Located in the very southeasternmost corner of Vermont is the town of Vernon. With the Connecticut River as its eastern border and Massachusetts directly to the south, it makes sense that some refer to the town as the “gateway to southeastern Vermont and the Green Mountains.” Vernon is a small, pretty town typical of Windham County with a gorgeous landscape of softly rolling hills.
Originally chartered in 1672 and eventually renamed in 1802 after Mount Vernon, the history of Vernon can clearly be felt with a visit there. And the name itself is certainly fitting, as the views from town of the Connecticut River easily conjure images of Washington’s estate overlooking the Potomac.
Through the years, Vernon has maintained a sense of being a great tight-knit community tucked away in its own corner of the state. Despite the larger town of Brattleboro being only a few minutes away, Vernon is still home to many interesting local businesses, such as Vermont Woods Studio, which creates sustainably sourced custom furniture. For any history buffs, the Vernon Historians maintain a local history museum in a small one-room schoolhouse that was constructed in 1848.
Similar to much of Windham County, Vernon is close to many Vermont ski resorts as well as those in New Hampshire and western Massachusetts. It is also well situated to hike in the Green Mountains or explore southern Vermont’s lakes and secluded swimming holes, and trips to larger New England cities like Boston and Providence can easily be made in about two hours.
Of course, staying within the town’s limits gives you more than enough opportunity to enjoy the activities Vermont is famous for. Miles of trails through the town, especially those in the Vernon Town Forest, make for excellent trail running and biking in the summer and equally good cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The Connecticut River to the east is another great resource for boating and other water sports when the weather is warm.
Vernon contains an elementary school for students until they reach sixth grade. For students between 7th grade and 12th grade, most attend the nearby Brattleboro Area Middle School and Brattleboro Union High School, which each serve students from the towns surrounding Brattleboro in Windham County.
Vernon is a wonderful rural town just south of Brattleboro, Vermont and only a stone’s throw from western Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It has the advantage of being so close to what is available in all three states while still maintaining an identity of its own.
Currently Listed in Vernon, Vermont
