Searsburg
Lying between Woodford and Wilmington , Searsburg is bisected by Vermont Route 9 ( the Molly Stark Scenic Byway ), and most of the town ’ s 109 permanent residents live along the highway or along Route 8 as it heads south to the hamlet of Heartwellville . The terrain is mountainous and forested ; logging was once the most important industry , but hunters , hikers , and back-country skiers are the ones most likely to be enjoying the woods now . Cooler summer temperatures also make Searsburg a popular spot for what Vermonters call camps ( rustic second homes ). One thing that draws year-rounder families is the opportunity for school choice , since the town doesn ’ t have schools of its own .
Winds from the west blow steadily over Searsburg Mountain , which has made it an ideal site for wind turbines , the first of which were installed in 1997 . Newer , larger ones came on line at the end of 2017 on National Forest land after a dozen years of permitting and construction , as well as court challenges on environmental grounds . The new turbines provide power to 14,000 homes . They are visible from Route 9 and can be visited with the permission of the power company ; inquire at Putnam Rd . in Readsboro . The town also hosts a small hydropower project – and many square miles of beautiful woodlands .
Photo by Lorianna Weathers Photography
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