Westmore, Vermont

Westmore is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 357 at the 2020 census, making it the least populated and least densely populated town in the county. The town contains one unincorporated village clustered around Lake Willoughby.

History

Originally named Westford, the town was chartered on August 17, 1781. Since Chittenden County had a town named Westford, in 1787 the name was changed to Westmore.

The first vacation house was built on the lake in 1860. It is known as the Cheney House, named after an owner in the late 19th century.

Westmore never attracted many settlers. The town's peak population was in the census year of 1880 with 485 people.

Before he became famous, Robert Frost camped here in the summer of 1909 with his family.

Songadeewin Camp for girls was located here from 1921 to 1975.

Electricity became available at the south end of the lake, from West Burke, .

In 1970, the state of Vermont acquired as part of Willoughby State Forest, which included the Cheney House. though in 2007–2008, the town discussed whether to ban nudity, aimed at sunbathers on the south beach of Lake Willoughby.

Having closely approximated the state's voting percentages for governor, in 2006, and president in 2004, Westmore was considered one of six "bellwether" towns for the 2008 general election.

Geography

thumb|left|220px|Westmore, Vermont (Mount Pisgah, Lake Willoughby, Mount Hor)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.5 square miles (97.0 km2), of which 34.5 square miles (89.4 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.6 km2) (7.85%) is water.

One of the town's most prominent features is Lake Willoughby. The relatively young 12,000-year-old glacier-carved lake is flanked on the east by Mount Pisgah and the west by Mount Hor . The mountains, which have hundreds of feet of rock cliffs, are located in the Willoughby State Forest and the cliffs have been designated a National Natural Landmark. In recent decades, several peregrine falcons have been found there.

Local mountains also include Goodwin , Bald , Hedgehog , Haystack , and Bartlett .

The town has a local weather recording and reporting station.

Demographics

As of the census

Most of the tourism is around the lake and mountains, which have hiking and biking trails, some of which are associated with the Kingdom Trails, and campgrounds.

Government

Town

School district

High school students are sent to Lake Region Union High School. The town pays an assessment for this and elects a board member to the Orleans Central Supervisory Union.