20 Trivial Facts About Vermont
Posted by Darren Drevik on Nov 28, 2022 in Letters from Vermont | 0 commentsComing to visit us in Vermont? Never been here before? Or think you know it all since you know about Ben & Jerry’s, Bernie Sanders, and cheese?
Here’s 20 neat facts about Vermont you may not have known:
- A century ago 80 percent of the state was deforested by the lumber industry. Today, more than 78% of the state is covered by trees.
- Although it’s the only New England state that doesn’t touch the ocean, two big fossil finds were made in Vermont, including an ancient Beluga whale.
- Vermont was one of the few U.S. states to be a republic prior to its admission to the union.
- In addition to “The Green Mountain State,” Vermont is also called the “14th Star State” because it was the first added after the original 13 colonies. (We also have a great local beer called 14th Star).
- 55% of the state’s roads are still dirt roads.
- The 45th parallel is just a few miles from the Phineas Swann. You can stand on it and be exactly halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
- The most northern military engagement of the Civil War occurred in St. Albans, Vermont.
- Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) was born and grew up in Vermont.
- Vermont is the only state to never have produced an NBA player.
- Vermont & New Hampshire are on separate tectonic plates, and 200 million years ago were hundreds of miles apart. Likewise, New York State is on a separate tectonic plate.
- The town of Elmore still has and uses a one-room schoolhouse.
- Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery & legalize same-sex unions.
- Retiring Vermont U.S. Senator Pat Leahy has cameos in all of the modern Batman movies.
- Billboards are illegal in Vermont, and have been so since 1968. You will not see one on your drive to the Phineas Swann.
- Vermont has one cow for every three people.
- None of the Hallmark holiday movies set in Vermont are actually filmed in Vermont.
- Vermont looks like a tiny state, but it’s actually the second-largest New England state, behind Maine.
- In population, Vermont is the second-smallest state in the nation, behind only Wyoming.
- Until 1996, Vermont was the only state without a Walmart.
- Not surprisingly, there are no skyscrapers in Vermont. The tallest building is only 11 stories.