77 Interesting & Fun Facts About Vermont

Discover the charm of the Green Mountain State with this collection of fun facts about Vermont. From its rich history and vibrant fall foliage to its renowned maple syrup and quaint covered bridges, explore the unique attributes that make Vermont a treasure trove of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Dive into the heart of New England and uncover the captivating stories and traditions that define Vermont.

Fun facts about Vermont bring to light the state’s unique blend of natural beauty, historical richness, and quirky traditions, making them a joy to learn. Discovering Vermont’s role as the leading producer of maple syrup in the U.S., exploring its picturesque landscapes filled with covered bridges and vibrant autumn colors, or learning about its distinction as the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream adds layers of interest to this New England state.

These facts not only celebrate Vermont’s contributions to culture and cuisine but also encourage a deeper appreciation for how a state’s characteristics can shape its identity and allure. Learning and sharing facts can foster curiosity and connection, whether in the classroom or in casual conversation.

Facts about Vermont

1. In 1848, Gardner Blodgett invented the cast iron oven for cooking. The company still operates to this day in Burlington, Vermont.
2. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.
3. Ben & Jerry’s began in Vermont by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. They were two childhood friends from New York who turned their ice cream dream into a reality in Burlington on May 5, 1978, with $12,000.
4. Vermont borders Canada‘s Quebec province to the north, New Hampshire to the east, Massachusetts to the south, and New York state to the west.
5. In 2020, the total population of Vermont was 643,077– an increase of 2.8% from 2010.
6. 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 establishing a postal service.
7. George Perkins Marsh of Woodstock, Vermont is often considered the “father of environmentalism” in the U.S. He was the author of Man and Nature (1864).
8. Brigham Young, born in Vermont, became the leader of the Mormon church in 1847 after the shooting of the church founder, Joseph Smith, in Illinois.
9. Vermont is the Green Mountain State, which originates from Verd Mont (Ver Mont) in French, and more than 75% of the state is covered in greenery and mountains.
10. Famous novelist Rudyard Kipling wrote Jungle Book in 1894 while living in Vermont, but inspired by his upbringing in British India.
11. In 1777, Vermont became the first colony in North America to abolish slavery. More recently, it was one of the first states to pass marriage equality laws.
12. The Vermont Constitution of 1777 was the first to grant all men the right to vote, whether they owned property or not.
13. Vermont has the highest ratio of dairy cows in the United States. At one point, it was home to more cows than humans.
14. Vermont, the “Green Mountain State,” was the 14th state to join the United States of America on March 4, 1791.
15. Another weird law is that if a home is worth more than 500,000 dollars, delivery men must walk towards the house backwards to make their delivery.
16. Vermont is one of only two states in America to offer snowboarding as a varsity sport with a state championship. 
17. Vermont is the only state in New England that doesn’t border the Atlantic Ocean.
18. 15,504 or 2.4% of people in Vermont reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of 68.4% from 2010.
19. Lake Champlain is one of the largest lakes in the country and it was once a sea. Its status changed when the glaciers of the Ice Age receded. 
20. Dummerston is the birthplace of snow golf thanks to the creative talent of Rudyard Kipling who invented the sport at his home. Rudyard Kipling, the legendary author, wrote the Jungle Book.

21. Montpelier, Vermont is the only state capital that does not have a McDonald’s.
22. Vermont’s capital city is Montpelier, the smallest capital city in the U.S. There are five cities in Vermont larger than Montpelier.
23. If you plan on keeping your dove in the freezer, that would be illegal in Vermont.
24. Julio Buel of Castleton, Vermont invented the first fishing spoon lure in 1834.
25. Vermonter Robert Royce built the first ski tow in the United States in 1934. It was a machine-operated rope that pulled skiers to the top of a hill.
26. The first postage stamp made in the U.S. was made in Brattleboro in 1846.
27. Vermont became the last to get a Walmart store in 1996. The retail chain has introduced a few more branches since that time.
28. With a total of 9,616 square miles (24,923 square kilometers) of land and water, it is the 45th largest state.
29. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is headquartered in Vermont. As one of the largest producers of teddy bears by mail order and internet. The company creates each bear by hand and produces almost 150,000 per year for delivery.
30. Vermont is shaped like a V, while its twin (New Hampshire), is almost the same shape but upside down. Snuggled together, they form a rough rectangle.
31. On August 17, 2011, a parade of 298 Cadillac cars in Barton, Vermont honored Henry M. Leland, the founder of the Cadillac in 1902. The event earned a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for the largest number of Cadillac cars ever to be in a parade.
32. In Barre, all residents must bathe every Saturday night.
33. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson became the first person to drive across the U.S., spurred by a $50 bet. With a mechanic and a Winton car named “Vermont,” they overcame breakdowns and flat tires to reach New York in 64 days, winning the wager but spending about $8,000.
34. Matthew ‘Mad Matt’ Lyon received the news of his re-election while sitting in jail. The charismatic Vermonter got into crosshairs with the law for making defamatory remarks about the president.
35. Thaddeus Fairbanks built the first platform scale for weighing wagons in St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 1830.
36. Two U.S. presidents were born in Vermont: Calvin Coolidge and Chester Arthur.
37. Since the early 1900s, Vermont has been a major marble producer in the country. The oldest quarry in Vermont was opened in the 1600s and has been in continuous operation ever since. Multiple types of marble are found in the state, but the most famous is the verde antique marble, which is dark green.
38. Vermont is the only New England state without a coast.
39. In the late 1990s, the song Moonlight was ruled out as an official state song because it was considered too difficult for locals to sing.
40. The state of Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the country.

41. Vermont is only 9,616 mi² (24,923 km²) in size, the 6th smallest in the U.S. It is slightly larger than New Hampshire but slightly smaller than Massachusetts.
42. When it comes to lake monster myths, Lake Champlain is said to host a shy but friendly monster known as Champ. The famous myth attracted the attention of the Discovery Channel, which conducted a thorough investigation into the claim.
43. Vermont has the highest White population of any U.S. state, at 95.6%.
44. Vermont was the first state to ban billboards (followed by Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska) in 1968.
45. The Connecticut River is the longest in New England. Its path is over 250 miles long and cuts through four other states.
46. Vermont has fewer people living in cities than any other state. Over half of Vermonters live in rural areas.
47. The name Vermont is considered to have originated from the fact that the French explorer Samuel de Champlain when he viewed the green mountain uttered the words: vert “green” and mont “mountain.” He was the first European to visit the region.
48. IBM is Vermont’s largest employer. The company employs just under 400,000 people worldwide and brought in a staggering $95.8 billion worth of revenue in 2009. 
49. Vermont’s capital, Montpelier, is the smallest capital city in the entire nation, with only around 8000 people residing there. It was named after a city in France. 
50. Vermont is one of the safest states in the country, with one of the lowest levels of violent crime.
51. Vermont is one of only about a dozen states with a single area code. 802 is a source of pride in the state.
52. The highest temperature ever recorded in Vermont was 105°F (41°C) in Vernon on July 4, 1911. The lowest was -50°F (-46°C) on December 30, 1933 in Bloomfield.
53. Vermont’s flag has a blue background with the state emblem at the center. The emblem features a pastoral scene with a large pine tree in the foreground, a cow, wheat sheaves, and the Green Mountains in the background, with a deer head on top of it.
54. Vermonters are an innovative lot and it comes as no surprise that Wilson Bentley, a farmer, invented an advanced technique to capture snowflake images. His approach enhanced photographic precision as no two flakes are the same.
55. In 2013, residents of Vermont were voted the fifth happiest people in the United States.
56. Vermont boasts more breweries per capita than any other state in the U.S.
57. In Vermont, no city has over 50,000 residents. The largest city in Vermont is Burlington, with 45,000 citizens. Its smallest city is Vergennes, with just over 2,500 residents.
58. Over 1/3 of Vermont is covered in trees. Vermont holds festivals every fall to celebrate their brilliant autumn foliage.
59. There are no skyscrapers in Vermont.
60. On June 29, 2019, while in Charlotte, Vermont, Cally Braun obtained the distinction of having the longest balance board duration. It was eight hours, two minutes, and two seconds.

61. Lake Champlain was a Great Lake for 18 days in 1988. Covering 490 square miles, the title of a Great Lake was stripped from the lake adjoining Vermont and New York.
62. The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, Vermont held the largest ever outdoor astronomy lesson on August 10, 2018, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
63. All the single ladies might find it difficult to bring sexy back since every woman technically needs written permission from their fathers to wear false teeth. 
64. In total, there are only 10 cities in Vermont. Their total population equals 130,000. 88% of all city residents in Vermont could squeeze into Michigan Stadium (the country’s largest stadium) at once.
65. Burlington Free Press, the largest newspaper in Vermont today, was founded in 1827.
66. A peculiar aspect of Vermont is that its counties and towns have no billboards. In 1968, legislators decided to enact a state-wide ban on the installation of billboards. The authorities implemented this change to preserve the state’s natural beauty. This means road signs do not feature any commercial logos. 
67. Vermont has a law that if you leave your home naked, you cannot be fined for indecent exposure out in public. The key here is you need to leave your dwelling nude.
68. Vermont has only one single area code – 802 – and is only one of about a dozen states to claim this.
69. Same-sex marriages were approved by Vermont’s assembly in 2000.
70.  In 2015, “Stella quarta decima fulgeat” became the state’s Latin motto. The phrase means “the fourteenth star.” This references Vermont’s history as the 14th state to earn a star on the American flag.
71. From March 13 to September 15, 2020, Vermont was under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
72. Known as the “Beast of the East,” the ski resort in Killington has a 3,050-foot vertical drop. The resort has seven peaks and it is also the highest lift-serviced mountain in the state. It is the highest skiing elevation in Vermont (4,241 feet at the summit of Killington Peak.)
73. Vermont only has one mountain over 4,000 feet that’s Mount Mansfield and is the highest peak in Vermont at 4,393 feet.
74. Vermont had its own currency called the Vermont copper which it issued when it was an independent state, called Vermont Republic, from 1785 to 1791.
75. The first African American to earn a college degree in the U.S. was Alexander Twilight in Middlebury, Vermont in 1823.
76. The first railway in Vermont, Central Vermont Railway, opened in 1848.
77. In a 1934 legal battle between states, New Hampshire gained all of the Connecticut River between the two states.