Vergennes

Incorporated as a city in 1788, Vergennes holds the distinction of being one of the smallest cities in the United States, with a population of about 2,588. The city sits on Otter Creek in Addison County, and it was here that Thomas Macdonough built the fleet that defeated the British on Lake Champlain in the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814. The falls on Otter Creek provided the water power that made the shipyard — and later, various mills — possible.

Vergennes' compact downtown retains its nineteenth-century commercial character, with brick buildings lining Main Street and the green. The city has experienced a modest revival in recent years, with new restaurants and shops joining established businesses. The Kennedy Brothers factory building, once a woodworking operation, has been repurposed for various uses. As a city, Vergennes operates with a city council rather than a traditional town meeting, but the scale of the place ensures that local governance remains an accessible, personal affair.