Vermont State Facts, Symbols and History
Vermont Fast Facts
Capital: Montpelier (popularity). 7,821 (2010 est.)
(least populous state capital in the US)
Vermont population: 626,011 ( 2012 est.) (49th)
Vermont Quarter: The Vermont Quarter is the fourth quarter in the 2001 series released in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program.Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791, becoming our National 14th State. The design of the quarter honors the “Green Mountain State”, the first state to be admitted to the Union after the original 13 colonies.Vermont is known for skiing and the production of maple sugar and syrup. Featured on the Camel Hump Mountain coin with maples and buckets of sap at the forefront. Camel’s Hump Mountain features a unique double-humped profile and is one of the highest peaks in Vermont.
Language: English, others
Largest Cities: (by population) Burlington, Rutland, South Burlington, Barrom, Essex Junction, Montpelier
Name: The name, Vermont, is derived from the French, “vert montana”, meaning “green mountain”.
Statehood: March 4, 1791 (14th state)
Symbols of Vermont
- Animal: Morgan’s horse
- Bird: hermit thrush
- Butterfly: Monarch butterfly
- Fish: char
- Flag of Vermont
- Flower: Red clover
- Fruit: Apple
- Gemstone: Grossular Garne
- Motto: “Freedom and unity”
- Nicknames: (most used) Green Mountain State
- Song: “These Green Mountains”
- State seal
- Wood: sugar maple
Vermont is one of the states in the northeastern United States, located in the New England region. Joined the United States in 1791 as the 14th state. One of the smallest US states: in terms of area (24.923 km) – 45th, in terms of the number of inhabitants (626,630 people, data for 2013) – 49th of all 50 US states. The capital is Montpelier, the largest city is Burlington.
The official nickname is the “Green Mountain State” (the word Vermont comes from the French Vert mont – green mountain).
Vermont is located in New England, in the northeastern United States. The territory of the state includes 23,955 sq. km of land and 948 sq. km of water surface, total area – 24,902 sq. km (45th US state).
The west bank of the Connecticut River separates Vermont from New Hampshire to the east (the river itself is part of New Hampshire). Vermont’s main lake, Lake Champlain, which is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States, separates Vermont from New York State in the northwest.
The length of Vermont from north to south is 256 km. The largest width of the state from west to east is 143 km (on the border with Canada), and the smallest is only 60 km (near the state of Massachusetts). The geographical center of the state is the town of Washington, 5 kilometers east of Roxbury.
The state has six natural geographic regions: the Northeastern Highlands, the Green Mountains, the Taconic Mountains, the Champlain Lowlands, the Valley of Vermont) and the foothills of Mount Vermont (the Vermont Piedmont).
The exact origin of the unofficial name “Green Mountain State” has not been established. Some researchers believe that this name is due to the dense (compared to forests in the higher mountains of New Hampshire and New York) Vermont forest. Others believe that Vermont is so named because of the greenish mica schist that prevails here.
The first European to see Vermont was Jacques Cartier in 1535. On July 30, 1609, French explorer Samuel de Champagne declared Vermont part of New France, and founded the fort, the first European settlement in Vermont. The first permanent British settlement was founded in 1724. The loss of French possessions in North America and the end of the war, which followed the Seven Years’ War, attracted settlers to Vermont. On March 4, 1791, Vermont became the fourteenth state of the United States of America. During the American Civil War 1861-1865. Vermont sent over 34,000 men to the army. According to the US Bureau of Statistics, the population of Vermont in 2013 was estimated at 626,630. Vermont is 98.12% white, 0.76% black, and 1.09% Asian. By gender, 51% women, 49% men.
In 2008, as one economist put it, “Vermont had a really stagnant economy, and that’s not going to change for the next 30 years.” According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Vermont’s GDP in 2005 was $23 billion. Vermont ranked 50th out of the 50 states on this measure, as well as 38th in terms of GDP per capita. The per capita income was $32,770 in 2004. Canada became Vermont’s number one trading partner in 2007. The state has a $4 billion trade with the Canadian province of Quebec. Retail sales in 2007 were $5.2 billion. The median household had an income of $42,692. This is 15th in the country. In 2001, Vermont produced 1,040,000 liters of maple syrup, about one-quarter of the nation’s production. Tourism makes up a significant part of Vermont’s economy. In winter, numerous ski resorts attract skiers from all over the world. Resorts, hotels, restaurants and shops attract tourists and create jobs all year round. In 2005, tourists made about 13.4 million trips to the state, spending $1.57 billion.
Vermont hosts a number of festivals including the Vermont Maple Festival, Greenery Festival, Apple Festival, Marlborough Music Festival. The symphony orchestra is supported by the state and performs throughout its territory. The Poetry Society publishes a literary journal “Troubadour of the Green Mountains”. The Brattleboro-based Theater Company holds a Shakespeare Festival each summer. Montpelier hosts the annual Green Mountains Film Festival. One of Vermont’s landmarks is the Birthplace Memorial of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known as Mormons, in the town of Sharon.
