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Introduction
Vermont, one of the six New England states and one of the smaller states of the United States. It is bordered on the west by New York, on the north by the Canadian province of Québec, on the east by New Hampshire, and on the south by Massachusetts. Despite its proximity to the coastal settlements of the early colonists in the 17th century, Vermont did not receive its first permanent settlement until 1724, and its population grew slowly for 50 years thereafter. Vermont entered the Union on March 4, 1791, the first new state admitted after the nation's founding by the 13 original states. Most of Vermont lies outside the intense economic and population concentrations that characterize the Eastern Seaboard. Its economy is based on industry, although the large amounts of farmland and pastureland give the state an agricultural appearance. Its urban centers are small, as are most of the industrial enterprises. In recent years Vermont has received increasing attention as a vacation area, both in summer and winter. Its rural atmosphere and scenic beauty are highly attractive to residents of nearby urban regions in both the United States and Canada. The name of the state is derived from the French words vert (green) and mont (mountain), and Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State. Montpelier is the capital of Vermont. Burlington is the largest city.
Physical Geography
Vermont ranks 43rd in size among the states, with a total area of 24,903 sq km (9,615 sq mi), including 948 sq km (366 sq mi) of inland water. It is the second largest of the six New England states, ranking next to Maine. Vermont has a maximum length, from north to south, of 251 km (156 mi) and varies in width from 60 km (37 mi) in the south to about 143 km (about 89 mi) along the northern border. Average elevation is about 300 m (about 1,000 ft).
Natural Regions
Vermont lies within two natural regions, or physiographic provinces, of the northeastern United States and Canada. The New England province in Vermont is broken into the Green Mountain section, the New England Upland, the Taconic section, and the White Mountain section. The Saint Lawrence Valley province extends into Vermont in the Champlain Valley. The heavily forested Green Mountains cover much of the state. They run from the Massachusetts border to Canada and contain Mount Mansfield, the highest point in Vermont at 1,339 m (4,393 ft). The New England Upland, or Vermont Piedmont, is a rolling upland with narrow valleys. It slopes gently downward to the east. Isolated peaks, such as Mount Monadnock and Mount Ascutney, rise to above 900 m (3,000 ft), but the plateau is generally between 340 and 640 m (1,100 and 2,100 ft) in elevation. The Taconic section, located in the southwest, is a mountain region that contains the state's largest marble deposits. The highest point in the Taconic Range is Mount Equinox at 1,163 m (3,816 ft). The White Mountains extend into northeastern Vermont from New Hampshire. They are heavily forested residual masses, with a solid core of granite that has resisted erosion. The Champlain section of the Saint Lawrence Valley province lies between the western border of Vermont and the Green and Taconic mountains. It is a rolling lowland region generally less than 150 m (500 ft) above sea level. Large areas are covered with thick deposits of clay and sand left by glaciers.
Climate
In Vermont, winters are generally long and cold and summers mostly short but warm. Average January temperatures range from more than about -6° C (about 22° F) in the extreme southwest corner to less than -10° C (less than 14° F) in the northeast. Temperatures below -18° C (0° F) are frequent during winter, and they occasionally drop to -34° C (-30° F) or lower. July averages are usually above 21° C (70° F) in the lowlands and are somewhat lower in mountainous areas. There are few hot days, and summer nights are usually crisp and cool. Precipitation in Vermont is well distributed throughout the year. Less than 810 mm (32 in) of rain falls annually in the Champlain Valley, the driest part of all the New England states, and more than 1,300 mm (50 in) occurs in most of the mountainous areas. Snowfall normally is about 2,300 mm (about 90 in) (equivalent to about 230 mm [about 9 in] of rain) and remains on the ground through most of the winter. Snowfall in the mountain region usually exceeds 3,000 mm (120 in) per year. The growing season is more than 160 days in some sections of the Champlain Valley lowland and less than 120 days in the south and the northeast.
Plant Life
Forests cover 76 percent of Vermont. Most of the trees are deciduous, principally the maple, elm, birch, beech, oak, hickory, ash, cherry, and butternut. The state tree is the sugar maple, which provides Vermont's famous maple syrup. Conifers are common in some mountain areas and include mainly the white pine, red spruce, hemlock, and cedar. A great variety of ferns have been found within the state. Among the more common wildflowers that grow in Vermont are anemones, arbutuses, violets, lilacs, daisies, buttercups, goldenrods, and gentians.
Animal Life
White-tailed deer are common in the wooded areas of the state, and bears, moose, and bobcats are present in some of the higher mountain areas. Smaller animals include the muskrat, skunk, raccoon, and mink, which are hunted for their pelts, and the rabbit, squirrel, and woodchuck. Landlocked salmon and several kinds of trout are found in many rivers and small lakes. Other fish include bass, northern pike, walleyed pike, perch, pickerel, and smelt. Common birds include the robin, redwing blackbird, sparrow, blue jay, chickadee, junco, and nuthatch. The principal game birds are the ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, woodcock, Canada goose, wild turkey, and various ducks.
Economic Activities
Farming was the main economic activity in Vermont until the 20th century, when manufacturing took the lead. By the mid-1990s the service sector, led by tourism, was the fastest growing segment of the state's economy. Vermont's labor force in 1997 was 382,800 people. The largest share of them—32 percent—held jobs in the service industries, such as those catering to tourists. Another 21 percent worked in wholesale or retail trade; 14 percent in manufacturing; 13 percent in federal, state, or local government, including those in the military; 7 percent in construction; 6 percent in finance, insurance, and real estate; 4 percent in farming (including agricultural services), forestry, or fishing; 4 percent in transportation or public utilities; and only 0.2 percent in mining. In 1997, 9 percent of Vermont's workers were unionized.
Population Patterns
In 1990 Vermont ranked 48th among the states, with a total population of 562,758. This figure represented an increase of 10 percent over the 1980 census figure of 511,456. The population estimate for 1998 was 590,883. In that year, the average population density was 25 persons per sq km (64 per sq mi). Vermont's population is, proportionately, more rural than that of any other U.S. state; only 32 percent of Vermont residents live in areas defined as urban. All Vermont urban centers are small. The largest, Burlington, accounts for less than one-tenth of the population, although Burlington and its surrounding Chittenden County region contain more than one-fourth of the people in the state. The fastest-growing areas are in the Champlain Valley and southern Vermont. The Green Mountains and northern Vermont had less growth, and some communities, notably Rutland and Barre, lost population.
Principal Cities
The dominant city by far is Burlington, which had a 1996 population of 39,004. This 200-year-old port on Lake Champlain is a trade and transportation center, the seat of the state's oldest university, and a summer resort. It also has a diversity of industries. Rutland (17,605), in eastern Vermont, is the second largest city. It is the center of the state's marble-quarrying belt. Barre (9,206), in north central Vermont, is the center of what are believed to be the world's largest granite quarries. Montpelier, with 7,856 inhabitants, is the smallest state capital in the nation. The largest immigrant group in Vermont is French Canadian. Whites constitute 98.5 percent of the population, Asians and Pacific Islanders 0.5 percent, blacks 0.4 percent, and Native Americans 0.4 percent. Those of mixed heritage or not reporting ethnicity are 0.1 percent. Hispanics, who may be of any race, make up 0.7 percent of Vermont's people.
Education
With the passage of the original constitution in 1777, Vermont became the first state to provide a clear plan for the establishment of a statewide educational system beginning with the primary school and extending through the university level. The first school law was enacted in 1782, and provisions for statewide taxation to support free public schools were enacted in 1826. The first academy in the state was founded at Bennington in 1780, and public high schools were established rapidly after 1840. Vermont was the site of the first normal school in the United States, founded at Concord Corner in 1823. The state system of public education is supervised by a state board of education and a commissioner of education. Education in Vermont is compulsory for children from age 7 to 16. Private schools enroll 9 percent of the state's children. In the 1994-1995 school year Vermont spent about $6,750 on each student's education, compared to a national average of $5,988. There were 13.8 students for every teacher (the national average was 17.3 students). Of those older than 25 years of age in 1998, 86.7 percent had a high school diploma, compared to the national norm of 82.8.
Higher Education
The state's first institution of higher learning was the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, at Burlington, chartered in 1791. Vermont had 6 public and 16 private institutions of higher education in 1996. Among these institutions were Bennington College (1932); Castleton State College (1787); Goddard College (1938), in Plainfield; Green Mountain College (1834), in Poultney; Johnson State College (1828), in Johnson; Lyndon State College (1911), in Lyndonville; Marlboro College (1946); Middlebury College (1800); Norwich University (1819), in Northfield; Saint Michael's College (1904), in Colchester; and the School for International Training (1964), in Brattleboro. The state's college system comprises Castleton, Johnson, and Lyndon colleges.
Recreation and Places of Interest
Vermont's scenery and recreational facilities make the state a popular year-round vacation area. Residents and tourists alike enjoy the many scenic areas and picturesque communities in the state, especially during the weeks of the fall foliage. During the winter the state's many ski areas attract skiers from all over the East Coast. Other favorite activities include year-round fishing in the state's ponds, lakes, and streams; hunting; and visiting Vermont's numerous historic sites.
Annual Events
Each year during the winter months, Vermont's numerous ski resorts attract many vacationers. There are numerous ski meets and winter carnivals at the various resorts and on the college campuses. Town Meeting Day is celebrated throughout the state on the first Tuesday in March. In April the Annual Sugar Slalom is held at Stowe. Throughout August and September there are numerous county fairs, the principal ones being the Rutland Fair and the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Both are held in early September.
Government
Since it declared its independence from Great Britain in 1777, Vermont has had three constitutions. The first was adopted in 1777, the second in 1786, and the third and present one in 1793, two years after Vermont was admitted to the Union. Vermont's constitution is the shortest of all functioning state constitutions, with about 7,600 words. Amendments may be proposed only once every four years. An amendment is proposed by a two-thirds vote of the senate. It must then pass the house of representatives by a majority vote in the same session. At the next session it must pass both houses by a majority vote. Final adoption is only after a popular vote approves the amendment by a majority. The process takes five years. The state's chief executive, the governor, is elected for two years. The governor appoints about 300 state officials, about one-third of them with the approval of the state Senate, and is responsible for the preparation of the state budget. The governor may veto all bills passed by the state legislature, but the legislature can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of those present in each house. Other elected officials in the executive branch include the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, and auditor of accounts. All are elected for two years. In 1999 Howard Dean, a Democrat, was governor. Vermont's state legislature, known as the General Assembly, is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. In 1965 the General Assembly acted under order of a federal district court and reapportioned itself. It now has 150 representatives; the membership of the Senate was kept to its original 30. All members of the General Assembly are elected for two years. Regular sessions of the legislature are held annually. The governor may call special sessions. Vermont's highest court, the Supreme Court, consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. All are appointed for six years by the governor with the consent of the Senate. The governor, with the consent of the Senate, also appoints superior court judges for six-year terms. They preside in rotation over the court of chancery and over county courts in each of the 14 counties. Lesser judges include court judges, assistant judges of the county courts, and probate judges. All are elected to serve two-year terms except for district judges, who are appointed for six-year terms by the governor with the consent of the Senate. In Vermont, counties are relatively unimportant governing units. The 14 counties serve mainly as state law-enforcement and judicial districts. The nearly 250 towns and cities in Vermont are the major local governmental units. Since colonial times the major business of town government has been conducted at annual town meetings. The entire town citizenry is eligible to participate in such meetings, but because of increasing populations, many towns have found the town meeting to be an awkward way of conducting business. As a result, in 1961, Brattleboro inaugurated an experimental town meeting, at which business was conducted by selected representatives. A town may be incorporated as a city by the state legislature on the petition of the town's citizens. Vermont has nine cities, some with the mayor and city council form of municipal government and some with the city manager form. Vermont also has about 45 incorporated villages, which are subject to the jurisdiction of the towns in which they are located. Vermont elects two U.S. senators and one member of the House of Representatives. The state has three electoral votes.
Economic Development after World War II
The demand for Vermont's industrial products, especially machine tools and precision instruments produced in Windsor and Springfield, increased during World War II (1939-1945). However, the difficulty of obtaining some restricted raw materials slowed production and prevented industrial growth. After the war, industry grew steadily, although most businesses remained small. In the 1950s and 1960s, national firms bought small Vermont concerns to gain special patents or processes, and several large industrial companies, including International Business Machines (IBM), opened new factories in the state. The recreation industry, which had its roots in the 1840s and revived under state government sponsorship during the 1930s, became a chief source of income after World War II. Stowe and other ski resorts in the Green Mountains became popular year-round recreation destinations. Transportation remained inadequate, not only for the state's own population and industries but also for tourists. No new railroads were built after the beginning of the century, and railroad passenger service proved unprofitable. In addition, there was not enough traffic from Vermont's scattered towns to warrant extensive air service. Motor travel was hindered by the legislature's reluctance to spend state money or to accept federal aid to build roads. Finally, in the late 1950s, a modern highway system was begun, culminating in the opening of two interstate highways in 1969 and 1970. In the 1970s Vermont developed a strong environmental movement that was instrumental in the passage of various pollution and land control regulations. Billboards disappeared from Vermont highways in the mid-1960s. The legislature passed a sweeping land use law, Act 250, in 1970. It was one of the nation's strictest development laws, requiring housing developments and ski resorts to meet ten environmental criteria. Vermont's Clean Air Act levied a tax on new automobiles that get low gas mileage. Since the 1960s, Vermont's population has grown rapidly, with many new residents coming from New York and Massachusetts. The rise in computer-related industries, information technology, services, tourism, and small manufacturing and business have characterized much of the economic growth. At the same time, agriculture has declined and many farms have been sold and converted to homes and recreational land. Many Vermont farmers, manufacturers, craft workers, and businesses now look for and supply regional and national markets with specialty foods and products. In the early 1990s, Vermont suffered from the nationwide recession. Many businesses, especially those with contracts for military and computer-related products, began declining, laying off workers, or closing. Vermont faced difficult economic and political choices as the costs of providing services to businesses and individuals rose and revenues from personal and business taxes leveled or declined. As social services and education became increasingly expensive, state and local governments scrutinized their budgets closely. Many towns rejected school budgets at town meetings and in special votes. Because schools have been supported from local property taxes, the legislature has debated whether to create a statewide property tax or adopt means to reduce the cost of education. Tourism has become a major industry, emphasizing year-round recreational and cultural activities. This trend at times has conflicted with the state's strong environmental protection laws, which safeguard natural and cultural resources and promote community and regional planning. In addition to recreational opportunities, "heritage tourism" has expanded, focusing on artistic, cultural, and historic attractions.
"Vermont," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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