West Haven

Chartered in 1792, West Haven occupies Vermont's southwestern border along the Poultney River and the New York state line in Rutland County. The town's flat terrain near the river and the shores of Lake Champlain's southern reaches made it suitable for farming, though the area was also contested during the Revolutionary War — the border between Vermont and New York was a matter of considerable dispute.

With a population of approximately 239, West Haven is one of the smaller communities in Rutland County. The town has no commercial establishments and relies on Fair Haven and Poultney for services. The landscape is open farmland and wetlands, with views toward the Adirondacks across the lake. Town meeting in March is where this small community comes together to manage its budget and governance — a tradition that continues even in the quietest corners of the state.