Vermont

Vermont flag

Capital: Montpelier

State abbreviation/Postal code: Vt./VT

Governor: Phillip Scott, R (to Jan. 2019

Lieut. Governor: David Zuckerman, P (to Jan. 2019)

Senators: Patrick Leahy, D (to Jan. 2019); Bernie Sanders, I (to Jan. 2019)

U.S. Representatives: 1

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Entered Union (rank): March 4, 1791 (14)

Present constitution adopted: 1793

Motto: Vermont, Freedom and Unity

State symbols:

flowerred clover (1894)
treesugar maple (1949)
birdhermit thrush (1941)
animalMorgan horse (1961)
insecthoneybee (1978)
song“These Green Mountains” (2000)

Nickname: Green Mountain State

Origin of name: From the French “vert mont,” meaning “green mountain”

10 largest cities (2010 est.): Burlington, 42,417; Essex, 19,587; South Burlington, 17,993; Colchester 17,067; Rutland, 16,495; Bennington 15,764, Brattleboro 12,046; Milton, 10,352; Hartford, 9,952; Springfield, 9,078; Barre, 9,052; Williston, 8,698; Middlebury, 8,496

Land area: 9,616 sq mi (24,923 km2))

Geographic center: In Washington Co., 3 mi. E of Roxbury

Number of counties: 14

Largest county by population and area: Chittenden, 156,545 (2010); Windsor, 971 sq mi.

State forests: 300,000 ac.

State parks: 52

Residents: Vermonter

2016 resident population est.: 624,594

2010 resident census population (rank): 625,741 (49). Male: 308,206 (49.3%); Female: 317,535 (50.7%). White: 596,292 (95.3%); Black: 6,277 (1.0%); American Indian: 2,207 (0.4%); Asian: 7,947 (1.3%); Other race: 2,105 (0.3%); Two or more races: 10,753 (1.7%); Hispanic/Latino: 9,208 (1.5%). 2010 percent population 18 and over: 79.3; 65 and over: 14.6; median age: 41.5.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

The Vermont region was explored and claimed for France by Samuel de Champlain in 1609, and the first French settlement was established at Fort Ste. Anne in 1666. The first English settlers moved into the area in 1724 and built Fort Dummer on the site of present-day Brattleboro. England gained control of the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars.

First organized to drive settlers from New York out of Vermont, the Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen, won fame by capturing Fort Ticonderoga from the British on May 10, 1775, in the early days of the Revolutionary War. In 1777 Vermont adopted its first constitution, abolishing slavery and providing for universal male suffrage without property qualifications.

Vermont leads the nation in the production of monument granite, marble, and maple products. It is also a leader in the production of talc. Vermont's rugged, rocky terrain discourages extensive agricultural farming, but is well suited to raising fruit trees and to dairy farming.

Principal industrial products include electrical equipment, fabricated metal products, printing and publishing, and paper and allied products.

Tourism is a major industry in Vermont. Vermont's many famous ski areas include Stowe, Killington, Mt. Snow, Okemo, Jay Peak, and Sugarbush. Hunting and fishing also attract many visitors to Vermont each year. Among the many points of interest are the Green Mountain National Forest, Bennington Battle Monument, the Calvin Coolidge Homestead at Plymouth, and the Marble Exhibit in Proctor.

Vermont has become a trailblazer for gay rights. In April 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage. It was the first state to legalize gay marriage by a legislature's vote. The House and Senate voted to override Governor Jim Douglas' veto. Prior to this vote, Vermont was the first state to legalize same-sex civil unions.

See more on Vermont:
Encyclopedia: Vermont
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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Selected famous natives and residents:


 
 
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