St. Johnsbury, Vermont, New England USA
About St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Caledonia County
Chartered: November 1, 1786 (Vermont Charter)
Area: 23,585 Acres = 36.85 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 168* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 25′ W 72°01′
Altitude: 697 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 7,603 [ Population Rank: 17* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 206.3 [ Density Rank: 20* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to St. Johnsbury's relative position among Vermont's 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
St. Johnsbury was settled by Jonathan Arnold, a Rhode Island native. He built the first frame dwelling in 1787, on a spot at the north end of Main Street now known as Arnold Park.
In 1790 the town was officially organized, and given its name at the first town meeting. Colonel Ethan Allen suggested the name St. John as a tribute to Hector St. Jean de Crèvecoeur, French Consul, experimental farmer and writer who was considered a powerful friend of young America.
De Crèvecoeur himself suggested that, because there were already many places called St. John, this one might be given the name of St. Johnsbury. The town would thus be unique, as there was no other St. Johnsbury in the world, a distinction which remains today.
Due to its rapid growth, St. Johnsbury became the County Seat by 1856. It also became a rail and highway junction, as well as industrial, commercial and cultural crossroads of the region, a position in which it is firmly secure today.
Material excerpted or adapted from Esther Munroe Swift’s
Vermont Place-Names: Footprints of History
with the author’s permission
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near St. Johnsbury
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Catamount Film and Arts Company
presenting a variety of music, theater and dance events. Children’s events, artists and films are also presented, primarily in the St.Johnsbury and Lyndonville area.
Court House Park
A quiet green on the corner of Eastern Avenue & Main Street. The statue on the green was sculpted in Italy in 1868 by a sculptor from Brattleboro.
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
For over a hundred years, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium has been a source of discovery, delight, and knowledge and is the cornerstone of the Historic District. The building is a masterpiece of Victorian architecture, with towers, arches, and carvings of limestone and red sandstone. Inside you’ll find warm, inviting galleries filled with a dazzling array of the world’s wonders.Take a trip to the stars in Vermont’s only public planetarium, or watch weather in the making at the Northern New England Weather Center. With the largest natural science collections in northern New England and a rich selection of artifacts from around the globe, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium can be your window on the world.
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
The ornate public library was built in 1871. With the addition of the Art Gallery in 1873, the Athenaeum is the oldest art gallery in the US maintained in its original condition. The collection has 100 works of art, including 19th century American and European paintings and sculpture.
St. Johnsbury Historic District
After Thaddeus Fairbanks invented the platform scale in 1830, his family donated many of the town’s public institutions in a unique effort to provide cultural amenities for workers in the factory. In the late 19th century, the community became a railroad center. The historic district includes commercial blocks, museums, a railroad station, and a number of Italianate residential buildings.
St. Johnsbury Historical Society
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Police (non-emergency): 802-748-2314
Hospital: Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (St. Johnsbury) 802-748-8141
Town Clerk: Sandra Grenier 1187 Main St., Suite 2 St Johnsbury, VT 05819
802-748-4331
M-F 7:30-4:30
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
Anglican : Christ Church Anglican 603-504-5631
Assemblies of God : Living Water AG 802-748-2141
Episcopal : St. Andrew 802-748-2121
Jewish : Congregation Beth El 802-748-5683
Roman Catholic : St. John the Evangelist
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ (East St. Johnsbury)
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ : United Church of Christ
United Methodist : Grace UMC 802-748-2895
Schools
Essex Caledonia Supervisory Union 802-695-3373
St. Johnsbury School District 802-748-4744
St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Elementary Schools
St. Johnsbury Schools
Neighboring Towns
This is a basic geographic reference, intended to show relative location of adjacent towns. Directional accuracy is limited to 16 compass points. There isn’t even the slightest suggestion that one can necessarily travel directly from one town to the next (as in “You can’t get there from here”).
St. Johnsbury
Businesses & Services
Places To Stay
Fairbanks Inn
Vermont’s Best Kept Secret: 45 spacious rooms & suites, with pet friendly accommodations. Close to hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, riding & golfing. Golf or Ski Packages and Romantic Jacuzzi suites available.
Places To Shop
Main Street Productions
“Songs From the Heart” A new CD by award-winning tenor John Thade (Vermont’s “Mr. Broadway”). Celebrating the most memorable classic Broadway and movie all-time favorites, “Songs for the Heart” is an eclectic array of big romantic ballads, soul-stirring themes and powerful vocal renditions of beloved showstoppers.
Framing Format and Gallery
Featuring the work of Edward Gordon, Will Moses and Robert Duncan
Utilities
Notes about utilities:
- One electric or phone company indicates that company serves the entire town. More than one of either indicates each serves different areas of town.
- A listed cable company MIGHT mean the entire town is covered, but not necessarily. More than one listed indicates each serves different areas of town.
- Unless your area is one served by Vermont’s only gas utility, your only option is bottled gas (any dealer).
Cable Charter Communications 888-438-2427
Electric Central Vermont Public Service 800-451-2877
Electric Lyndonville Electric Dept. 802-626-3366
Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001