West Rutland

Once the marble capital of the world, West Rutland built its identity on the vast deposits of white and colored marble that lie beneath the town. The Vermont Marble Company operated enormous quarries here in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, producing stone that was shipped across the country for use in buildings, monuments, and sculpture. The industry employed hundreds and gave West Rutland a cosmopolitan labor force — Italian, Swedish, and Irish immigrants all came to work the quarries.

With the decline of the marble industry, West Rutland has transitioned to a residential community of about 2,284 people. The town sits in Rutland County along Otter Creek, with easy access to Rutland City just to the east. The West Rutland Marsh, a large wetland area, is one of the best birding sites in the region. The town operates under a selectboard, and the annual town meeting remains the primary forum for residents to participate in the decisions that shape their community.