Townshend, Vermont, New England USA
About Townshend, Vermont
Windham County
Chartered: June 20, 1753 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 27,348 Acres = 42.73 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 90* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 43° 03′ W 72°40′
Altitude: 547 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 1,232 [ Population Rank: 140* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 28.8 [ Density Rank: 153* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Townshend’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
In Benning Wentworth’s time the many branches of the Townshend family made up one of the most influential groups in British politics. Over a twenty-year period there were no less than five Townshends in Parliament, and numerous others were scattered throughout the government. Various titles were held in different branches, and they were related to half of England’s noble families. If we had to identify an individual as being on Wentworth’s mind as he named this town it would probably be Charles Townshend II, a barrister and a member of the Board of Trade and Plantations. It is the latter role which would have concerned Wentworth the most.
One of the most cherished pieces of local folklore is how the village of Harmonyville was named. In the 1830’s people in Townshend village were apparently jealous of how busy a place the hamlet was, and dubbed it “Tin Pot”. Not to be outdone, residents of the hamlet started calling Townshend village “Fly Pot”. In an effort to put a stop to the Tin Pot name, a resident painted two bright signs proclaiming it as “Harmonyville” and nailed them above the entrances to the covered bridge. The name stuck: it can be found on most Vermont maps.
Scott Bridge is here, the longest covered bridge in Vermont. A noble village green (the hallmark of a fine Vermont village) and the most photographed church in the US (though Lunenburg makes the same claim). As authentic as it may appear, the gazebo pictured above was constructed for Chevy Chase’s 1988 movie Funny Farm; townsfolk liked it enough to keep it once filming ended. If you’re into genealogy, bring plenty of notetaking materials: there are more than 15 cemeteries scattered about.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Townshend
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Historical Society of Windham County
Covered Bridge (With Google Maps and satellite images):
Scott
Click Here for a map of all bridges in Windham County.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Grace Cottage Hospital (Townshend) 802-365-7676
Town Clerk: Anita Bean PO Box 223 Townshend, VT 05353
802-365-7300
M T W F 9-4
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
Roman Catholic : Our Lady of the Valley
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
Schools
Windham Central Supervisory Union 802-348-6801
Townshend Elementary School 802-365-7506
Neighboring Towns
This is a basic geographic reference, intended to show relative location of adjacent towns. Directional accuracy is limited to 16 compass points. There isn’t even the slightest suggestion that one can necessarily travel directly from one town to the next (as in “You can’t get there from here”).
Townshend
Utilities
Notes about utilities:
- One electric or phone company indicates that company serves the entire town. More than one of either indicates each serves different areas of town.
- A listed cable company MIGHT mean the entire town is covered, but not necessarily. More than one listed indicates each serves different areas of town.
- Unless your area is one served by Vermont’s only gas utility, your only option is bottled gas (any dealer).
Cable Southern Vermont Cable 800-544-5931
Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001