Newfane, Vermont

Newfane, Vermont is located just north of Brattleboro in central Windham County. Easily accessible from Route 30 if driving from the north or south, Newfane is situated between the other small picturesque towns of Dummerston, Putney, Townshend, Dover, and Marlboro. As the historic shire town, or county seat, of Windham County, Newfane has a unique historical presence in Vermont. The town’s interesting examples of Victorian and Greek Revival architecture, quaint village centers of Newfane Village and Williamsville, and beautiful surrounding landscape all lend to a classically idyllic feel.

Perhaps the most iconically known part of Newfane is the Newfane Village Historic District, a village center that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In this area you’ll find Union Hall, built in 1832, the Newfane Congregational Church, the Four Columns Inn and Restaurant, and the Windham County Superior Court building. There are few other examples of such pristinely cared for buildings in the state that exemplify the Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Victorian architectures that were especially popular in the early 19th Century in Vermont.

Visiting the Newfane Village center or the Williamsville Village center will lead you to some great restaurants, small general stores and markets that showcase local products, a bookstore, yoga studio, and even a small public library in the town that is open six days each week. And if you’re interested in the history of the area, the Historical Society of Windham County Museum contains collections with pieces ranging from Civil War artifacts to antique furniture.

For families living in Newfane, the Newbrook Elementary School is the area’s public elementary school, serving about 130 students between kindergarten and the sixth grade. Students between 7th grade and 12th grade from Newfane typically attend Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School in nearby Townshend, which serves approximately 350 students from five surrounding towns in the area.

Newfane is well situated to take advantage of all the hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, swimming, and boating one can possibly do. With five Vermont ski resorts less than an hour’s drive away, there is always easy access to great winter activities, and the West and Rock Rivers meet within the town’s limits, both of which offer beautiful secluded swimming holes. Newfane is a lovely small community with a beautiful landscape, historic village centers, classic architecture, and incredibly easy access to four seasons of outdoor activity. It’s a town with some of the best of what Vermont has to offer.