Wilmington

Chartered in 1751 as Draper, Wilmington was renamed and regranted in 1763. The town sits in Windham County at the junction of Route 9 and Route 100, making it a natural crossroads in southern Vermont. The Deerfield River runs through town, and the valley has been a commercial center since the early settlement period. Wilmington was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, when the Deerfield overflowed and flooded the downtown.

With a population of about 2,093, Wilmington serves as the gateway to Mount Snow ski resort and the Deerfield Valley's recreation economy. The downtown has recovered from Irene, and the village center retains its New England character with shops, restaurants, and galleries. Lake Raponda provides summer recreation to the east of the village. Town governance operates through a selectboard, and residents gather for town meeting each March — continuing the practice of direct democracy even in a community whose economy depends heavily on visitors from elsewhere.