Grand Isle

Situated on the largest island in Lake Champlain, Grand Isle was chartered in 1779 by the Republic of Vermont. The island's flat, fertile land made it ideal for apple orchards and farming, and agriculture has shaped the town's character from the beginning. The Hyde Log Cabin, built in 1783 and now operated as a historic site, is one of the oldest surviving log cabins in the United States.

Grand Isle today is home to about 2,000 year-round residents, though the population swells significantly in summer as seasonal visitors arrive to enjoy the lake. Grand Isle State Park, on the island's western shore, offers camping and swimming with views across the lake to the Adirondack Mountains. The town is connected to the mainland by US Route 2, which runs the length of the Lake Champlain Islands.

As the county seat of Grand Isle County — Vermont's smallest county by both area and population — Grand Isle serves as the administrative center for the islands. Town meeting each March brings residents together to manage local affairs in the democratic tradition that has governed Vermont communities since before statehood.