The river valley has relatively steep hillsides, with a floodplain that widens at the bend that was deemed suitable for agriculture.

Most of the village is strung out along Vermont Route 30, which is aligned to be above the highest waters of Townshend Lake, which was created by the dam.

A few town roads extend northward, following branches of Tannery Brook, and an old alignment of VT 30 at the west end of the village also has a few houses.

The village grew around sawmills and gristmills built along Tannery Brook, and reached its height of population and industry in the mid-19th century.

The village suffered significant damage in the New England Hurricane of 1938, and was further reduced with the construction of Townshend Dam in the 1950s, which forced a realignment of VT 30.