In Essex and Essex Junction, readers will learn that early settlers tapped the waterpower at Hubbel's Falls and tilled the fertile land of Essex town in western Vermont. The advent of the railroad brought prosperity in the mid-1800s and a name change for the village of Essex Junction. Fort Ethan Allen further boosted the area's prominence and increased activity in the town. When IBM came to Essex, the area experienced the rapid growth and resulting challenges similar to that felt throughout much of Vermont. Today the town of Essex and the village of Essex Junction are vibrant communities with fascinating histories.