North Hero

Out in Lake Champlain, connected to the mainland by bridges and causeways, North Hero occupies the northern portion of the island chain that makes up Grand Isle County. The town was chartered in 1779 and named for Ethan Allen — one of several Champlain Islands towns honoring Vermont's Revolutionary War heroes (South Hero honors Ira Allen).

North Hero's landscape is defined by water. The town has more shoreline than almost any community in Vermont, and the views west to the Adirondacks and east to the Green Mountains are unobstructed. Knight Point State Park and North Hero State Park offer swimming, camping, and boat access. The Royal Lipizzan Stallions performed summer shows here for decades, drawing visitors to the island.

With about 836 year-round residents, the population swells in summer as camp owners and tourists arrive. The town governs through a selectboard and annual town meeting, where islanders make decisions about the roads, ferries, and waterfront access that define life on Champlain's islands.