Chartered in 1763 and rumored to be one of Vermont's best-kept secrets, Colchester is among the state's oldest and largest communities, with twenty-seven miles of shoreline on Lake Champlain. Colchester's spirit reflects the bustling industrial activity of Winooski Falls and the agrarian roots of its pioneers. Ethan and Ira Allen were notable early residents, as was the flamboyant Captain Mallett, after whom Lake Champlain's largest bay is named. Colchester is divided into five distinct geographic parts-Colchester Village, Malletts Bay, Clay Point, Fort Ethan Allen, and Winooski (the urban village that would separate from Colchester in 1922)-and includes many images of the glorious lake that continues to influence the town's character.