| |
 About
Vermont (VT) State
HISTORY
Until the 1600’s, Native American tribes
such as the Abenaki, Algonquin and Iroquois nations inhabited the region known
as “Vermont”. In 1609, French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed into the body
of water now called Lake Champlain and referred to the region as “Verde Mont”,
which is French for “Green Mountains”. The French kept control of the land until
1763, when they passed ownership to the British via the Treaty of Paris. The
Treaty put an end to the French and Indian War. Vermont achieved independence in
1777 and remained independent until 1791, at which time it became the 14th
member state of the United States of America. VT is one of only five U.S. states
to have once been an independent nation.
The next challenge in VT history was the Civil War, in which Vermonters and VT
units participated in every significant battle. During the decades following the
Civil War, VT’s railroad coverage increased and linked to national systems,
which lead to major economic growth and social change in the area. This socially
progressive state changed the thinking about civil rights via the 1854 Vermont
Senate report on slavery, and influenced Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the
woman’s suffrage movement. The first election open to woman voters took place on
December 18, 1880. Today, Vermont continues to capture the spirit of diversity
with a wide range political discussion, generally leaning towards liberal and
libertarian views.
DEMOGRAPHICS
According to 2000 Census data, Vermont is home to a population of 608,827
individuals. The capital city, Montpelier, accounts for just over 8,000 of that
total, while Burlington, VT’s largest city, is home to nearly 40,000 people. The
U.S. Census Bureau estimates in 2005 projected the current population at
623,050, which indicated a population hike of 1,817 (.3%) from the previous year
and an increase of 14,223 (2.3%) since the census in 2000. The 2005 estimates
include a natural surge in growth of 7,148 people since the last census (33,606
births minus 26,458 deaths) and growth of 7,889 individuals due to net migration
into VT. Foreign immigration resulted in a net increase of 4,259 residents and
migration from within the U.S. accounted for a net growth of 3,530 people.
Vermont’s five largest groups of ancestry are French or French Canadian (23.3%),
English (18.4%), Irish (16.4%), German (9.1%) and Italian (6.4%).
Residents with French-Canadian ancestry concentrate mostly in the northern
portions of Vermont, while citizens with British ancestry tend to spread
throughout the entire state. In addition, the Burlington area is home to several
large refugee communities that include individuals from Bosnia, Southeast Asia,
Sudan and Tibet. Many of these communities now
include several generations of native-born Americans with this heritage.
GEOGRAPHY
Vermont claims 9,615 square miles of the New England region in the
northeastern United States and ranks 45th for total area. VT shares its borders
with Quebec, Canada, in the north, Massachusetts in the south, New Hampshire in
the east and New York to the west. The largest urban areas in VT include
Bennington, Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Rutland and South Burlington. VT is
New England’s only state without an Atlantic Ocean coastline.
More than three-quarters of VT’s striking landscape features forest land, while
meadows, lakes, ponds, uplands and wetlands comprise the remaining areas. The
Green Mountains run the length of VT from north to south, just west of the
center, while the Taconic Mountains lie in the southwest and the Granitic
Mountains to the northeast. The West Bank of the Connecticut River forms VT’s
eastern border along with the State of New Hampshire. In the northwestern
portion of the state are Lake Champlain (the sixth largest body of fresh water
in the U.S.) and the adjacent Champlain Valley. Lake Bomoseen lies south of the
valley. VT areas controlled by the National Park Service include the Appalachian
National Scenic Trail and the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical
Park in Woodstock.
ECONOMY
Vermont’s healthy economy produced a gross state product of $22.1 billion
according to reports from the 2004 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Tourism is
the largest industry fueling Vermont’s economy. Resort towns such as Manchester
and Woodstock have lovely mountainous attractions that are especially popular in
the summertime, while world-class ski resorts such as Bromley, Mad River Glen
and Stowe tend to be most attractive during the winter. Vermont has an abundance
of golf courses, spas, fine dining restaurants, horse shows, and unique shopping
opportunities that draw visitors year round. Natural attractions, such as Long
Trail and various lakes attract outdoor enthusiasts to VT for boating, ice
fishing and trout fishing. Vermont is also home to a variety of summer camps.
An impressive selection of Vermont brand products also contributes a
considerable amount to the economy. These specialty exports include Burton
Snowboards, Fine Paints of Europe, Lake Champlain Chocolates and Vermont Teddy
Bear Company. VT is also home to several microbreweries. Additional economic
staples in VT include quarrying of granite and marble and the alternative
insurance known as Captive Insurance. In 2004, the Insurance Information
Institute ranked VT as the world’s third-largest domicile for captive insurance
companies.
AGRICULTURE
Vermont features a thriving agricultural base, where the state Agency of
Agriculture, Food & Markets maintains the nation’s highest dairy standards.
Dairy farming is the primary source of agricultural income in VT. Well known VT
dairy products include Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Cabot Cheese and Vermont
Butter and Cheese. VT, also known for its scrumptious maple syrup, produced more
than 275,000 gallons of syrup in 2001. That total represents nearly one quarter
of all of the maple syrup produced in the U.S. that year. Additional
agricultural products include ginseng and King Arthur Flour.
Transportation
Vermont supports an intricate transportation system with a wide range of travel
options. VT’s primary mode of transportation is by personal vehicle via major
highways such as I-89, I-91 and I-93. Many areas also offer public transit,
along with Amtrak services, Greyhound Bus Lines and local ferries.
Two commercial airports serve the State of Vermont. Burlington International
Airport is VT’s largest commercial facility and offers regular flights to major
cities such as Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Washington,
DC. Rutland State Airport provides regularly scheduled flights to Albany and
Boston.
EDUCATION
Vermont boasts more colleges per capita than any other state in the nation,
with a diverse student base that represents every U.S. State. VT has several
outstanding state colleges that include Castleton State College, Johnson State
College and Lyndon State College. Vermont is also home to the University of
Vermont and fourteen additional private colleges that grant degrees. These
include Burlington College, Middlebury College, Norwich University and Vermont
Law School.
< Main
Vermont
Profile PageCity Information (Vermont State)
Barre City |
Burlington |
Montpelier |
Newport City |
Rutland City |
South Burlington |
St. Albans City |
Vergennes | Winooski
Counties in Vermont State
Addison |
Bennington |
Caledonia |
Chittenden |
Essex |
Franklin |
Grand Isle |
Lamoille |
Orange |
Orleans |
Rutland |
Washington |
Windham |
Windsor
If you or a loved one have been injured in a
tractor trailer accident, you need the experienced lawyers of Munley, Munley
& Cartwright to protect your rights. Large trucking companies have their own
investigators and attorneys fighting for them, you need someone on your side.
If you live in Vermont and have been involved in a
tractor trailer accident - please do not delay in contacting us.
ABOUT TRUCK ACCIDENTS |
STATE PROFILES |
ACCIDENT CAUSES
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
FEDERAL REGULATIONS |
GLOSSARY
OUR LAWYERS |
FREE CLAIM EVALUATION |
CONTACT US
| |
