Williamstown

Chartered in 1781, Williamstown sits in a valley in Orange County along the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River. The town developed as a farming community and small commercial center, benefiting from its location along the route between Barre and the Connecticut River valley. Williamstown Gulf, a narrow pass through the hills, connects the town to the east.

With a population of about 3,435, Williamstown is one of the larger communities in Orange County. The town serves as a local service center with a school, stores, and businesses clustered along Route 14. Ainsworth State Park and the surrounding hills offer recreation. Williamstown operates under a selectboard, and the annual town meeting each March is where residents come together to set the budget, debate local issues, and practice the direct democracy that has been the foundation of Vermont governance for nearly 250 years.