WASHINGTON COUNTY

County Offices
65 State Street
Montpelier 802-828-2091

Chamber of Commerce
33 Stewart Road
Berlin 802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

Home to the capital city of Montpelier and the urban center of Barre, vibrant and lovely Washington County is centrally located in Vermont between two ranges of the Green Mountains. The rolling Winooski River and its many streams add scenic beauty and rich natural resources in the form of abundant water power.

Services
The educational opportunities in Washington County are unusually rich and include several outstanding institutions of higher education. Montpelier is home to one of a dozen learning centers for the Community College of Vermont, where quality higher education is also affordable. Goddard College in Plainfield specializes in offering opportunities for higher education that accommodate the demanding lifestyles of working adults. Combining traditional classrooms and online learning, Goddard College is internationally recognized for its leadership in educational innovation. The New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier is one of the finest in New England, providing small classes and hands-on opportunities. Northfield is home to Norwich University, where students can attend college as a member of a Corps of Cadets or as a traditional undergraduate. The Vermont College of Fine Arts invites students to create their own programs, guided by accomplished artists and writers. Union Institute & University maintains an academic center in Montpelier, nestled on a grassy commons and surrounded by historic clapboard houses. Also in Montpelier, Woodbury Institute of Champlain College has been recognized as an educational pioneer since 1878, providing majors with a specific focus like Digital Filmmaking or Game Design.

The healthcare network that serves Washington County residents is equally impressing, anchored by Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. CVMC provides a full-service, 122-bed hospital as well as the Woodridge Nursing Home and community-based medical group practices that offer specialty care from rheumatology to urology. Central Vermont Medical Center is the primary healthcare provider for the central Vermont region, maintaining 24-hour emergency care and a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services. The Woodridge Nursing Home offers patient-centered care in a beautiful, 153-bed facility where abundant windows bring in mountain and woodland views. Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice adds another valuable resource of comprehensive, high-quality home health and hospice care. Should the need for highly specialized care arise, Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington is just a short commute from home, providing an academic medical center and a children’s hospital.

Lifestyle
Washington County welcomes newcomers to the vibrancy of Vermont’s capital city, world-class recreational opportunities, peaceful countryside, and quaint small villages. Residents can shop at the popular Capital City Farmer’s Market in Montpelier, or relax and dine at one of many critically acclaimed restaurants. Distinguished as the nation’s smallest state capital, Montpelier is large on appeal and unique amenities. Families can enjoy a stroll through wooded trails at Hubbard Park, swim and picnic at Wrightsville Beach, or discover a world of outdoor adventure within minutes of downtown. Skiing, snowboarding, swimming, water sports, kayaking, camping, bicycle touring, mountain biking, golfing, and horseback riding are some of the common pastimes in this naturally beautiful region. Farms with sugar houses, picturesque covered bridges, local creameries, cider mills, and a fish hatchery are just a few of the natural attractions. Recreation sites include the Waterbury Dam Recreation Area, Camel’s Hump State Park, and Little River State Park with Vermont’s most expansive camping area.

Specialty shopping is complemented by cultural attractions from live music to a local arts scene that includes the T.W. Wood Art Gallery on the campus of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. The Bridge Street Marketplace offers a restored block of historic buildings circa 1860 in Waitsfield Village. The Barre Opera House has been elegantly restored to host performing arts in downtown Barre, while the Lost Nation Theater has been named among the “Best of Vermont.” The celebrated, intimate chamber theater series in the Montpelier City Hall Arts Center is well attended throughout the year. Historic treasures grace Washington County’s towns and villages, with Montpelier, Barre, and Waterbury offering self-guided tours. Unique destinations include the Rock of Ages Quarry and the nearby Craftsmen Center where visitors can see granite carved and polished. The Vermont State House is a point of pride, with its gold-leaf dome gleaming against the wooded hillside. The USS Montpelier Museum celebrates the birthplace of Admiral George Dewey, while the Norwich Military Museum is located on the campus of the nation’s oldest military college. The list of attractions is as endless as the opportunities for outdoor enjoyment in Washington County, where nature, the arts, history, and small-town living come together for a rare quality of life.

Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin
City Offices
802-476-0242
https://www.barrecity.org/

Barre Town Offices
802-479-9331
https://www.barretown.org/

Berlin Town Offices
802-229-4405
https://www.berlinvt.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

Barre is distinguished as the largest municipality in Central Vermont, also known as the Granite Capital of the World. The fine work of artisans graces the city, whether in buildings, statues, or cemeteries. The stone industry attracted workers from across Europe, creating a culturally diverse and vibrant community. Convenient downtown shopping, a wide array of recreational opportunities, great schools, and eclectic housing choices create a well-balanced hometown atmosphere. The housing selection ranges from classic homes in established neighborhoods to modern subdivisions. The Barre Civic Center is a focal point of activity, filling a three story complex with amenities that include the Barre Municipal Auditorium. Modern Barre serves as a processing and commercial center for the region’s granite and agricultural products, so major manufacturers include those for granite building stones and memorials as well as machine tooling. The town of Barre nearly surrounds the city and features two small villages. Nearby Berlin offers a rural community that claims a substantial tax base as the home for the Central Vermont Hospital complex and the Edward F. Knapp Airport.

Fayston, Warren, Waitsfield
Fayston Town Offices
802-496-2454
https://faystonvt.com/

Warren Town Offices
802-496-2709
https://www.warrenvt.org/

Waitsfield Town Offices
802-496-2218
https://www.waitsfieldvt.us/

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

Fayston, Warren, and Waitsfield are recognized as a three-town ski resort area. Waitsfield serves as the commercial trade center, although the majority of condominiums and ski areas are located in the other two towns. In fact, Waitsfield claims as many local employers as the other two combined. Fayston is characterized as a rural community nestled in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, offering a wide range of recreational and lifestyle opportunities. As the home of Sugarbush’s Mount Ellen and Mad River Glen ski areas, the town features many tourist-related businesses. This picturesque community is also popular for back-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, cycling, paddling, and snowmobiling. Half the town of Warren falls into the Green Mountain National Forest, site of the Sugarbush Ski Resort. Both Warren and Waitsfield are historic communities that share a location along the rolling Mad River. The Mad River Valley is known for its spectacular fall foliage, beautiful back roads, fine dining, and unique shopping. Summers are comfortable with cool, refreshing nights. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, mountain biking, and golfing on signature greens combine with premier winter sports for a four-season paradise.

Montpelier, East Montpelier, Plainfield
City Offices
802-223-9500
https://www.montpelier-vt.org/

East Montpelier Offices
802-223-3313
https://eastmontpeliervt.org/

Plainfield Offices
802-454-8461
https://www.plainfieldvt.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

The smallest capital city in America, Montpelier, claims a gold-domed capitol building that shines like the sun against wooded beauty. Located along he shores of the Winooski River in the Green Mountains, Montpelier is easily accessible from Interstate 89 for quick commutes to regional destinations. This charming New England city is surrounded by alpine views, picturesque farmland, and active granite quarries. Beautiful Hubbard Park is a focal point for passive and active recreation. The New England Culinary Institute Restaurant enlivens Main Street, surrounded by quaint shops and friendly services. The capital city is also a vibrant college town, home to the New England Culinary Institute, Woodbury College, and the Vermont College of Fine Arts. The city also offers learning centers for the Community College of Vermont and Union Institute & University. Goddard College is nearby in Plainfield, a town that is also notable for the abundance of fine brick homes that are rare in Vermont. The agricultural East Montpelier claims some of the most fertile land in Central Vermont. The town’s natural beauty and breathtaking views, along with close proximity to Barre and Montpelier amenities, make it extremely attractive as a residential community.

Middlesex, Moretown
Middlesex Town Offices
802-223-5915
http://middlesexvermont.org

Moretown Town Offices
802-882-8218
https://www.moretownvt.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

Known as a bedroom community for Montpelier, the rural town of Middlesex offers a close-knit hometown lifestyle where neighbors are friends and volunteerism runs high. The town hall and the local school bring the community together, hosting annual fairs, cultural activities, and social events. Even the school recreational facilities are available to the public when not in use by students. The opportunities for outdoor adventure are outstanding, including swimming, boating, and picnicking at Wrightsville Reservoir. Part of the Putnam State Forest also falls in Middlesex, where hiking, hunting, and fishing are allowed. In fact, Middlesex is a hunter’s dream, the site of two Vermont State Wildlife Management Areas. The Mad River Valley town of Moretown is divided by scenic Route 100 as it follows the Mad River north to the Winooski River. Moretown offers classic New England architecture and landscapes, including a mountain ridgeline, a winding river, hillside farms, covered bridges, and quaint villages crowned by steeples. The country charm of the area has attracted both businesses and residents.

Northfield
City Offices
802-485-5421
https://www.northfield-vt.go

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

The proud home of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the nation, the town of Northfield nestles in the Green Mountains. Norwich University is one of only a few Vermont colleges to attract students from more than 40 states and nearly 30 foreign countries. Northfield enjoys a strategic location just minutes from the capital city of Montpelier and three hours from Boston or Montreal, Canada. Residents of Northfield enjoy a friendly hometown atmosphere surrounded by picturesque rural landscapes and diverse, cosmopolitan resources. Northfield Village serves as the hub of commerce and industry, along with a concentration of residential neighborhoods. The village common serves as Northfield’s downtown district, lined with shops, stores, and convenient services. The seasonal Northfield Farmer’s Market is held weekly and never fails to draw enthusiastic crowds.

Waterbury, Waterbury Center, Duxbury
Waterbury Town/Village Offices
802-244-7033
https://www.waterburyvt.com/

Duxbury Town Offices
802-244-6660
https://www.duxburyvermont.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-229-5711
https://www.centralvt.com/

Often referred to as the “recreational crossroads of Vermont,” the town of Waterbury is ideally located between the Sugarbush and Stowe ski areas. Interstate 89 provides quick and easy access to recreational destinations, cultural attractions, and the major urban resources in Burlington. This scenic and lively area is home to a number of famous Vermont specialty food manufacturers, including Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The charming village features historic architecture and a restored 1875 train station that is still used as an Amtrak stop. Neighboring Waterbury Center is just north of the village, sharing an ideal location just 10 minutes from Stowe. In addition to the world-class recreational amenities just minutes from Waterbury, the town is home to Waterbury Center State Park for swimming, boating, and picnicking. The small but lovely town of Duxbury is nestled between two Green Mountain ridges, drawing newcomers to spectacular alpine views. The frequently photographed Camel’s Hump is just seven miles north of Main Street, while Mt. Mansfield lies to the northeast.