Newport Town

Wrapping around the city of Newport like a crescent, Newport Town occupies the rural land surrounding the urban center on Lake Memphremagog. The town was chartered in 1802, and when Newport City incorporated separately in 1917, the remaining territory kept the town designation. Today about 3,370 people live in Newport Town.

The town's landscape includes farmland, forest, and lakeshore along both Memphremagog and the smaller Clyde Pond. The Clyde River, an important waterway for the region, flows through town on its way to the lake. Much of the area's agricultural economy — dairy farming, hay, and some maple sugaring — takes place within town boundaries.

Newport Town operates under a selectboard and maintains its own school, roads, and services distinct from the city. Town meeting each March draws residents who understand that the line between city and town, drawn over a century ago, means their community governs itself independently.