Vermont - #14, March 4, 1791

Today's post is the first state to join the union that was not part of the original thirteen colonies. Although, in this case, that's only partly true. Vermont was part of New York and New Hampshire before being made into its own state. Vermont played a significant role in the American Revolution when Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys staged a raid on Fort Ticonderoga on the New York side of Lake Champlain (which lies between the two states). Vermont is the only New England state that does not border the Atlantic Ocean.

Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States. Just don't tell Jed Bartlet. During the US Civil War, the state of Vermont saw the northernmost battle site with the St. Albans Raid. I've been to Vermont on a few occasions, vacationing in Woodstock, visiting the best ice cream factory ever in Waterbury, Robert Frost's grave in Bennington (and the Revolutionary War Monument), and Calvin Coolidge's birthplace and home in Plymouth Notch.

For a small state, it has produced two U.S. Presidents, Chester A. Arthur and Calvin Coolidge.

The Governor of Vermont is Peter Shumlin, a Democrat. Vermont elects its Governors for two-year terms. The Senators from Vermont are Patrick Leahy, a Democrat and Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. Vermont has only one At-Large Representative, Democrat Peter Welch.

Facts

• State Capital - Montpelier (it used to be the only US State Capital without a McDonalds - but I don't know if that's still true - it is the nation's smallest capital)
  
• Largest city - Burlington
• Date of Admission - March 4, 1791
• Area - 9,620 sq mi (45th)
• State Motto - "Freedom and Unity"
• State Nickname - the Green Mountain State
  
• State bird - the Hermit Thrush
• State flower - Red Clover
• State tree - the Red Maple
• State University - The University of Vermont
• State Archives - Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA)
  
• State Historical Society - Vermont Historical Society
• Population (2011 est.) - 626,431 (49th)
  

Links

• vermont.gov - the Official Website of the State of Vermont
• The Vermont Tourism site - vermontvacation.com
• The Encyclopedia Britannic entry for Vermont
• Wikpedia
• 50states.com entry for Vermont
  
• InfoPlease entry for Vermont
• Fact Sheet on Vermont from the USDA
  

Prominent Vermonters (here's a few lists to peruse, one, two, and three - sorry C in DC, very few women to be had from here)

• Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee - US Skier
  
• Howard Dean - former presidential candidate and Governor
  
• John Deere - this sheds a little light on "John Deere Green" for me.
• George Dewey - US Naval Admiral
• Stephen A. Douglas - born in Vermont, but made his impact in Illinois
• The Hunt brothers, Artist William Morris and Architect Richard Morris
• Elisha Graves Otis - raising people up for years
• Miss USA 1955, Carlene King Johnson - the only Miss USA from Vermont
  
• Joseph Smith and Brigham Young