Bennington County

Bennington County is an administrative county in southwestern Vermont covering approximately 1,755 square kilometers. The region includes both the urban center of Bennington and smaller mountain towns, with the Green Mountain National Forest occupying much of its landscape.

The county was established in 1778 by Vermont's first General Assembly, making it the earliest organized administrative division in the state. This founding reflected Vermont's early efforts to create structured local governance following independence.

The county maintains two administrative centers, with the southern courthouse in Bennington and the northern courthouse operating from Manchester to serve local communities.

The county is easily navigable by car, with US Route 7 providing a main thoroughfare through the region. Visitors should prepare for varying elevations, as the terrain ranges from valley floors to mountain areas above 2,000 feet (610 meters).

The county contains Woodford, a mountain community situated at approximately 2,215 feet (675 meters), among the highest settlements in Vermont. This isolated village maintains a quiet, historic quality quite removed from contemporary development.

Location: Vermont

Inception: 1777

Capital city: Bennington

Shares border with: Rutland County, Windsor County, Franklin County, Berkshire County, Rensselaer County, Washington County, Windham County

Website: http://rpc.bennington.vt.us

GPS coordinates: 43.02942,-73.10796

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:22