& A Whole Lot of Firsts

VERMONT STATE FACTS

- In 1791, Vermont joined the United States as the 14th state, the first in addition to the original 13 colonies.

- Vermont’s nickname is the “Green Mountain State,” from the French “les monts vert.”

- The capital of Vermont is Montpelier, the smallest state capital in the U.S, and the only capital without a McDonald’s restaurant.

- For travel industry stats and economic information, check out this fact sheet.

- Vermont is home to a number of firsts.

- In 1968, Vermont banned billboards.


PEOPLE

- There are about 626,000 Vermont residents across Vermont’s 251 towns and cities.

- Vermont’s largest city is Burlington, with a population of about 42,000.

- Vermont ranks 49th among U.S. states in population and 43rd in land area.

- Vermont was first to abolish slavery in its constitution.

- Vermont was the first State to legally recognize gay couples when it created civil unions, and it’s the first state to pass marriage equality through the legislature.

- It is the birthplace of two U.S. Presidents - Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur.

- Vermont is one of the top producers of U.S. Olympic skiers and riders in the nation.

- For innovative Vermonters and their businesses and inventions, check out the 100 Innovations Made in Vermont list.


FOOD & AGRITOURISM

- Vermont is the lead producer of maple syrup, producing 1.3 million gallons, more than a third of the nation’s total maple syrup in 2013.

- Vermont has nearly 1,000 dairy farms; the average farm has 130 cows.

- Vermont is the nation’s number one Brewery State per capita, with more than 35 breweries.


LAND & WILDLIFE

- Vermont’s land area is 9,217 square miles - 76 percent is forested.

- Vermont is home to the highest concentration of sugar maple trees in the U.S, responsible for creating deep fiery reds and oranges of fall foliage.

- Lake Champlain covers 435 square miles, 212 miles of Vermont shoreline and is home to “Champ,” the fabled “lake monster.”

- Vermont has 808 lakes and ponds and more than 7,000 miles of rivers and streams.

- Vermont has 223 mountains over 2,000 feet in elevation. Vermont’s highest peak is Mount Mansfield at 4,393 feet.

- Vermont is home to 3,000 moose, 6,000 black bears and 45-50,000 turkeys.

- Vermont's waters are home to more than 20 popular species of fish.

- Vermont is home to the world’s largest “deep hole” granite quarry and North America’s first marble quarry.


RECREATION

- Vermont has more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails.

- Vermont is home to the nation’s first through-hiking trail, the 273 mile Long Trail.

- There are more than 50 state parks, 100 campgrounds and 8,000 campsites.

- There are 19 downhill ski areas, nine with more than a 2,000-foot vertical drop, and more than 30 cross-country ski areas.

- Vermont has 18 mountain biking clubs and a statewide network of trails.

- Vermont is home to the nation’s first ski tow and is Burton Snowboards headquarters.

- There are more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails.

- Vermont has more than 65 golf courses.

- There are more than 100 covered bridges.


OFFICIAL STATE RECOGNITIONS

- The State Bird is the hermit thrush.

- The State Coldwater Fish is the brook trout.

- The State Warmwater Fish is the walleye pike.

- The State Insect is the honeybee.

- The State Rocks are, marble, granite and slate.

- The State Gem is the grossular garnet.

- The State Animal is the Morgan Horse.

- The State Sports are skiing & snowboarding.

- State Tree – sugar maple.

- State Fruit & State Pie – apple!

- The State Motto is “Freedom and Unity.”