Vermont, or the “Green Mountain State,” has much to be proud of, from its beautiful scenery to its maple syrup to the unique spirit of its residents. With 9,620 square miles of land, Vermont ranks 43rd in land area in the United States and is the most rural. It ranks 49th in population and 30th in population density. As the only New England state without an Atlantic Ocean coastline, Vermont’s geography is unique in this region. The Green Mountains, the source of the state nickname, run through the western part of the state, and offer an explosion of color in the fall as the range’s trees assume their fall foliage. Western Vermont is also the location of Lake Champlain, which serves as the border between Vermont and New York and Quebec, Canada. It is the sixth-largest body of fresh water in the U.S.
      Vermont’s residents are extremely proud of the state’s diverse beauty. Fifty-two state parks covering areas ranging from wild forests to remote islands are located in the state, and more than 75 percent of the state is forested. Visitors and residents enjoy the amount of outdoor diversions available, including photography, fishing, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, kayaking, scuba diving, golfing, skiing and camping. The state’s residents and government have traditionally been very reluctant to mar the landscape, and Vermont is one of only four states to prohibit all billboards from view along highways.

Did You Know...

State Nickname: The Green Mountain State State Capital: Montpelier State Flower: Red Clover State Bird: Hermit Thrush

      Vermont is home to approximately 624,000 people, the majority of which are Caucasian, although small percentages of many minorities call the state home. Many residents of British and French ancestry live in Vermont. Vermonters are traditionally extremely politically independent and are generally liberal. For example, Vermont is the home state of the only two members of Congress who do not

associate themselves with a political party. Vermont was also the last state in the U.S. to get a Wal-Mart, and, as of June 2006, was the only state without a Lowe’s and the only state without a McDonald’s within the city limits of its state capital, other expressions of its independent spirit.
      In addition to its strong state identity, Vermont is appealing to many residents because of its low crime rates and diverse economy. It is one of only 12 states without the death penalty and crime per capita is generally very low.
Tourism is Vermont’s largest industry, with its famous ski and summer mountain resorts attracting visitors from all over the globe. Vermont also has several unique industries, including agriculture, in which it is the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup and dairy products, which is the main source of agricultural income. The state also has a unique portion of its economy devoted to the production and sale of novelty goods and foods for niche markets and cottage industries, including Cabot Cheese, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Burton Snowboards, the Vermont Teddy Bear Industry and King Arthur Flour.
      Although several of Vermont’s cities have public transportation systems, the main method of travel throughout the state is by car. Three interstates bisect Vermont and it is served by two commercial airports, Burlington International Airport, which offers regular flights to many large cities and Rutland State Airport, which offers regular flights to Albany and Boston.
      The main attractions in Vermont are generally its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, but there are also many interesting festivals, including the Vermont Maple Festival, Marlboro Music Festival, Mozart Festival, Apple Festival and Enosburg Falls Dairy Festival. In terms of year-round cultural attractions, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs throughout the state and other organizations, such as the Poetry Society of Vermont, Bread and Puppet Theatre and Vermont Theatre Company, offer various publications and performances. Vermont is also known as the birthplace of the musical group Phish, whose members met while attending school in the state.

      Throughout the years, Vermont has retained much of its original natural landscapes and fiery independent spirit, both of which continue to attract thousands of new residents eager to explore all this exceptional state has to offer.