Vershire

Chartered in 1781, Vershire is a hill town in Orange County that sits on high ground between the Connecticut River valley and the central spine of Vermont. Copper mining was the town's most notable industry — the Ely Copper Mine operated here in the nineteenth century and was one of the largest copper mines in the eastern United States. A miners' strike in 1883 made national news. The mine's legacy includes both industrial history and environmental cleanup challenges.

Today Vershire is home to about 651 people. The town is also known as the location of the Mountain School, a semester program of Milton Academy where high school students combine academics with farm work and outdoor education. The landscape is one of hill farms, forests, and the long views that define Orange County's ridgeline towns. Town meeting each March is where residents gather to manage local affairs — roads, school budgets, and the shared responsibilities of a small community.