Plainfield, Vermont is a town in Washington County, in the Waterbury-Montpelier region of the state located east of Montpelier, off Route 2.
Originally named St. Andrews Gore, local lore says a man by the name of James Chapman, who was planning to move from Montpelier, disliked the name so much that he offered to buy the town a new set of record-keeping books if he would be allowed to choose a new name for the town. The offer was accepted, and in November 1797, the town was renamed Plainfield after his former home in Connecticut. The name is, however, anything but discriptive of this Vermont town.
Plainfield has a distinct flair which sets it apart from most surrounding communities, and the town's atmosphere is distinct from popular tourist destinations in that its commercial activity is generated primarily by local residents. There are a number of active local groups such as the Plainfield Historical Society and the Plainfield Area Community Association, which sponsor community activities, and Goddard College attracts a liberal, educated population that at one time made up a significant portion of the townspeople.
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Some notable people from the town of Plainfield include: Piers Anthony, science fiction & fantasy writer; Mary Azarian, woodcut artist & children's book illustrator; William H. Macy, actor, teacher, & director in theater, film, and television; David Mamet, playwright, screenwriter, director, poet, essayist & novelist; Page McConnell, pianist, organist, and keyboardist for Phish; Dennis Murphy, composer, musician, instrument maker & artist; Achie Shepp, jazz saxophonist; Thomas Yamamoto, artist; and Bread and Puppet Theater, artists-in-residence at Goddard College.
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