[3] Home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents, the municipality is a commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshire across the Connecticut River.

[5] The first settlers reached the area in 1763 and began to clear the wilderness and erect the first hand-hewn log buildings, wintering over for the first time in 1765.

In 1819 native son, Alden Partridge, a former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, founded the private "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy" in Norwich.

He moved that school back to Middletown, Connecticut, in 1825, but returned in 1835 with a charter from the U.S. Congress to found another military academy, which remained in Norwich until 1866, when it burned to the ground.

The school then relocated to Northfield, Vermont, where it exists today as Norwich University.

The Vermont towns bordering Norwich are Thetford to the north, Sharon to the west, and Hartford to the south.

[13] Adjacent to the general store is a restored historic inn with a restaurant and brew pub.

[14] The Montshire Museum of Science[15] and King Arthur Baking Company are located in Norwich.

[18][19] Major transportation routes, which run parallel through the Connecticut River valley, include Interstate 91 (Exit 13 serves the town), U.S. Route 5 and the former Boston and Maine Railroad right of way, now owned by the State of Vermont.

[20] The Appalachian Trail passes south to east through the town from Hartford to Hanover, New Hampshire.