Highgate is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,472 at the 2020 census. The town is on the Canada–US border and is a border town with Philipsburg, Quebec.

History

thumb|180px|left|1995 Grateful Dead concert ticket

Highgate was named after Highgate in England.

The Grateful Dead played two shows in Highgate at the Franklin County State Airport in July 1994 and June 1995. An estimated 60,000 people attended in 1994 and an estimated 100,000 in 1995, when Bob Dylan opened and on-site camping was allowed.

In town, there is an egg farm which has 100,000 chickens. In 2008, the farm wanted to double its operation, requiring state permission. Neighbors objected to this increase.

Geography

Highgate is in northwestern Franklin County. The northern border of the town is the Canada–United States border. It is one of the communities that is intersected by the 45th parallel north. U.S. Route 7 and Interstate 89 pass through the town, intersecting at I-89's Exit 22, just south of the international border. The two highways lead south to Swanton, St. Albans, and Burlington. Vermont Route 78 crosses the southern part of town, passing through the communities of Highgate Center and East Highgate. Route 78 leads southwest into Swanton and southeast into Sheldon. Vermont Route 207 passes through the eastern part of Highgate, connecting Highgate Center with Morses Line at the border. Communities within the town include Highgate Center, Highgate Falls, East Highgate, and Highgate Springs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 15.08%, is water. The Missisquoi and Rock rivers, tributaries of Lake Champlain, flow through the town. The northwest corner of town is within Missisquoi Bay, an arm of Lake Champlain.

Surrounding areas

  • Saint-Armand, Quebec, Canada
  • Franklin
  • Sheldon
  • Swanton
  • Alburgh

Demographics

As of the census

Natural gas

Vermont has one natural gas distribution company, Vermont Gas Systems, Inc. (VGS). VGS's gas is supplied from a connection at Highgate Springs to the TransCanada Pipeline.<!---name does not quite match article but has to be the right one. But one or the other needs changing--->

Transportation

Located within the town is the Interstate 89 Highgate Springs–St. Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing.

Education

It is in the Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union school district.<!--UNI 99921-->

Notable people

  • Heman Allen (1779–1852), U.S. congressman, U.S. Minister to Chile, resided in and practiced law in Highgate
  • Roswell M. Austin (1887–1966), Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, born in Highgate
  • Warren Austin (1877–1962), U.S. senator, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, born in Highgate Center
  • Jeptha Bradley (1802–1864), Vermont Auditor of Accounts, served as postmaster in Highgate Springs
  • Alexander Christie (1848–1925), Bishop of Vancouver Island and Archbishop of Oregon City, born in Highgate
  • John Godfrey Saxe (1816–1887), author, born in Highgate hamlet of Saxe's Mills

References

  • Town of Highgate official website
  • HVDC-back-to-back station Highgate