Woodstock, Vermont, has been described as “The Prettiest Small Town in America” by Ladies Home Journal Magazine, and few could debate that. Woodstock Village is a quintessential community that includes a town green surrounded by private homes, churches and the courthouse, with many of these properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Ottauquechee River flows through the town, complete with covered bridges, and the tree lined streets with shops, art galleries, and a 125 year old general store all add to its beauty. Woodstock Village is an incorporated village in the town of Woodstock, and has a population of approximately 900, according to the 2010 census. But what is considered the Town of Woodstock not only includes Woodstock Village, but also the small hamlets of Taftsville, West Woodstock, South Woodstock and Prosper, which have a combined population of approximately 3,200 residents.
The Rockefellers were instrumental in the development of Woodstock Village and how it stands today. Laurance S. and Mary French Rockefeller’s belief in conservation and sustainable land use are reflected here, as they helped preserve the 19th century architecture and had power lines buried underground. Rockerfellers also built the Woodstock Inn as central point for the town, and owned the land and mansion where the historic Billings Farm and Museum sit today.
Woodstock is a very popular tourist destination which is important to the town’s economy, especially during the autumn months when tourists flock to New England to view the fall foliage. Aerial photo courtesy of VladislaV Tuchkov and Wikipedia in the public domain. |