Our Towns
Divided into three counties (Caledonia, Essex and Orleans), the Northeast Kingdom encompasses 48 towns, one city, and one municipality comprised of six unified towns and gores, with a land area of 2,027 square miles (5,250 km2), about 21% of the state of Vermont.
In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term "Northeast Kingdom" is attributed to George D. Aiken, former Governor of Vermont and a U.S. senator, who first used the term in a 1949 speech. The area is often referred to by Vermonters simply as "The Kingdom." Because of its three-county extent, it includes several "gateway" towns: at the southeastern corner, St. Johnsbury, just a few miles from the New Hampshire border; to the north, Newport and Derby, close to the Canada–US border; and to the southwest, Hardwick and Danville. Interstate 91, Interstate 93, and U.S. Route 2 connect travelers to the Northeast Kingdom.The Kingdom offers breath-taking scenery, outstanding lodging and dining, ecotourism and agritourism, Vermont made products, and recreational opportunities which have gained the Northeast Kingdom national and international recognition.