ADDISON COUNTY

County Offices
2 Court Street
Middlebury 802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Chamber of Commerce
93 Court Street
Middlebury 802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Quaint villages, bustling downtown districts, picturesque farmland, and summer breezes off beautiful Lake Champlain are just a few of the images that draw newcomers and seasonal residents to Addison County. Nestled in the lower Champlain Valley of Vermont with the Adirondacks to the west and the Green Mountains to the east, Addison County is a four-season paradise.

Services
Addison County complements its pristine environment and welcoming small towns with excellence in educational and healthcare services. Vermont as a state enjoys a national reputation for setting and assessing high academic standards within the public school system, although private school options are available for parents who desire alternative learning environments. Consolidated school districts provide secondary education, enhanced by the presence of the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center that integrates work and learning programs. Opportunities for higher education close to home are diverse and impressive, including the University of Vermont, Champlain College, Saint Michael’s College, Burlington College, Castleton State College, and Vermont Technical College. Within Addison County, students have immediate access to the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and the highly respected private liberal arts institution of Middlebury College. The latter was founded in the 1800s and has evolved from “the town’s college” into an internationally renowned institution offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. CCV is an outstanding community college system that has earned national recognition for its innovative programs and the methods by which they are delivered.

The finest in healthcare services are close to home in Addison County, anchored by Porter Medical Center in Middlebury and Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, which is affiliated with the University of Vermont. The Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire, is available within an hour’s drive from most Addison County addresses. Porter Medical Center is centrally located within the county, providing a 45-bed hospital that serves nearby communities in Vermont and New York State. Continually keeping pace with technological advancements and a growing population, the medical center recently added a state-of-the-art 24-hour emergency room radiology department as well as a physical therapy department and lab. The Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on the medical center campus adds a 105-bed facility for extended care and short-term rehab. Skilled professionals in private practice represent every major specialty as well as alternative healthcare solutions from chiropractic to holistic health and nutritional counseling.

Lifestyle
The urban center of Middlebury, along with Addison County’s charming towns and villages, create an idyllic place to call home. The natural environment features a gently rolling countryside of farmland and woodlands framed by mountain splendor. Residents are active around the four seasons, enjoying winter sports or hiking, bicycling, swimming, playing tennis, golfing, picnicking, camping, and horseback riding in warmer weather. History spring to life in celebrated sites and unique museums, while social and cultural events bring friends and neighbors together for concerts, live stage performances, holiday festivals, and pancake breakfasts. Inviting parks and greens in developed towns contrast with unspoiled landscapes of spring wildflowers, or brilliant fall foliage. The sheer visual beauty of Addison County rivals that of any location in America.

Middlebury, Bristol, and Vergennes feature thriving downtown districts that are ideal for dining, shopping, and theater. For simple country pleasures and off-the-beaten-path shops and galleries, the county is dotted with quaint villages like Lincoln and Shoreham. Addison County is proud of its historical and cultural heritage, including some of the trees that Robert Frost, Vermont’s poet laureate, not only wrote about but also planted. Fresh maple syrup each spring and the autumn harvest are just two of the natural pleasures of Addison County living. Even many of the eateries and restaurants feature fresh organic or locally grown ingredients and are members of the Vermont Fresh Network. Take your time discovering Addison County, the perfect blend of modern amenities and timeless treasures.

Addison
Town Offices
802-759-2020
https://www.addisoncounty.com/town-clerks

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

The rural town of Addison provides a lovely residential setting close proximity to the urban amenities of Vergennes. The town is also the location of important points of natural and historic interest like DAR State Park. This quiet park along the shores of Lake Champlain is popular for its large, open campground and grassy picnic areas with a stone pavilion. The park attracts many birdwatchers and is conveniently located near boat access to Lake Champlain. Along the western edge of Addison, the Chimney Point State Historic Site on Lake Champlain celebrates one of the earliest and most intensely settled points in the Champlain Valley, where human habitation can be traced as long as 7,500 years ago. Chimney Point was also the site of the picturesque Champlain Bridge, opened in 1929 and demolished in December of 2009. While new construction replaces the only bridge connecting Vermont with New York State across Lake Champlain, yesterday’s “Crown Point Bridge” will forever be immortalized in photographs and paintings.

Bristol
Town Offices
802-453-2410
http://bristolvt.org

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

“Small town living at its best” is an appropriate slogan for Bristol, a quaint village nestled at the foot of the lovely Green Mountains. The charming Main Street district is lined with unique restaurants and friendly village shops that draw newcomers and residents to everything from Vermont-made products and antique treasures to home accessories and dry goods. Bristol is surrounded by postcard-perfect images of tranquil woodlands, crystal-clear streams, rushing rivers, and mountain scenery. This closely knit community centers its activities around the town green, where the Bristol Band has been presenting outdoor summer concerts since the Civil War era. The green is the site of the Fourth of July celebration, the Farmer’s Market, Movies in the Park, the Harvest Festival, and many other annual events and activities. Bristol’s Independence Day parade is the longest-running in Vermont, featuring fire trucks, floats, National Guard units, and marching bands from as far away as Canada.

Cornwall, Bridport
Cornwall Town Offices
802-462-2775
https://cornwallvt.com/

Bridport Town Offices
802-758-2483
https://bridportvt.org

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

The fertile rolling hills of Cornwall have long been home to working farms and picturesque country mages. Pastures and orchards enjoy a naturally beautiful setting against the backdrop of the Green Mountains, which also provide world-class recreational opportunities around the four seasons. Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding are just a few of the popular activities in and near Cornwall. This quaint area features historic sites, some of which date back to the Revolutionary War. The town is particularly proud of “the Station,” built in 1856 and celebrated as one of Vermont’s few remaining historic covered bridges. Ideally located just five miles southwest of Middlebury, the county’s cultural and urban center, Cornwall offers rural living at its finest. The charming town of Bridport is located on the southern end of Lake Champlain, sharing Cornwall’s close proximity to Middlebury amenities.

Ferrisburgh
Town Offices
802-877-3429
https://www.ferrisburghvt.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Cradled between Lake Champlain on the west and the Green Mountains on the east, the town of Ferrisburgh offers close proximity to the small city of Vergennes. In fact, local students attend Vergennes Union High School. The town features picturesque farmland and miles of pristine shoreline along Lake Champlain, preserving unspoiled views for residential development. Historic attractions in this area include two museums. The Rokeby Museum perches on a hill overlooking the Champlain Valley, presenting an intimate record of four generations of a remarkable Quaker family. Listed today as a National Historic Landmark, the site tells the story of the Robinsons and New England’s social history from the 1790s to 1961. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is extremely popular for its wide range of activities, including on-water adventures, gallery browsing, and armchair exploration. Residents and visitors alike also enjoy the first-rate recreational opportunities at Button Bay and Kingsland Bay state parks.

Lincoln
Town Offices
802-453-2980
https://lincolnvermont.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Known for the splendor of its natural environment, the town of Lincoln nestles at the foot of Mount Abraham, surrounded by forests and farmland. The quaint village center rests along the scenic banks of the New Haven River, about a half-hour’s drive from the major ski areas of Mad River Glen and Sugarbush. Most of the residents of Lincoln are scattered over the town’s 44 square miles but find a gathering place at the village center with its landmark church, historic hotel and general store, modern library, and respected schools. The town center also features Burnham Hall, a recently renovated venue that hosts events from town meetings to concerts and plays. The expanded amenities of Middlebury are just minutes from Lincoln, including Middlebury College with its frequent cultural events and summer language school.

Middlebury, Weybridge
Middlebury Town Offices
802-388-8100
https://www.townofmiddlebury.org/

Weybridge Town Offices
802-545-2450
https://www.townofweybridge.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

The classic New England town of Middlebury offers many unique features, including a bookstore that was once a favorite of Robert Frost. The historic, lively downtown district is a popular destination for permanent and seasonal residents as well as for visitors. The picturesque downtown district is graced by Otter Creek, tumbling dramatically over Otter Creek Falls, creating a scenic background for wonderful shops, historic inns, the Town Hall Theater, the Vermont Folklife Center, and the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History. All of these attractions are a ten-minute walk from the Town Green with its charming gazebo. Also centrally located, Middlebury College presents a full schedule of performing arts, a fine gallery, competitive athletics, and outstanding opportunities for higher education. “The town of peace and tranquility,” Weybridge offers a rural setting in close proximity to Middlebury amenities. Outdoor recreation is available around the four seasons, enhanced by close proximity to golf course, ski areas, multi-purpose trails, Lake Champlain, the Green Mountain National Forest, and Moosalamoo National Recreation Area.

Monkton
Town Offices
802-453-3800
https://monktonvt.com/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Monkton is a rural community approximately 30 minutes from Vermont’s leading city of Burlington as well as Middlebury and Lake Champlain. Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Green Mountains, Monkton offers the serenity and beauty of country living near the neighboring town of Bristol. Secondary-level students attend Mt. Abraham Union High School, and Bristol Recreation adds social and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. In addition to a full complement of classes and activities, Bristol Recreation offers unique amenities like a fully equipped clay studio, a skate park, a teen center, and an all-season skating rink. Bristol features a quaint Main Street lined with wonderful shops and services. The surrounding area is ideal for outdoor activities, from winter skiing to summer swimming and water sports.

Shoreham
Town Offices
802-897-5841
https://shorehamvt.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

The historic town of Shoreham was established in 1761, today characterized as a thriving lake-shore community on the outskirts of rapidly growing urban centers like Burlington, Middlebury, and Rutland. Lake Champlain graces the area with picturesque scenery in this agricultural area of orchards, dairy operations, and niche farms. Commercial development blends with a growing number of small, home-based businesses. Shoreham is the proud home of the “Fort Ti” Ferry, in continuous operation between Shoreham and Ticonderoga, New York, since 1788. The former town school building, The Newton Academy, has been restored and houses a school and the Shorewell Clinic. The local library is another town treasure, built by Dr. Mary Platt in honor of her husband and an integral part of community life for more than a century.

Vergennes, Panton
Vergennes City Offices
802-877-2841
https://www.vergennes.org/

Panton Town Offices
802-475-2333
https://www.pantonvt.us/

Chamber of Commerce
802-388-7951
https://www.addisoncounty.com/

Billing itself as “America’s smallest city,” Vergennes is complete in just two square miles of picturesque neighborhoods and one of the most charming downtowns in New England. Just west of the downtown district, Vergennes Falls and Otter Creek grace the city with natural beauty. Vergennes combines the elements of a thriving city and a welcoming small town. The Vergennes Opera House, constructed in 1897, is still the center of the city’s business and cultural activities. Beautifully restored and acoustically outstanding, this venue presents Friday evening movies and an annual schedule of jazz‚ opera‚ folk‚ classical, and theater performances. City Park hosts seasonal farm and craft markets, summer band concerts, and community festivals such as French Heritage Days in July and Vergennes Day in late August. From Bixby Library with its stained-glass domed ceiling to homes that reflect 19th century prosperity, Vergennes is unrivaled for architectural charm. Ideally situated to take advantage of Vergennes amenities, the rural town of Panton adds scenic acreage for residential development.