State of Vermont Facts

Introduction - Vermont Facts

Vermont Quick Facts

• On March 4th of 1791 Vermont was the 14th state to join the Union (U.S.A.). It was the first state to join the Union after the original thirteen colonies.
• The capital of Vermont is Montpelier.
• This state's largest city is Burlington.
• Vermont gets its name from the French term "les Verts Monts", which translates to "the Green Mountains".
• With a total area of 9,616 square miles (24,923 square kilometers) it ranks 45th in total area among U.S. states.
• With a total population of 626,562 (2014 U.S. Census Bureau estimate) Vermont ranks 49th least populated among U.S. states.
• Residents of Vermont are called Vermonters.
• The state motto is "Freedom and Unity".
• Vermont is one of the six U.S. New England states along with Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
• Vermont is bordered by Quebec, Canada to the north, New Hampshire to the east (separated by the Connecticut River), Massachusetts to the south, and New York to the west (separated by Lake Champlain along much of the border).
• The state Flower of Vermont is the red clover.
• Mount Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont with a summit 4,393 feet (1,339 meters) above sea level.
• The state song of this Northeast state is "These Green Mountains".

Interesting Vermont Facts

• Vermont leads the U.S. in the production of maple syrup.
• The Green Mountains are a mountain range in Vermont that runs for approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) from south to north.
• Tourism is an important source of income for Vermont. Attractions include world famous ski resorts like Killington, and one of the largest lakes in America; Lake Champlain.
• Major rivers in this state are the Connecticut River, West River, and the Otter River.
• Besides Lake Champlain, which makes up a portion of Vermont's western border, another large lake in Vermont is Lake Memphremagog, which lies on Vermont's northern border and extends into Canada.
• Large towns in Vermont include Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier, and Barre.
• Forests cover about 75 percent of Vermont.
• Two U.S. Presidents were born in Vermont. The 21st President, Chester A. Arthur, was born in Fairfield Vermont and the 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
• In northern Vermont moose are abundant; they frequently roam populated areas and pose a traffic threat; unfortunately causing several deadly automobiles accident annually.
• In 2014 Vermont was ranked as the second healthiest U.S. state by the United Health Foundation; second to only Hawaii.

Vermont History Facts

• Native American Indians indigenous to Vermont include the Abenaki tribe and the Iroquois.
• The first European to explore what is now Vermont is believed to have been the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535 who is most famous for his exploration of Canada.
• In July of 1609 the famous French explorer Samuel de Champlain claimed the land that is now Vermont for France.
• The first European settlement in Vermont, Fort Lamotte, was built in 1666.
• France was the first European country to take claim to the area that is now Vermont. France ceded this land to Great Britain in 1763 after their loss to them in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War).
• In 1777, during the American Revolution, Vermont declared itself an independent republic; however they joined with the American colonies in their fight against Great Britain. Vermont would remain a sovereign entity up until gaining statehood in 1791.
• The Battle of Hubbardton, fought on July 7th of 1777, was the only battle of the American Revolutionary War fought in what is today the state of Vermont.
• The northernmost land action of the American Civil War took place in St. Albans, Vermont on October 19th of 1864. Confederate soldiers raided the town in retaliation for Union forces burning Confederate cities.