-span covered bridges in Vermont. Grace Cottage Hospital, a small community hospital, provides healthcare to the region. Town governance operates through a selectboard, and the annual town meeting on the first Tuesday in March brings residents together to practice the direct democracy that has been central to Vermont life since before statehood.