More than 4 million Veterans return from active military careers to reside in rural communities. At VA, we work to meet these Veterans where they live and promote the opportunities to find happy homes in these rural communities around the country.
Like the Veterans we help heal, these rural communities are as engaging and exciting as you can imagine. From opportunities to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoying a greater sense of privacy, there’s a lot to be said for rural communities.
Today, we’ll explore the White River Junction VA Medical Center, located near White River Junction in Hartford, Vermont.
White River Junction VA Medical Center
The original facilities at the VA medical center in White River Junction, Vermont, were constructed in 1938 as part of the New Deal, with federal funds for the construction provided through the Public Works Administration (PWA).
Today, the White River Junction VA Medical Center campus includes a hospital, a 47,000-square-foot research building, an ambulatory care facility, and buildings for clinical and administrative support. It’s an acute care facility, providing a full range of primary and specialty care.
The facility is also a teaching hospital that offers professional training in most major and surgical subspecialties. Affiliations with numerous local colleges and vocational schools include Dartmouth Medical School. In fact, that affiliation sees 40% of the clinical medicine activity for Dartmouth’s medical students taking place at VA.
Training programs include residencies in:
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Psychology
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Social work
- Radiology
- Medical technology
White River Junction VA Medical Center promotes research, as well, to discover knowledge, develop VA scientists and health care leaders, and create innovations that advance health care for Veterans and the nation. Notably, researchers led by the White River Junction team conducted an examination of vascular surgeries.
History of White River Junction, Vermont
White River Junction, Vermont, is one of 5 villages within the town of Hartford, Vermont. The town of Hartford was originally chartered in 1761 and over time was divided into these distinct villages.
In the mid-19th century, White River Junction, located at the confluence of the Connecticut and White Rivers, became a center for commerce. It was the first and largest railroad center in Vermont (and north of Boston), and from 1848 until the 1960s, the village was the most important railroad community in Vermont.
With the introduction of the interstate highway system in the 1960s, however, the railroad declined. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the downtown area began to experience a wave of revitalization. Since then, the area has emerged as a hub for community services, commercial offices, visual and performing arts, educational attractions, and specialty shopping.
Today, White River Junction has been designated a National Historic District. A walking tour allows visitors to view nearly 2 dozen historical downtown buildings, many of which have been adapted for re-use, but still maintaining the architecture of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
If you’re looking for some fun recreation activities, White River Junction offers something for everyone. The region boasts science centers, theaters, restaurants, and a cartoon school, as well as camping, hiking, biking, and the Upper Valley Aquatic Center, which provides a range of high-quality aquatic and fitness programs.
Work at VA
Promoting the health and well-being of rural Veterans is one of many things you can accomplish with a career at VA.
- LEARN more about our work with rural Veterans.
- EXPLORE the benefits of working at VA.
