Missisquoi River
Encyclopedia
The Missisquoi River is a tributary of Lake Champlain
, approximately 80 mi (130 km) long, in northern Vermont
in the United States
and southern Quebec
in Canada
. It drains a rural area of the northern Green Mountains along the US-Canada border northeast of Lake Champlain, and an area of Quebec's Eastern Townships. The South Branch rises in Vermont and runs generally from Southeast to Northwest; the North Branch rises in Lake Eastman, Quebec, and runs from North to South. The North Branch and the South Branch join at Highwater, Quebec, just downriver from North Troy, VT. The river then runs in Quebec for approximately 15 miles (24 km), re-entering Vermont at Richford and thence to Lake Champlain's Mississquoi Bay.
Abenaki word meaning "lots of waterfowl".
southwest of Lowell
near Belvidere Mountain, then flows north past Troy
and North Troy
entering Quebec at Highwater, where it joins the North Branch. The North Branch of the Missisquoi rises in Lake Eastman Quebec, and runs about 25 miles (40.2 km) through Eastman, Bolton Centre, East Bolton, South Bolton, and Mansonville, Quebec, before joining the South Branch at Highwater, Quebec. The Mississquoi then loops to the southwest through Dunkin and Glen Sutton Quebec, to reenter Vermont at East Richford
in northeastern Franklin County
.
It flows west through northern Franklin County approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the Canadian border, past the small communities of Richford
, East Berkshire
, Enosburg Falls
, and Sheldon Springs
. On the west side of Interstate 89
in northwestern Franklin County, it turns to the north, passing through Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
in its lower 5 miles (8 km) before entering the south end of Missisquoi Bay, an arm of Lake Champlain that straddles the Canadian-Vermont border.
The Mississquoi Valley was among the first areas of Southern Quebec's Eastern Townships to be settled by Loyalist refugees who came upriver from camps on Missiquoi Bay.
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, approximately 80 mi (130 km) long, in northern Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and southern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It drains a rural area of the northern Green Mountains along the US-Canada border northeast of Lake Champlain, and an area of Quebec's Eastern Townships. The South Branch rises in Vermont and runs generally from Southeast to Northwest; the North Branch rises in Lake Eastman, Quebec, and runs from North to South. The North Branch and the South Branch join at Highwater, Quebec, just downriver from North Troy, VT. The river then runs in Quebec for approximately 15 miles (24 km), re-entering Vermont at Richford and thence to Lake Champlain's Mississquoi Bay.
Etymology
The name of the river is derived from an AlgonquianAlgonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
Abenaki word meaning "lots of waterfowl".
Course
The South Branch of the MIssissquoi rises in western Orleans County, VermontOrleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
southwest of Lowell
Lowell, Vermont
Lowell is the westernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census.-School District:* Budget - $1,199,600* Principal - Scott Boskind...
near Belvidere Mountain, then flows north past Troy
Troy, Vermont
Troy is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,564 at the 2000 census. Troy contains two villages: the unincorporated village of Troy, and the incorporated village of North Troy.-Town:* Moderator - Robert Starr...
and North Troy
North Troy, Vermont
North Troy is a village in Troy, Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 593 at the 2000 census.-History:There were Winter Carnivals from 1940 to 1942. In 1942, 4,000 people attended...
entering Quebec at Highwater, where it joins the North Branch. The North Branch of the Missisquoi rises in Lake Eastman Quebec, and runs about 25 miles (40.2 km) through Eastman, Bolton Centre, East Bolton, South Bolton, and Mansonville, Quebec, before joining the South Branch at Highwater, Quebec. The Mississquoi then loops to the southwest through Dunkin and Glen Sutton Quebec, to reenter Vermont at East Richford
Richford, Vermont
Richford is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,321 at the 2000 census.Richford is the birthplace of R.G. LeTourneau, American industrialist who founded LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.-Geography:...
in northeastern Franklin County
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
.
It flows west through northern Franklin County approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the Canadian border, past the small communities of Richford
Richford, Vermont
Richford is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,321 at the 2000 census.Richford is the birthplace of R.G. LeTourneau, American industrialist who founded LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.-Geography:...
, East Berkshire
Berkshire, Vermont
Berkshire is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,388 at the 2000 census. It contains the unincorporated village of East Berkshire.-Geography:...
, Enosburg Falls
Enosburg Falls, Vermont
Enosburg Falls is a village in the town of Enosburgh in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,473 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and Sheldon Springs
Sheldon, Vermont
Sheldon is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,990 at the 2000 census. It contains the unincorporated village of Sheldon Springs.-Geography:...
. On the west side of Interstate 89
Interstate 89
Interstate 89 is an interstate highway in the New England region of the United States travelling between Bow, New Hampshire and Highgate Springs, Vermont. As with all odd-numbered primary interstates, I-89 is signed as a north–south highway...
in northwestern Franklin County, it turns to the north, passing through Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located in the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in the U.S. state of Vermont. The refuge is in Franklin County in the northwest corner of the state near the International Boundary with Canada. It is the only National Wildlife Refuge...
in its lower 5 miles (8 km) before entering the south end of Missisquoi Bay, an arm of Lake Champlain that straddles the Canadian-Vermont border.
History
The river was an Abenaki canoe route from the Lake Champlain drainage to the St. Francis River drainage. The river supports canoe traffic from Lake Champlain to Mansonville, Quebec, where there is a falls. From there, an ancient portage (carrying place) runs 6 miles to Perkins Landing on Lake Memphremagog. Abenaki groups met seasonally on the bluffs at Eagle Point in Newport, VT to catch and dry whitefish.The Mississquoi Valley was among the first areas of Southern Quebec's Eastern Townships to be settled by Loyalist refugees who came upriver from camps on Missiquoi Bay.