Vermont General Information
GENERAL
Abbreviated as VT on ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, Vermont is a state of the United States of America and part of New England that rebelled against British rule during the War of Independence.
Nickname
Green Mountain State
Capital
Montpelier
Biggest town
Burlington
Area
Rank (within the US): 45th out of 50 states
Total: 24,923 km²
Land: 23,974 km²
Water (%): 949 km² (3.8%)
Residents
Rank (within the US): 49th out of 50 states
Total (2000): 608,827
Density: 24.4 / km²
State membership
Place: 14th
Since: March 4, 1791
GEOGRAPHY
Time zone: Eastern: UTC -5 / -4
Latitude: 42 ° 44’N to 45 ° 0’43 “N
Longitude 71 ° 28’W to 73 ° 26’W
Width: 130 km
Length: 260 km
Highest position: 1,339 m
Average location: 305 m
Lowest position: 29 m
Vermont borders Canada to the north, New York to the west, Massachusetts to the south and New Hampshire to the east, where the Connecticut River forms the natural border. 77 percent of the state alone is covered by deciduous forests, especially maples.
POPULATION
There are 608,827 residents in Vermont.
HISTORY
Origin
Vermont was originally the homeland of the Indian tribes of the Iroquois, Algonquin and Abenaki nations. In 1609, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain declared the area around today’s Lake Champlain in view of the surrounding mountains as “Les Verts Monts” (Green Mountains), which was later anglicized to the current name.
War of Independence
The Treaty of Paris, which ended the war against the French and Indians in 1763, initially assigned the area to the British. Parts of the region were controlled at different times by the colonies or the later states of New York and New Hampshire. Ethan Allen and his so-called “Green Mountain Boys” fought against the English, which also culminated in the famous conquest of Fort Ticonderoga, and against the aforementioned states now occupied by the British. In 1777 Vermont declared itself an independent republic (in the first six months still as “New Connecticut”, from July on as Vermont). During this period, the Vermont Constitution, the first written constitution of an independent state in North America, was presented and ratified. This legal status lasted until 1791, when Vermont became the 14th member of the Union. Thomas Chittenden, the political head of the region, consequently also became its first governor.
Civil war
As reliable snipers and robust “nature lads”, the Vermonters, who competed in the uniform chaos of the early days as Northerners in gray uniforms with purple braids, were welcome forces for the generals. “Send the Vermonters ahead and keep the ranks closed!” Ordered General John Sedgwick at the Battle of Gettysburg. As always, the price for this success had to be paid by the common man – as cannon fodder! Logically – with the possible exception of Virginia in the south – no other state sacrificed proportionally as many of its sons as Vermont, which was of greater importance given the traditionally low population density. When the wife of President Abraham Lincoln passed the summer here in the summer of 1863.
POLITICS
Currently serving as Governor James Douglas (Republican (USA), until January 2007). Senators James M. Jeffords (independent, until Jan. 2007) and colleague Patrick Leahy (Democrats (USA), until Jan. 2005) represent Vermont’s interests in Washington DC
Daily politics
The Vermonters have always been known for their political independence and their progressive view of things. The Vermont government has always maintained an active stance in considering environmental policies, social services, and preventing urbanization.
Equal rights for homosexuals
The most controversial controversy to be considered in recent years has been the admission of the civil unions, that is, the institution which should also grant same-sex marriage-like partnerships all the rights and privileges of marriage. In the Baker vs. Vermont trial in 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that under Vermont law all homosexual couples must be allowed to marry, or at least have an equivalent legal status. The law was subsequently ratified by the legislature and then Governor Howard Dean, thanks to the support of just over half the electorate. The not small minority made their displeasure clear in the following elections by means of their voting behavior, so that Dean had to vacate his seat.
Election campaign
Although or precisely because Vermont has two Senate seats, despite its small size and population, it often tempts foreign candidates (the so-called carpetbaggers) to stand here for a supposedly easy election campaign. However, this has often been foiled by shrewd locals. In 1998, of all people, a 79-year-old pensioner named Fred Tuttle defeated a multimillionaire from Massachusetts in the Republican area code (USA). Amusingly enough, Tuttle achieved 55% of the primary votes with a ridiculously low campaign budget of $ 201, only to generously forego in the subsequent election process in favor of Leahay, whom he himself favored.
ECONOMY
Agricultural sector: dairy products, cattle, horse breeding (Morgan horse, stocky and perennial breed), hay, apples, maple syrup products. Industry: electrical goods, tool industry, printed matter, publishing, paper products, asbestos Services: headquarters of various life and fire insurance companies, tourism.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Vermont State Capitol, Montpelier, around 1933 Green Mountains Lake Champlain Bennington Museum, exhibition with major works by Grandma Moses Billings Farm, model farm and open-air museum Brattleboro, health resort with an alternative scene Wilmington (Vermont) and West Dover, ski resorts Dorset (Vermont) and Newfane, Examples of one of the above postcard cities American Precision Museum in Windsor (Vermont), Tool Museum Vermont State Capitol in Montpelier Northeast Kingdom, still largely untouched nature with clear lakes and dense mountain forests Shelburne, museum and model farm Arlington, scene of the Revolutionary War
CITIES
Montpelier, 612.978 – Burlington, 38.889 – Essex, 18.626
PERSONALITIES
Chester A. Arthur, President Calvin Coolidge, President George Dewey, Admiral Joseph Smith, Founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) Brigham Young, Mormon leader
PARTICULARITIES
Vermont is best known for its maple syrup and idyllic mountain landscapes. The Green Mountains and Lake Champlain are popular recreational areas. Logically, the nickname is also Green Mountain State. Many wealthy and millionaires from the surrounding states own a weekend house here, which, especially since the 1950s, has caused property prices to skyrocket for the once inexpensive area, for example to experience the Indian summer or winter vacation here.
Other lower-income vacationers come to Vermont for its scenic beauty. In autumn the landscape blossoms in the bright colors of the changing leaves, the so-called Indian Summer. In 2002 around 7.9 million tourists came to Vermont. The quiet towns and villages of Vermont are also part of the visitor’s program. The mountains, rivers and lakes are ideal for a myriad of leisure activities from skiing in winter to fishing (after all, fly fishing was invented here!) Hiking, trekking, water hiking and camping in summer and autumn.
OTHERS
Anthem: “Hail to Vermont!”
State bird: Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus
Vermont Counties and County Seats
According to Countryaah, there are a total of 14 counties in the state of Vermont.
- Addison County (County Seat: Middlebury)
- Bennington County (County Seat: Bennington, Manchester)
- Caledonia County (County Seat: St. Johnsbury)
- Chittenden County (County Seat: Burlington)
- Essex County (County Seat: Guildhall)
- Franklin County (County Seat: St. Albans)
- Grand Isle County (County Seat: North Hero)
- Lamoille County (County Seat: Hyde Park)
- Orange County (County Seat: Chelsea)
- Orleans County (County Seat: Newport)
- Rutland County (County Seat: Rutland)
- Washington County (County Seat: Montpelier)
- Windham County (County Seat: Newfane)
- Windsor County (County Seat: Woodstock)
