BENNINGTON COUNTY

County Offices
207 South Street
Bennington 802-447-2700

Chamber of Commerce
100 Veterans Memorial Drive
Bennington 802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

Bennington County draws newcomers to breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in an area that nestles between the Taconic and Green mountains in the southwestern corner of Vermont. This region is ideally located just minutes from the Berkshires in Massachusetts and a 45-minutes drive from Albany, New York.

Services
In spite of the rural beauty and tranquility of Bennington County, the services are outstanding. The network of healthcare facilities is anchored by the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, a 140-bed institution with scores of specialty areas. Comprehensive medical and surgical specialties combine with clinics for specific needs from eating and memory disorders to Alzheimer’s care, planned parenthood, and oncology services affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Skilled professionals in private practice are available to meet routine needs quickly, easily, and close to home.

Educational opportunities are available on every academic level in and near Bennington County, home to excellent public and private schools. Secondary students and local businesses, along with adults of all ages, benefit from the Vermont Career Development Center in Bennington, which also houses the Learning Institute. The Community College of Vermont maintains a center in Bennington and provides opportunities to earn associate degrees and certificates in a wide range of popular fields from business to criminal justice. Bennington College is a private institution that attracts students to small classes and highly respected programs, both undergraduate and graduate. The central, 10-acre campus is surrounded by more than 300 wooded acres. Southern Vermont College (SVC) enjoys an equally idyllic setting on a campus overlooking the Green Mountains. Also located in Bennington, SVC is a private institution that excels in real-world experiences, environmental respect, and social responsibility in a career-enhancing liberal arts curriculum.

Lifestyle
Bennington County draws newcomers to picturesque landscapes and wonderful communities that are exceptionally rich in the arts, historic treasures, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Natural beauty, enhanced by the picturesque architecture found in local towns and villages, creates an atmosphere of visual delight around the four seasons. Walking tours, historic home tours, live theatre, summer concerts, artist studios, farms and orchards, family attractions, farmer’s markets, and outdoor adventures are just a few of the highlights waiting to be discovered. The leading town of Bennington serves as the region’s cultural, educational, and commercial center, known for its fine museums, antique shops, art galleries, covered bridges, and beautiful revitalized downtown district. Highly respected colleges enrich the area with performing arts, guest lecturers, and the intellectual stimulation that only a New England college town can provide. Bargain hunters will want to explore the outlet stores and shops in Manchester, one of Vermont’s leading retail centers.

Bennington County provides a paradise for residential development but also welcomes throngs of visitors who arrive by car, on bus tours, or on foot via the Appalachian and Long trails. World-class recreation is available in pristine areas like the Green Mountains with its crystal clear streams and rivers. Bromley Mountain is a premier destination for skiers of all skill levels, with a family fun park for summer thrills. Golfing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing, fishing, and canoeing or kayaking are just a few of the popular activities. Treasures from the past and historic preservation make Bennington County a very special place. The spirit of the early settlers is celebrated by the Bennington Battle Monument, rising more than 300 feet to offer breathtaking views of neighboring New York State and Massachusetts. The Bennington Museum is just steps away from the monument, and the recent addition of the Bennington Center for the Arts provides a permanent home for a professional equity theater company. For the best of Vermont in a truly unique tri-state location, discover Bennington County.

Arlington
Town Offices
802-375-2332
https://arlingtonvermont.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

The town of Arlington nestled in the peaceful Valley of Vermont between the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. Most of the land in Arlington is actually a part of the Taconic range. The Battenkill River, famous for trout fishing, flows through the center of town. East Arlington is situated along the western edge of the Green Mountain National Forest and the popular Appalachian Trail. Lovely inns welcome visitors to step back in time into a gracious world of elegance and style. The Inn On Covered Bridge Green is the former home of America’s beloved illustrator and artist, Norman Rockwell. Other historic figures have called the Arlington area home, including Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, 20th century writer Dorothy Canfield Fisher, and poet Robert Frost. Residents of Arlington enjoy small-town living near Manchester’s shopping outlets, many fine restaurants, Bromley and Stratton mountains, and historic Bennington.

Bennington
Town Offices
802-442-1043
https://benningtonvt.org/

Chamber of Commerce
802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

Serving as the economic, cultural, and educational center of southwestern Vermont, the town of Bennington blends a strong sense of history with progressive amenities. Bennington enjoys an idyllic location between two scenic mountain ranges, a fact that graces the town with natural beauty but also ensures four-season recreational activities. Bennington is also strategically situated to offer quick and easy access to points in Massachusetts, New York, and the major markets of the Northeast. This “gateway” position gives Bennington economic advantages and a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. At the same time, the town is far enough removed from urban bustle to provide a tranquil hometown setting for residential development. Bennington highlights include three historic districts, a legacy of fine architecture, fine dining, celebrated museums, and an active recreation department.

Dorset
Town Offices
802-362-4571
https://dorsetvt.org

Chamber of Commerce
802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

Images of Dorset include peaceful neighborhoods with white-clapboard architecture and well-kept homes overlooking the town green. Country inns, popular restaurants, summer theatre, maple-covered hillsides, picturesque back roads, abundant wildlife, and Revolutionary history are just a few of the charming features of this quintessential New England town. Here, a rural lifestyle blends with a rich cultural environment of artist studios and galleries. Dorset has always attracted artists and continues that legacy today. The marble quarries at the edge of town are said to be the oldest in the nation and provided materials for such landmarks as the New York City Library. The town itself has the unusual feature of marble sidewalks, along with an impressive all-marble church near the village green. Dorset offers a wonderful place to call home but continues to welcome visitors as it has done since 1868.

Manchester
Town Offices
802-362-1315
https://manchester-vt.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

Manchester has long been a four-season vacation destination and known for its outstanding recreational opportunities. More recently, the town has gained a reputation as a retail center with popular factory outlet stores along with vibrant locally owned shops. Beyond its status as a tourist and retail destination, Manchester is a welcoming community and a wonderful place to call home. Natural beauty, friendly neighbors, and a serene setting are just a few of the qualities that make Manchester so memorable. Highlights in this area include the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show, northern New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter and jumper show. Bromley Mountain features 45 classic New England trails and glades with a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. Other attractions include Bromley’s Sun Mountain Adventure Park, Wild Wings Ski Touring Center, and the multi-purpose venue of Riley Rink at Hunter Park. Manchester Parks & Recreation offers year-round programs and adds numerous amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, sand volleyball, and an ice skating rink.

Shaftsbury
Town Offices
802-442-4038
https://shaftsburyvt.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
802-447-3311
https://www.bennington.com/

Bordering the leading town of Bennington, Shaftsbury is nestled in the southwest corner of Vermont just one hour’s drive from Albany, New York, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Many residents of Shaftsbury are descendants of original settlers. The poet Robert Frost once lived in the town, and visitors can still see the Robert Frost Stone House Museum where he wrote, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The founder of the Republican Party, Jacob Merritt Howard, also lived in Shaftsbury. Today, the town has managed to preserve a rural and rustic atmosphere where ducks fly overhead and pheasants cross the roads. The Green Mountains are a visual delight and a recreational paradise. Shaftsbury offers a location near ski resorts, premier hiking trails, bicycle paths, and scenic mountainsides.