Shelburne Vermont

At the beginning, Shelburne’s economy was based on farming. In 1810, a few Merino sheep imported from Spain, led to an upsurge in sheep-raising. Orchards and fruit growing became a major source of income for farmers in 1880. Today, Shelburne supports a variety of businesses including manufacturers, a wide array of service providers and retail establishments and Wake Robin, Vermont’s largest continuing care retirement community.

Shelburne also recognizes the need for culture with its fine museum and estate. The 1000-acre Shelburne Farms historic landmark is a non-profit working farm whose purpose is to teach and demonstrate the stewardship of natural and agricultural resources. The 45-acre Shelburne Museum has more than 150,000 works, including American folk art, quilts and textiles, decorative arts, furniture, Impressionist paintings, American paintings and 17th- 20th century artifacts displayed in 39 exhibit buildings. Shelburne is also the home of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, a magical world where bears are carefully hand-crafted.

With the Shelburne Town Beach, four parks, and Shelburne Pond there are many locations for residents to enjoy biking, hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming. The Shelburne Bay Park offers walking or cross-country skiing on a two mile loop along Lake Champlain, a three-mile bicycle path and picnicking. In addition, Shelburne Farms’ guided tours, the Children’s Farm Yard, and the Walking Trail are free for Shelburne residents.

Shelburne students attend Shelburne Community School and Champlain Valley Union High School. These schools are known to be among the finest in the State of Vermont.