In Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, small, tight-knit communities are strung together by scenic byways and back roads alongside lakes hewn by glaciers and the high spine of the Green Mountain range. The state’s most rural region, the Kingdom offers residents immediate access to outdoor recreation, a people-powered arts and culture scene, and ample opportunities for a fulfilling life/work balance in a place where both individuality and community are celebrated.
Former governor George Aiken gave the Northeast Kingdom its name during a speech in Lyndonville in 1946. Aiken lauded the region for its natural beauty and welcoming communities. The Northeast Kingdom is home to Lake Willoughby, the state’s deepest lake at 328 feet. Its highest mountain is Jay Peak, its horizon also punctuated by Mount Pisgah and East Mountain. The Northeast Kingdom is bordered by the Connecticut River between Vermont and New Hampshire and on the west, by the Green Mountain range. The region’s only city, Newport, is on the shore of Lake Memphremagog, which stretches into Canada, with access to Montreal within about a two and a half hour drive for much of the region. The Kingdom is made up of three counties, Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia, and is home to about 64,000 people. The area’s largest towns are Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury, located on the banks of the Passumpsic River, which wraps around the town and steeps it in mill history. Interstates 93 and 91, and U.S. Routes 5 and 2, connect the Northeast Kingdom to the rest of the state, and operates buses and shuttles within and exterior to the region.
Career opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom span many industries. People in the region work in manufacturing at Ethan Allen Furniture, B&G Foods, BHS Composites, and more, and two regional hospitals, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital and Northern Counties Health Care, connect doctors, nurses, and other health care workers with fulfilling work in a beautiful location. Engineers can find work at Weidmann Electrical Technology or Vermont Aerospace Industries, both headquartered in St. Johnsbury. The hospitality industry thrives in the Northeast Kingdom, from hotels to ski resorts to outdoor guide work. The State of Vermont has offices in Newport and St. Johnsbury, hiring in such diverse sectors as transportation, human services, and corrections, and federal employees can find work through United States Customs and Immigration Services, as the Northeast Kingdom borders Canada. Remote workers bringing their jobs with them can find community and office resources at Lyndon’s Do North Coworking and Newport’s The Work Commons.
The region is home to St. Johnsbury Academy, a global magnet private boarding and day high school drawing students from more than 25 countries with an average class size of 12 and more than 30 advanced placement class offerings. Neighboring Lyndon Institute is also a global draw, with more than 20 countries represented among its current and past high school student body. Northern Vermont University’s Lyndon branch offers a liberal arts education and distinct professional programs, including broadcasting and television production, and Community College of Vermont’s St. Johnsbury branch offers continuing education and certifications.
“The Northeast Kingdom is an unfiltered experience of rural Vermont life. There’s space for people to thrive, but close-knit connected communities too,” said Gillian Sewake, executive director of Discover St. Johnsbury. Those who love swimming holes, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and riding, and the solitude of rural life in a place that celebrates rugged natural beauty will find an ideal home and a strong sense of place in the Northeast Kingdom. East Burke’s Kingdom Trails is home to more than 100 miles of diverse mountain bike terrain and a thriving mountain biking culture. Skiers and riders can discover some of the East’s best trails, from deep-powder glade skiing to green circle learning trails for all ages at Jay Peak Resort and Burke Mountain Resort, and cross-country skiers can test their endurance at Craftsbury Outdoor Center’s more than 65 miles of groomed trails. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is planned to stretch 93 miles between Swanton and St. Johnsbury, serving as a four-season recreation trail for bikers, walkers, runners, and horseback riders.
The Northeast Kingdom also boasts a rich vein of cultural offerings. Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury shows foreign, classic, and independent films, exhibits local artists’ work, and partners with area schools to further arts education. The Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro showcases performing arts as well as local artists’ exhibitions and film and nearby Circus Smirkus educates kids in the circus arts and performs the Big Top Tour around New England. Greensboro is also home to Hill Farmstead Brewery, named best brewery in the world in 2018. In Barton, work will begin soon on a new natural amphitheater for community events, workshops, and the performing arts through the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places grant program. St. Johnsbury is home to the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, a collection of taxidermy, Victorian curiosities, and exhibits on the region’s natural science and conservation, as well as the state’s only public planetarium. Dog lovers will find serenity and inspiration at Dog Mountain, home of late artist Stephen Huneck, with a large public off-leash area and a chapel dedicated to man’s best friend. In Glover, the Museum of Everyday Life exhibits workaday objects like scissors, pencils, and dust with an eye toward finding beauty in the commonplace. Events like First Night North, which celebrates New Year’s Eve with fireworks, fire dancing performances, live music, and a community pancake breakfast, the Caledonia County Fair, and the St. Johnsbury World Maple Festival bring celebration to community life.
“The state and region are working hard to develop more housing options to support relocation,” Sewake said, although the COVID-19 pandemic put strain on the region’s existing housing stock. St. Johnsbury’s New Avenue Building, once a grand hotel, is now home to 40 high-quality apartments, and another large historic building in downtown St. Johnsbury has been purchased by the Northern Forest Center and will be renovated for housing and community rentals. Using the Connect with a Vermonter program can help you get in touch with a community member in the area to find out about housing opportunities, as can checking out the Caledonian-Record, the area’s newspaper, and keeping up with online listings. The Northeast Kingdom Young Professionals Group is also a valuable resource for newcomers to the region, operating a welcome wagon and providing opportunities for professionals to network and make inroads into community life.
Thinking about relocating to the Northeast Kingdom? Programs both statewide and region-specific can help potential new Vermonters find information, answers to their questions, and planning resources for a move. Kick off a job search by browsing positions currently open in Vermont. Economic development tools, incentives, and special programs can also help those looking to expand or relocate their businesses to Vermont.
