Cumulative Official Town Count | Unofficial Town Count |
169 | 40 |
There are many towns in Vermont's most remote area, its Northeast Kingdom (NEK). So what better way to explore them is on a road trip there?! This post covers four towns around Island Pond: LEWIS, BRIGHTON, FERDINAND, DERBY (WITH DERBY LINE), & NEWPORT CITY (not to be confused with Newport Town). This area is filled with farms, lakes, mountain views and serenity all around.
LEWIS
Lewis, VT is a town which was never settled despite being chartered in 1762. It was (and still is) heavily timbered, rough, and mountainous. As it never attracted a single settler, there are no paved roads or a village. Lewis – and the Northeast Kingdom – is at the southern edge of the largest biome on earth: the boreal forest. What there IS to see (beyond evidence of logging) is the Mollie Beattie bog boardwalk (black spruce woodland bog) and the Lewis Pond Boardwalk, both on four mile road (a rough dirt road which was closed due to recent flooding when I was there to visit). They are presumably beautiful, but it is a commitment to get there, for sure!
BRIGHTON
Brighton, VT is the town in which Island Pond is located. There is no actual town of Brighton, per se. Rather, Island Pond, which was founded as a rail road village (situated midway between Portland, ME and Montreal) is where one finds a village/ community. The population was 1,157 at the 2020 census. Originally, the town was named "Gilead" in its grant in 1780, but was renamed Brighton in 1832. Today, there is a thriving village, with decent dining (try Essex House for pub fare or Hobo's cafe for BBQ), shopping (gotta love a store called The Active Hippie), an historical society WHICH WAS OPEN (that is a first for me that I recall doing this 251 exploration), and other typical town buildings. The town vibe is a mix of tourist and aging hippie. Oh, and there is a fantastic covered FOOT bridge which connects the upper part of the town to the "downtown" and historic Grand Trunk rail road station. The location and scenery make Island Pond a tourist destination, and it was hopping when I visited during Labor Day weekend. I highly recommend spending some time here if you are in the area.
FERDINAND
Ferdinand, VT was formed in 1761 but was never organized because it never had a large enough population (which was 16 in 2020). It was named after German Prince Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand of Brunswick-Lunenburg (two other town names in the area). There are only two things to see/ visit/ do in the non-town town: go to the West Mountain Shooting Range (free) and go to Moose Bog, accessed by the Moose Bog trail (probably about a half-mile), and then a short boardwalk. The trail is very well maintained and peaceful; but don't get your heart set on seeing any moose...
DERBY (& DERBY LINE)
Derby, VT is the most populous town in Orleans County, with a population of 4,579 (in 2020). It is about as far north as one can get, hugging the Canadian border. Derby Line is a village in Derby which falls literally ON the Canadian border. The Haskell Library in Derby Line actually has a line on the floor indicating which country you are in (check-out is in Canada). It's a pretty cute and lively town, has two libraries (one not on the border), has an official border crossing, and is the home of Jeb's Maple, a wonderful little maple producer with lots of homemade treats. If you are there and find yourself peckish, a meal at the Derby Cow Palace ought to hit the spot!
NEWPORT CITY
Newport City, VT is the only city in Orleans County, and with a population of 4,455 (almost as many people as are in Derby), there is plenty going on. The City (which is distinct from Newport TOWN) is located on the shores of Lake Mempremagog (pronounce it with a long-A), which separates Canada and the US. In fact, there is a Border Patrol Station on the Lake. If you are so inclined, there is a boat ride you can take on the lake, with a sunset dinner departure on certain days (between May and October). The main street has a lovely library, several court houses, some restaurants/ bars, and a great natural food store. Also in the downtown area you can find a store that officially is classified as a hardware store (I think), but is SO MUCH MORE -- The Pick & Shovel. There you can find typical hardware store items, but also pets, clothing, candy, housewares, ice cream, and all sorts of other stuff. It's definitely worth a visit!
Stay tuned! There's so much more to come.