The informal capitol (and largest community) of the three
counties that make up the Northeast Kingdom, St. Johnsbury owes much
of its character to the Fairbanks family. In 1830, Thaddeus Fairbanks
invented the platform scale here, creating a fortune and a family that
has been responsible for many of the unique features of the town, including
the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium,
the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and Art Gallery and the local academy. One
of Vermont's largest maple producers, the Maple
Grove Farm, is also located here, and the Burke
Mountain ski area is just a short drive to the north in East Burke.