[4] The town was formed by the Vermont charter on November 8, 1780,[1] and was originally called Littleton, but the name was changed to Waterford in 1797.

[5] The town may have been named after Waterford, Ireland, or for the ford that ran across the Connecticut River in that area.

The town is bordered by Barnet to the west, St. Johnsbury to the northwest, Kirby to the north, and Concord, Vermont, to the east.

The highest point in Waterford is the 2,017-foot (615 m) summit of Fuller Hill, near the town's eastern border.

The area known as "White Village" features homes from the 1700s, a church, library, post office and bed and breakfast.

Waterford has the highest per capita income of any town or city in the Northeast Kingdom.

[10] Waterford Public Schools are part of the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union.