As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of VERMONT, which was the 14th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following Rhode Island and just ahead of Kentucky.
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the United States. It borders the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Vermont is the only state in New England that does not border the Atlantic Ocean. Vermont is the second-least-populated U.S. state and the sixth-smallest by area of the 50 U.S. states. The state capital is Montpelier, the least-populous state capital in the United States.
Before Vermont became the 14th state, it existed as an independent nation for 14 years. It became independent in 1777 following clashes over land. The development allowed locals to begin printing their currency, enacting laws that banned slavery and established postal service.
The state is undoubtedly the largest producer of maple syrup in the country. It produces a staggering 35 percent of the total supply on the market. Many locals produce the syrup at home while others pay a prominent role as the big producers. Did you know that it takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup? The sap from the maple trees flows and is collected in buckets.
The state is the birthplace of the well-known ice cream brand, Ben & Jerry’s. The company still operates from headquarters in Vermont. Local farmers benefit from Ben & Jerry’s commercial activities as they receive ice cream waste to feed the hops.
You think you have experienced COLD. Just imagine this COLD. The coldest recorded temp is -50 in Bloomfield in 1933.
There aren’t more cows than people in Vermont. However, in ratio of cows to people, Vermont has the greatest number of dairy cows in the country.
Many like a little snow, especially around Christmas time, but are you ready for levels like the winter of 1970/1971 they experienced in Vermont? The greatest snowfall for a single season was 26.5 feet of snow! Yikes, time to think about Florida !!
Some additional Fun Facts about the state of VERMONT:
- With a population of fewer than nine thousand people, Montpelier, Vermont is the smallest state capital in the U.S.
- Montpelier, Vermont is the only U.S. state capital without a McDonalds.
- Vermont’s largest employer isn’t Ben and Jerry’s, it’s IBM.
- Vermont was, at various times, claimed by both New Hampshire and New York.
- Until 1996, Vermont was the only state without a Wal-Mart.
- Rudyard Kipling, living in Vermont in the 1890’s invented the game of snow golf.
- Vermont does not sell alcohol to out of state licenses, you must have a liquor ID in order to purchase alcohol at liquor stores and grocery stores. This doesn’t apply to bars, but can affect those traveling through the state.
- U.S. President Calvin Coolidge was the only president born on the fourth of July. Born in Plymouth 7/4/1872.
- The origin of Vermont name came from a French phrase of “Le Verts Monts”. Means of the phrase is Green Mountain.
- There are no billboards in Vermont. In 1968, legislators decided to restrict the installation of billboards in towns or counties of Vermont. They have restricted the advertisements to preserve the natural beauty of the state.
We hope you enjoyed some of the fun facts and details about the GREEN Mountain State of Vermont. If you are from VT, or have traveled there, feel free to share some thoughts of your own about the state of Vermont.
73 for now, Kevin N1KL