Northeast Kingdom

Northeast Kingdom
Area
Panoramic view of Willoughby Notch and Mount Pisgah
Country	United States
State	Vermont
Area
• Total	2,030 sq mi (5,250 km2)
Elevation	3,858 ft (1,176 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	64,764
• Density	32/sq mi (12/km2)

The Northeast Kingdom is the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties and having a population at the 2010 census of 64,764. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term "Northeast Kingdom" is attributed to George D. Aiken, former Governor of Vermont and a U.S. senator, who first used the term in a 1949 speech. The area is often referred to by Vermonters simply as "The Kingdom." Because of its three-county extent, it includes several "gateway" towns: at the southeastern corner, St. Johnsbury, just a few miles from the New Hampshire border; to the north, Newport and Derby, close to the Canada–US border; and to the southwest, Hardwick and Danville. Interstate 91, Interstate 93, and U.S. Route 2 connect travelers to the Northeast Kingdom.

The Northeast Kingdom is bordered on the east by the Connecticut River and on the west by the Green Mountains. The highest point is Jay Peak, a summit on the main ridge of the Green Mountains, at 3,858 feet (1,176 m). The highest point outside of the Green Mountains is East Mountain in East Haven, with a summit elevation of 3,439 feet (1,048 m).