73 Vermont Facts and Weird Laws 

Vermont is the second smallest state in the USA. A state in the New England region of the United States. Vermont attained statehood on March 4, 1791. It was the 14th State in the Union. Also famous with the nickname of The Green Mountain State. Vermont was one of the first states to outlaw slavery.

It borders the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. It is 157.4 miles in length, 90.3 miles wide at the Canadian border*, and 41.6 miles along the Massachusetts border.

Suppose you are thinking of visiting the State of Vermont or maybe even moving there. You may want to look at these facts about Vermont before you do so. 

Let’s learn some fun Vermont facts you may not know. Be sure to check out the top 10 weird laws in Vermont at the end.

Best Fun Facts About Vermont

1. Vermont is the merger of two French words, “ver” means Green and “mont” means Mountain. 
2. The region of Vermont was very chaotic and dangerous during the French and Indian wars back in 1754. After the end of that 9 year-long conflicts, new colonists started to settle in the area, which finally led to the State’s independence in 1777.
3. Von Trapp’s are an iconic family in popular American culture. They were depicted in the Broadway Musical and film “the sound of music” and have enjoyed a lot of popularity ever since.
4. Vermont is regarded as skiing heaven. There are countless resorts, hotels, restaurants, and shops designed to attract tourists.
5. Vermont attracts more than $14 million tourists every year, who spend more than $1.5 billion. 
6. Cavendish, a town in Vermont, is the home to one of the most infamous neurological case studies. Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman in 1849 when a tamping iron propelled by explosive powder shot clear through his head. Seemingly unharmed, Gage lived more than a decade after this incident but dramatically altered his personality.
7. The Capital of Vermont is Montpelier, the smallest in the entire United States, and has around 7,900 people.
8. Champ, an aquatic beast, lived in Lake Champlain and claimed to be seen by hundreds of witnesses as far back as the 1800s.

Vermont Facts — Politics And Government

1. Vermont is federally represented in the United States Congress by two senators and one representative.
2. The State is governed by a constitution that divides governmental duties into legislative, executive, and judicial branches: the Vermont General Assembly, the governor of Vermont, and the Vermont Supreme Court. 
3. The current Governor of Vermont is Philip Brian Scott. He was elected in 2016 and took office on January 5, 2017.
4. The governorship and the General Assembly serve two-year terms, including the governor and 30 senators. There are no term limits for any office.
5. There are three types of incorporated municipalities in Vermont: towns, cities, and villages. 
6. Vermont does not collect a state gift tax.

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Similar Content

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• Rhode Island Facts and Wired Laws

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Vermont Facts — History

1. Vermont’s name comes from the French phrase “vert mont,” meaning “green mountain.”
2. Vermont became the 14th State in 1791; it was the first admitted after the thirteen colonies.
3. Before that, it was its very own country. Founded in 1777, the Vermont Republic operated a post office, issued its currency called Vermont coppers, and abolished slavery.
4. In 1777 Vermonters created an independent republic and adopted a constitution. 
5. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the USA, producing over 500,000 gallons a year.
6. Vermont’s also America’s No. 1 producer of marble and No. 2 producer of talc. They’re the State’s official rock and mineral, respectively.
7. US Presidents Chester A. Arthur and Calvin Coolidge were both born in Vermont. The latter is the only president born on the Fourth of July.
8. It’s also one of the most progressive states. It was the first to grant women partial voting rights (in 1880), abolish slavery (as a republic and a state), and legislate same-sex marriage.
9. In 1609 the French explorer Samuel de Champlain discovered the lake in Vermont to which he gave his name. 
10. The French established the first permanent European settlement in 1666 on Isle La Motte, an island in northern Lake Champlain.
11. Green Mountain Boys, an informal militia, was recruited by Ethan Allen, his brothers Ira and Levi, and the Allens’ cousins Seth Warner and Remember Baker in 1770 to protect the interests of the original New Hampshire settlers against newcomers from New York.
12. Vermont State Symbols include (mineral, flower, bird, beverage, pie, mammal, song, insect, tree, and fish).
13. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Vermont served as a route for French and Indian incursions from Canada into Massachusetts.

Vermont Facts — Geography

1. Vermont is located in the New England region of the northeastern United States.
2.  Vermont is the 45th-largest state comprising 9,614 square miles (24,900 km2).
3. It is the only state with no buildings taller than 124 feet (38 m).
4. The land comprises 9,250 square miles (24,000 km2), and water comprises 365 square miles (950 km2), making it the 43rd-largest land area and 47th water area. 
5. It is larger than El Salvador and smaller than Haiti w.r.t total area. It is the only landlocked state in New England.
6. The west bank of the Connecticut River marks the State’s eastern border with New Hampshire, though much of the river flows within New Hampshire’s territory. 
7. 41% of Vermont’s land area is part of the Connecticut River’s watershed.
8. Lake Champlain, the sixth-largest body of fresh water in the United States, separates Vermont from New York in the northwest portion of the State. 
9. There are fifteen US federal border crossings between Vermont and Canada.
10. Mount Mansfield the highest mountain in the State; Killington Peak is the second-highest; and Camel’s Hump is the State’s third-highest peak.

Vermont Facts — Animals and Plants

1. The Morgan horse (Equus cabullus morganensis) was named the State’s official animal in 1961. This beautiful horse breed is one of the earliest breeds developed in the US.
2. Deer tick: This tiny bloodsucker transmits many diseases, including Lyme’s disease. Vermont’s wild woods are filled with them, so it’s important to wear protection and check yourself after a hike or walk in the woods.
3. Moose: Although most moose avoid humans, they can become if they feel threatened. Avoid disturbing a moose that is mating or protecting its young.
4. Wolves were once widespread in Vermont, but now they are extinct there. There are wolves on the State’s border with Canada, and wildlife biologists hope wolves will be reintroduced to Vermont.
5. The slender, cat-like marten is a member of the weasel family native to Vermont. Once extinct, martens have been successfully reintroduced.
6. Vermont claims to be one of the native homes of the strange creature known as a sidehill gouger or a wampahoofus. 
7. It is home to hundreds of bird species and many migrating birds who stop on their way south. 
8. Its many forest mammals include foxes, bobcats, raccoons, muskrats, and black bears. Rodents, rabbits, and opossums are all native to the State. 
9. Frogs and toads are abundant, and you can hear them sing in the famous “spring chorus” that heralds the arrival of warmer weather.

Vermont Facts — Demographics

1. Vermont is a small state known for its rolling hills, dairy farms, and breathtaking rural scenery. 
2. The State’s population is about 626,000. 
3. Vermont has over 4 million acres of forest, more than 75% of the State. 
4. Another 15% of the State’s land is dairy farms. That accounts for the beautiful scenery, sparse population, and abundant wildlife.
5. The northeastern US state of Vermont is the 45th largest in the country by area and the 49th largest by population.
6. Vermont’s population has seen a slight decline over the past few years, currently shrinking at .12% per year.
7. The last official US census was carried out in 2010, and this confirmed that the population of Vermont at the time was 625,741, which represented a modest 2.8% rise from the figures declared at the Census of 2000.
8. Despite its small size and population, it does make good use of its space with a population density that ranks 30th in the country. 
9. Vermont has a very tiny surface area of just 9,614 square miles. Still, for every square mile of Vermont territory, there is an average of 67.9 people, making Vermont the 30th most densely populated state in the entire country.
10. There are no major urban areas in Vermont, which is not surprising given its small population. 
11. Vermont has only 9 incorporated cities, and only three of them have a population of more than 10,000. 
12. Burlington is the State’s largest city, home to over 42,000 people. The second-largest city is South Burlington (pop: 18,791). 
13. Combined with several other towns and cities, both cities make up the Burlington Metropolitan area, containing more than 200,000 people.
14. The state capital, Montpelier, is only Vermont’s fifth-largest city. It has an estimated 7,592 residents. Interestingly, Vermont is the only state in the country that does not have a single building taller than 124 feet (38 meters).
15. The two most populated counties within the State of Vermont are Chittenden County and Rutland county, with 162,372 and 59,087.
16. The median age across the population of Vermont is approximately 42.6 years of age. Regarding the sex ratio among the population, 50.7% are females, and 49.3% are males.

Vermont Facts— Culture and Sports

1. Vermont festivals include the Vermont Maple Festival, Festival on the Green, The Vermont Dairy Festival in Enosburg Falls, the Apple Festival (held each Columbus Day Weekend), the Marlboro Music Festival, and the Vermont Brewers Festival.
2. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is supported by the State and performs throughout the area.
3. In 1988, many Vermont-based composers, including Gwyneth Walker, formed the Vermont Composers Consortium, which the governor proclaimed 2011 as The Year of the Composer.
4. Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, hosts the annual Vermont International Film Festival, which presents ten days in October of independent films.
5. One of Vermont’s best-known musical acts is the rock band Phish, whose members met while attending school in Vermont and spent much of their early years playing at venues across the State.
6. Winter sports are popular in New England, and Vermont’s winter sports attractions are a big part of Vermont tourism.
7. Vermont natives in the snowboarding profession include Kevin Pearce, Ross Powers, Hannah Teter, and Kelly Clark. Others learned snowboarding in the State, such as Louie Vito and Ellery Hollingsworth.
8. Vermont Olympic gold medalists include Barbara Cochran, Hannah Kearney, Kelly Clark, Ross Powers, and Hannah Teter.
9. The largest professional franchise of Baseball is the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, based in Burlington.
10. Currently, the highest-ranked teams in basketball representing Vermont are the NCAA’s Vermont Catamounts—male and female.
11. The Vermont Frost Heaves, the 2007 and 2008 American Basketball Association national champions, was a franchise of the Premier Basketball League and were based in Barre and Burlington from the fall of 2006 through the winter of 2011.
12. The Vermont Bucks, an indoor football team, was based in Burlington and began to play in 2017 as the founding team in the Can-Am Indoor Football League.
13. Vermont is home to the University of Vermont Men’s and Women’s hockey teams. Vermont’s only professional hockey team was the Vermont Wild, who played in the Federal Hockey League during the 2011–12 season, but the team folded before the season ended.
14. Vermont also has a few auto racing venues. The most popular is Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont. 

Vermont Facts — Economy

1. In 2016, Vermont had total employment of 262,705, and the total employer establishments were 21,174.
2. In 2019, VermontBiz reported a WalletHub ranking of Vermont 43rd as a place to start a business, citing Vermont as 49th in average growth of small businesses and 50th in the availability of human capital.
3. CNBC ranked Vermont 32nd as a place to do business in 2018, citing access to capital as the largest impediment.
4. While US News ranked Vermont 37th for “business environment”, it ranked it 18th for employment in 2019.
5. Forbes magazine ranked Vermont as the 42nd best state to do business in 2015, 32nd in 2007, and 30th in 2006.
6. In 2017, Vermont’s gross regional domestic product (GDP) was $19.3 billion, making it the second-smallest among the 50 states. 
7. Its per capita GDP was $51,600, ranking it 34th.
8. Canada was Vermont’s largest foreign trade partner in 2007. 
9. The State’s second-largest foreign trade partner was Taiwan.
10. The State had $4 billion worth of commerce with Quebec.
11. One measure of economic activity in Vermont is retail sales. The State had $5.2 billion in 2007.
12. In 2008, 8,631 new businesses were registered in Vermont, a decline of 500 from 2007.

Famous People from Vermont 

• Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield – co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s

• Patrick Leahy, Vermont’s senior US Senator
• Bernie Sanders, former Mayor of Burlington (1981–1989), U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007, and 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate

• Luis Guzmán, actor

Common Misconceptions About Vermont State

Vermont’s #1 export is maple syrup.

Although Vermont is the country’s #1 maple syrup seller, it is not the State’s main export. Instead, most Vermonters’ main source of income comes from exporting machinery and manufactured commodities like computers, which account for revenue of $1.9 billion.

Weird Laws in Vermont

Vermont has some pretty old and idiotic laws, but my favorite is the last one on the list. But as they say, “the law is the law”. Read the Craziest Laws in the United States, if you want more.

1. It is not legal to whistle underwater.
2. It is illegal to paint a horse in Vermont.
3. Doves must not be kept in the freezer.
4. It’s illegal to deny the existence of God.
5. Delivery men must walk backward in driveways of homes worth more than $500,000
6. Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
7. It is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole.

Final Thought

Vermont is a beautiful and calm place to visit where you can enjoy both scenic landscapes and city life with the right balance. In addition, the Green Mountain State is considered to be one of the best towns for tourism as it is 75% covered with forests. 

Visit Vermont’s historical and peaceful towns to witness picturesque landscapes and adventures. 

Vermont is a complete package for tourists to visit at any time of the year. 

Besides the plenty of outdoor activities and thrill, don’t forget to enjoy the yummy delicacies such as cheese, wines, and the ever-favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Vermont Facts And Stats

Capital	Montpelier
Population	2020 (643,503)
Governor	Phil Scott (Republican Party)
Date Of Admission	March 4, 1791
U.S. Senators	Patrick Leahy (D) Bernie Sanders (I)
US House of Representatives	1 (of 435 Seats)
State Nickname	The Green Mountain
State Motto	Freedom & Unity
State Song	“These Green Mountains”
State Flower	Red Clover
State Fish	Brook Trout
State Bird	Hermit Thrush
State Tree	Sugar Maple
State Mammal	Morgan Horse
State Drink	Milk
State Mineral	Talc
State Gem	Grossular Garnet
State Fossil	Woolly Mammoth, Beluga Whale
Neighbor States	New Hampshire Massachusetts, New York.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Second Smallest State

What are the 5 interesting things about Vermont?

1. Vermont was one of the first states to outlaw slavery. 
2. It’s the second-most peaceful State in the nation.
3. Montpelier is the only state capital without McDonald’s.
4. The land was called New Connecticut before joining the Union. 
5. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream company gives their ice cream waste to the local Vermont farmers who use it to feed their hogs.

What is Vermont known for?

1. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream began at a gas station in Burlington, Vermont. 
2. Vermont is the home of maple syrup.
3. Vermont is known for foods like Vermont cheddar cheese.
4. It is also home to many farms and artisan foods.
5. Wineries and breweries.

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Related Content: 

• Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy Bio | Contact | Quotes
• Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders Bio | Contact | Quotes
• Vermont Unemployment Insurance Benefits Guide

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References

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/59008/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-vermont

https://stacker.com/stories/3806/debunking-common-misconceptions-about-every-state

https://www.britannica.com/place/Hartford-Connecticut

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/north-america/united-states/vermont/

https://www.ducksters.com/geography/state.php?State=Vermont

https://www.interexchange.org/american-culture/vermont/#:~:text=Vermont%20is%20known%20for%20foods,fresh%20produce%2C%20wineries%20and%20breweries

43 Interesting Facts About Vermont