Grand Isle, Vermont, New England USA

About Grand Isle, Vermont

Grand Isle County
Chartered: October 27, 1779 (Vermont Charter)
Area: 22,405 Acres = 35.01 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 181* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 43′ W 73°18′
Altitude: 160 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 2,067 [ Population Rank: 85* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 59 [ Density Rank: 78* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State

*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Grand Isle’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.

One of four towns comprising Vermont’s “Lake Champlain Islands.”

Originally, Grand Isle, North Hero and South Hero were granted to Ethan Allen, Samuel Herrick and 363 other Revolutionary War veterans as a single town known as Two Heroes. Hamilton Child’s 1883 Gazetteer of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties says the name referred to Ethan and Ira Allen. However, Ethan and Herrick are named first in the grant, while Ira is considerably down the list after Jonas Fay, Thomas Chittenden and other founding fathers, many of whom were as respected as Ira.

In 1798, Two Heroes was divided into North Hero (the entire north island), Middle Hero and South Hero, the last two sharing the southern island and a representative to the legislature, hence they were not actually separate towns. This arrangement was not entirely satisfactory: in 1810, Middle Hero was given complete autonomy and renamed Grand Isle, which is what the French had originally called the whole island.

The fourth “Lake Champlain Islands” town (which does not otherwise figure in this story) is Isle La Motte.

Activities & Points of Interest

Goings-on in and near Grand Isle
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.

Grand Isle State Park

Grand Isle Historical Society

Hyde Log Cabin – State Historic Site
Built in 1783, considered oldest log cabin in US; restored; houses historical society collection. Route 2, Thursday-Monday, 11-5 pm, Admission, 802-828-3051.

Contact Info

Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington) 802-847-0000

Town Clerk: Cheryl Vantine PO Box 49 Grand Isle, VT 05458
802-372-8830
M-F 8:30-3:30; M 5-7; Sat 10-12

Churches, Ministries, Charitables

Assemblies of God : Island Bible Fellowship AG 802-372-4659
Roman Catholic : St. Joseph
United Methodist : Grand Isle UMC 802-372-6638

Schools

Grand Isle Supervisory Union 802-372-6921
Grand Isle School 802-372-6913

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”).

North Hero

St. Albans Town

Lake Champlain

Grand Isle

Georgia

South Hero

Milton

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).
  Electric Vermont Electric Co-op 800-832-2667
  Telephone Fairpoint 866-984-2001