Readsboro, Vermont, New England USA

About Readsboro, Vermont

Bennington County
Chartered: April 24, 1770 (New York Patent)
Area: 23,220 Acres = 36.28 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 172* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 42° 46′ W 72°57′
Altitude: 1,205 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 763 [ Population Rank: 182* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 21 [ Density Rank: 180* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State

*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Readsboro’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.

Readsboro is found in the southeastern corner of Bennington County. Located on Route 100, it is one of those “out there” places, which means great cross country skiing, snowmobiling, biking and hiking.

It was originally called Readesborough after the patent holder, John Reade, but from the very beginning it was spelled every conceivable way, from Reedsborough to the present configuration. There are records dating to 1786 in the State Archives, in which residents state that they live in Reedsberry.

Other New York patents overlapped parts of the present town; a conflicting New Hampshire Grant was made to Major Robert Rogers of Rogers’ Rangers fame. Contrary to what usually happened to resolve such cases, the existing town derives from the New York Patent.

What had been West Readsboro was renamed Heartwellville in 1852 in honor of John Hartwell, a prominent local resident. Where the additional “e” came from is unknown.

If US Postal Service records are to be taken as the highest authority in such matters, there once existed in Readsboro of one of the oddest Vermont place names on record; odder still is that this place would at one time be in Readsboro, then in Whitingham, then back in Readsboro after a while. The Post Office designated “Surge Tank, Vermont” was established to serve workers building the Harriman Dam in Whitingham; a site supervisor was Postmaster, and the Post Office itself would move between the two, depending on the location of the construction field office.

Readsboro’s terrain is quite mountainous, with over a dozen peaks rising to over 2,500 feet, most of which are unnamed.

Activities & Points of Interest

Goings-on in and near Readsboro
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.

Readsboro Historical Society

Contact Info

Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Southwestern Medical Center (Bennington) 802-442-6361

Town Clerk: Amber Holland PO Box 187 Readsboro, VT 05350
802-423-5405
M-F 9-3

Churches, Ministries, Charitables

Roman Catholic : St. Joachim

Schools

Windham Southwest Supervisory Union 802-464-1300
Readsboro Central School 802-423-7786

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”).

Searsburg

Woodford

Wilmington

Stamford

Readsboro

Whitingham

Massachusetts

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 Opticable 800-891-5211
    Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
    Electric Readsboro Electric Department 802-423-7010
    Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001

Watkins Remedies Horse Wagon Readsboro Vermont VT Reprint Postcard picture

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A Bird's Eye View Of The Business Section, Readsboro, Vermont VT 1910 picture

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Annual Auditors Report Village of Readsboro VT 1909 picture

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A Bird's Eye View Of The Village, Readsboro, Vermont VT 1911 picture

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A View Of The Chaer Manufacturing Company, Readsboro, Vermont VT 1911 picture

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