Vermont at a Glance

The Green Mountain State

From winter skiing to summer hiking, the Green Mountain State promises adventure for every season.

Although Vermont is famous for its ski resorts, the Green Mountain State promises adventure for every season. Watch the maples turn color in the fall or catch fish in the spring. Snowshoe across the countryside in the winter or hike a mountain in the summer.

Find out more about Vermont at DiscoverAmerica.com.

Capital: Montpelier

Population: More than 625,000 people live in Vermont, making it the second-least-populated state (after Wyoming).

Geography: Located in the New England region, Vermont shares borders with Canada, New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Although it is the smallest landlocked state in the United States, it has some pretty big features. There are 223 mountains more than 600 meters in elevation. In addition to these mountains, Vermont’s landscapes include rolling hills and fertile valleys to support its agricultural production.

Higher Education: Vermont is home to one of the original “Public Ivy Leagues,” the University of Vermont. Established in 1791, this state school is known for its mathematics, liberal arts and fine arts instruction. The first private military college in the United States is also in Vermont — Norwich University offers 30 bachelor’s degrees and nine master’s certificates to both cadets and civilian students. Another private institution in Vermont, Middlebury College, is one of the most highly ranked liberal arts schools. It is known for its offerings in international studies and environmental education.

Major Industries: An important part of Vermont’s economy is agriculture, with major goods such as dairy products, cattle and calves, maple products, greenhouse products and hay. In fact, Vermont is the United States’ leading producer of maple syrup, with annual production between 400,000 and 500,000 gallons. All those trees also make Vermont a leading producer of furniture and paper products.

Famous Vermonters include U.S. Presidents Chester Alan Arthur and Calvin Coolidge and inventor John Deere. Actress Whoopi Goldberg, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and Phish band members Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman and Mike Gordon all have homes in Vermont.

Pop Culture: Major motion pictures Beetlejuice, The Trouble with Harry, The Cider House Rules, Something Wicked This Way Comes and What Lies Beneath were all filmed in Vermont.

Culinary Specialties: Vermont is the maple syrup capital of the United States, and this sweet stuff is what the Green Mountain State is known for. Vermont brands for other foods include Cabot Cheese and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. With a culture that highly esteems cheese makers, sugar makers, dairymen, brewers and vinters, Vermont is also carving a name for itself as a producer of artisanal foods. So be on the lookout for Vermont wines, beers and chocolates as well!

International Connection: Burlington, Vermont, is a sister city to Arad, Israel; Bethlehem; Ełk, Poland; Nishinomiya, Japan; Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua; and Yaroslavl, Russia.

Fun Facts:

• Montpelier, Vermont, is the only U.S. state capital without a McDonald’s restaurant.

• Vermont is the only state with a state fossil, Charlotte, a white whale who lived some 12,500 years ago.

• Vermont’s Calvin Coolidge is the only U.S. president to be born on the Fourth of July.

Adventure Idea: Hit the slopes! Vermont is home to more ski resorts with 600 meters of vertical elevation than Maine, New Hampshire and New York combined. Try out Killington Mountain Resort, with 141 trails, 930 meters of vertical drop and 304 skiable hectares, or stop by Suicide Six, the first mountain to allow snowboarders. If you’d like a little less action, take a culinary adventure. The Vermont Cheese Council offers a cheese tour of three dozen artisanal cheese makers.