Barre (pronounced "bear-ee") is a city in Washington County, Vermont. Barre City is almost completely surrounded by Barre (the town), which is incorporated separately from the City of Barre. Barre is often twinned with nearby Montpelier in local media and businesses. It is the main city in the Barre Micropolitan area which, at approximately 59,564 residents, is the 3rd largest in Vermont (after Burlington and Rutland).

The arrival of the railroad in Barre helped the granite industry become major. Word of the famous deposit of granite (which some geologist say is 4 miles long, 2 miles wide and 10 miles deep), spread to Europe and Canada, inviting large numbers of people to migrate to Barre from a number of countries.

Barre City is more than the "Granite Center of the World." Convenient downtown shopping, a variety of recreation opportunities, great schools, and diverse housing opportunities make Barre City a great place to live.