Located in the northernmost portion of Hastings County, the municipality had a population of 4,078 in the 2016 Canadian census.

The municipality also comprises the communities of Baptiste, Bell Rapids, Birds Creek, Centreview, Graphite, Greenview, Hickey Settlement, Hybla, Lake St. Peter, Maple Leaf, Maynooth Station, McAlpine Corners, McGarry Flats, Monteagle Valley, Musclow, Purdy, Scotch Bush, Scott Settlement and York River.

The track bed is now used as a hiking trail The current municipality of Hastings Highlands was incorporated on January 1, 2001, by amalgamating the former townships of Bangor, Wicklow and McClure, Herschel and Monteagle.

[3] Mother tongue:[8] Lake St. Peter's economy is primarily based on tourism.

Currently the community supports one restaurant, two churches, Lake St. Peter Provincial Park,[10] a general store and a post office.