Highgate, Vermont, New England USA
About Highgate, Vermont
Franklin County
Chartered: August 17, 1763 (New Hampshire Grant)
Area: 38,284 Acres = 59.82 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 13* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 56′ W 73°03′
Altitude: 308 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 3,535 [ Population Rank: 47* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 59.1 [ Density Rank: 77* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Highgate’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
A totally fanciful story about the town’s name says there was once a toll road closed by a very high gate, and that people began saying they were “going to High Gate” when traveling to the area. Not even acceptable as folklore, for the area had no roads at all when Benning Wentworth named the town.
Wentworth probably had the well-known London suburb of Highgate in mind. That area did take its name from an old gatehouse which had been an important part of London’s defenses, but dismantled by Wentworth’s time. There are but two other Highgates in the world, both known to have been named for the London suburb: Ontario, Canada and St. Mary’s Parish, Jamaica.
John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) was born here: lawyer, educator, newspaper editor, state’s attorney, collector of customs, gubernatorial candidate, lecturer. It was, however, as a poet that he gained his greatest fame. His poems are still included in anthologies of American verse, and his story “Four Blind Men and an Elephant”, the classic treatise on differing viewpoints, is one of the most successful children’s picture books.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Highgate
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Northwestern Medical Center (St. Albans) 802-524-5911
Town Clerk: Wendi Dusablon PO Box 189 Highgate, VT 05459
802-868-4697
M-F 8:30-12 and 1:00-4:30
Churches, Ministries, Charitables
Roman Catholic : St. Louis
United Methodist : Highgate Center UMC 802-285-6425
Schools
Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union 802-868-4967
Highgate Schools 802-868-4170
Missisquoi Valley Union High School 802-868-7311
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”).
Quebec, Canada
Highgate
Businesses & Services
Rocheleau Appraisal
Fast Friendly Service for Northwestern Vermont
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 Comcast 800-266-2278
Electric Swanton Village Electric Department 802-868-3397
Electric Vermont Electric Co-op 800-832-2667
Natural Gas Vermont Gas Systems 802-863-4511
