America at 250: Vermont Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Green Mountain State, a Former Republic That Banned Slavery in 1777

America at 250: Vermont Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Green Mountain State, a Former Republic That Banned Slavery in 1777

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, a state-by-state journey — from the Green Mountains and maple syrup to Ben & Jerry’s, ski country and a fiercely independent political tradition — through the numbers, the history and the emergency lifelines every traveler should carry.

As the United States marks the landmark 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 — its semiquincentennial — our state-by-state journey reaches Vermont: the “Green Mountain State,” a small, rural New England state with a fiercely independent streak. Before it joined the Union, Vermont spent 14 years as its own independent republic — and its 1777 constitution was the first in America to abolish adult slavery.

A land of forested mountains, dairy farms, maple syrup and quintessential New England villages, Vermont blends deep history with progressive politics and natural beauty. What follows is a fact-checked portrait drawn from official sources — the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, state agencies and federal registries — followed by the safety information every visitor to the Green Mountain State should keep close at hand.

How Big Is Vermont? About 650,000 People Across 9,616 Square Miles

Vermont is one of the smallest and most rural states. The U.S. Census Bureau put its population at roughly 648,000 in 2024 — the second-smallest state by population after Wyoming — spread across about 9,616 square miles, the sixth-smallest by area. It is also the most rural state in the nation by share of population.

The largest city is Burlington, on the shore of Lake Champlain, which is small by national standards (around 45,000 people), followed by the tiny capital, Montpelier — the smallest state capital in the country and the only one without a McDonald’s. Most Vermonters live in small towns and villages nestled among the Green Mountains and the Champlain and Connecticut river valleys.

Vermont’s geography is dominated by the Green Mountains, which run the length of the state and give it its name (from the French “vert mont”), along with Lake Champlain in the northwest, the Connecticut River forming its eastern border, and a landscape of forests, farms and postcard villages that blazes with color each autumn.

A Republic-Turned-State: The 14th State, Admitted in 1791

Vermont has a singular founding story. During the Revolutionary era, it was disputed between New York and New Hampshire; Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. Rather than join either colony, Vermont declared itself an independent republic in 1777 — and its constitution that year was the first in what became the United States to abolish adult slavery and to grant voting rights to men without property.

The independent Vermont Republic issued its own currency and ran its own postal service for 14 years before joining the Union as the 14th state — the first added after the original thirteen — on March 4, 1791. Vermont’s economy long rested on farming (especially dairy), quarrying (it is famous for marble and granite) and timber, and its independent, town-meeting political tradition endures to this day.

The Economy: About $44 Billion GDP From Dairy to Tech

Vermont’s economy, with a GDP of roughly $44 billion (about $36 billion in inflation-adjusted terms), is the second-smallest of any state, reflecting its tiny population — but it is distinctive and resilient. Agriculture remains iconic: Vermont is by far the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup, and dairy farming and artisan cheese are central to its identity and its landscape.

Beyond the farm, Vermont’s economy includes tourism (skiing in winter, leaf-peeping in fall, and the Lake Champlain region in summer), specialty food and beverage (Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, founded in Burlington, is a global brand, and Vermont has a celebrated craft-beer scene), and a technology and manufacturing sector — semiconductors have long been made in the Burlington area. The state’s brand of small-scale, high-quality, environmentally conscious products is an economic asset in itself.

Schools and Universities: About 83,000 Pupils and UVM

Vermont’s public schools enroll roughly 83,000 K-12 students, one of the smallest systems in the nation, spread across many small rural schools — a structure the state has debated consolidating as its population ages and shrinks.

In higher education, the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington is the public flagship and a respected research university and academic medical center. Vermont is also home to Middlebury College, one of the top liberal-arts colleges in the country (famous for its language programs), Norwich University (the oldest private military college in the U.S.), and a network of state colleges.

Hospitals and Health Care: About 14 Hospitals

Vermont has around 14 hospitals, most of them small community and critical-access hospitals serving a rural population. The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington is the state’s largest hospital and its academic medical center, serving as the referral hub for Vermont and parts of northern New York.

Vermont consistently ranks among the healthiest states in the nation, and it has experimented with ambitious health-reform models aimed at controlling costs and expanding coverage. The Vermont Department of Health coordinates statewide public-health services across its small towns and rural regions.

Getting Around: 1 Main Airport and Mountain Roads

Vermont’s main airport is Burlington International Airport, the state’s primary commercial gateway, supplemented by smaller regional airports; many Vermonters also use airports in nearby New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York, or Montreal across the Canadian border.

On the ground, Interstate 89 and Interstate 91 are the state’s main arteries, winding through the mountains and river valleys, and scenic byways like Route 100 thread through ski country and classic villages. Vermont’s rural character means much travel is on two-lane roads, and its landscape — free of billboards by law — is part of the appeal.

Culture: Maple Syrup, Ben & Jerry’s and Town Meetings

Vermont’s culture is quintessential New England, with a progressive and independent flavor. The state is synonymous with maple syrup, autumn foliage, covered bridges and white-steepled village greens. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, born in a Burlington gas station, embodies the state’s blend of quirky entrepreneurship and social conscience, and Vermont’s farm-to-table food and craft-beverage scene (its hazy IPAs are world-famous) draws devotees.

Vermont preserves the New England tradition of direct democracy through Town Meeting Day, when residents gather each March to vote on local budgets and issues. The state’s arts, its ski-town culture, and its association with figures from Robert Frost (who farmed and wrote here) to Senator Bernie Sanders reflect its distinctive character.

Sport and the Outdoors: Ski Country and the Long Trail

Vermont has no major professional sports franchise; its sporting identity is built around the outdoors and college and minor-league teams. But it is a national capital of skiing and snowboarding — resorts like Stowe, Killington, Sugarbush and Jay Peak draw skiers from across the Northeast, and snowboarding’s Burton company was founded in the state.

Beyond winter sports, Vermont offers the Long Trail (the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country, running the length of the Green Mountains), fall foliage tours, mountain biking, and the lakes and rivers of the Champlain Valley. Hunting, fishing and maple-sugaring are cherished rural traditions.

Faith and Places of Worship: Hundreds of Congregations

Vermont is one of the least religiously affiliated states in the country — part of secular New England, with one of the highest shares of residents claiming no religious affiliation. Among the religious, Roman Catholicism (reflecting French-Canadian and Irish heritage) and mainline Protestant traditions are the largest, alongside smaller communities.

Because no single official registry counts every congregation, the closest reliable measures come from religious censuses and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns data on religious organizations, which together point to several hundred congregations across the small, rural state, many of them historic white-clapboard churches on village greens.

The Justice System: About 1,300 People Incarcerated

Vermont has one of the smallest and lowest-rate prison systems in the country. The Vermont Department of Corrections holds roughly 1,300 people, and — because of limited in-state capacity — the state has at times housed some inmates in out-of-state facilities.

Vermont is a national leader in criminal-justice reform, emphasizing treatment, restorative justice and reentry, and it is one of only two states (with Maine) that never revoke the right to vote, allowing even incarcerated citizens to cast ballots.

5 Vermont Laws and Distinctions That Set It Apart

Vermont’s independent, progressive tradition produces several distinctive features:

1. Abolished slavery in 1777: Vermont’s founding constitution was the first in America to abolish adult slavery, decades before the nation as a whole.

2. A former independent republic: Vermont existed as its own country, the Vermont Republic, from 1777 until it joined the Union in 1791.

3. No billboards: Vermont is one of only a handful of states that ban billboards entirely, preserving its scenic landscapes.

4. Marriage-equality pioneer: Vermont was the first state to create same-sex civil unions (2000) and the first to legalize same-sex marriage through its legislature rather than a court (2009).

5. Prisoner voting and legal cannabis: Vermont (with Maine) never strips the right to vote even from those in prison, and it legalized recreational cannabis, reflecting its libertarian-progressive streak.

Famous Vermonters: Notable Talent From the Green Mountain State

For a tiny state, Vermont has produced some remarkable figures. Two U.S. presidents were born in Vermont — Chester A. Arthur (Fairfield) and Calvin Coolidge (Plymouth Notch), the only president born on the Fourth of July. Inventor John Deere, who revolutionized farming with the steel plow, was born in Rutland.

Vermont is also, remarkably, the birthplace of two towering figures of the Latter-day Saint movement — Joseph Smith (born in Sharon) and Brigham Young (born in Whitingham) — as well as generations of writers, entrepreneurs and public figures. Though it did not birth him, Vermont is closely associated with longtime U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Its influence far exceeds its small size.

Who Runs Vermont? Governor Phil Scott and State Leadership

Vermont’s executive branch is led by Governor Phil Scott, a Republican who became the 82nd governor in 2017 and has since won re-election repeatedly — a remarkably popular moderate Republican in one of the most Democratic states. A former stock-car racer and construction-company owner, Scott has focused on affordability, keeping taxes in check, and the state’s demographic challenges.

Vermont’s government features several independently elected statewide officials alongside the Governor, plus appointed department heads. Key members of state leadership include:

As listed by the State of Vermont and the Office of the Governor (governor.vermont.gov), key members of state leadership include:

Source: State of Vermont and the Office of the Governor (governor.vermont.gov). Several statewide officials are independently elected; department heads are appointed. Officeholders change over time.

Traveling to Vermont? 1 App for Every Emergency Number

Whether you are exploring Vermont during this 250th-anniversary year, following its history, or simply passing through, one piece of preparation matters more than any other: knowing who to call in an emergency. The free InfoCons app puts that information in your pocket. Its dedicated SOS section gathers the essential emergency and consumer-protection numbers for the United States and for the individual states, so travelers and residents alike can reach the right service instantly — without searching, without roaming confusion, and without wasting the precious minutes that matter most in a crisis.

Nationwide Emergency Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

Across the United States, the single universal emergency number is 911, which connects callers to police, firefighters, and ambulance services alike. For non-emergency municipal services and information in many cities, 311 is available. The app also lists 1-800-342-3377 for telecommunications complaints and 202-326-2180 for consumer-protection matters at the federal level.

Vermont Emergency and Assistance Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

For Vermont specifically, the InfoCons SOS section provides a detailed directory. The core lifelines are:

Police, Ambulance, and Firefighters: 911. State Police: 802-244-8727. Highway Patrol: 802-872-4045. Road conditions: 800-429-7623. Electricity emergency: 802-865-7300. Gas emergency: 1-800-639-8081.

Consumer protection: Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program: 802-656-3183 and 1-800-649-2424. Identity theft: 1-877-438-4338. Department of Financial Regulation — Banking: 802-828-3301; Insurance: 802-828-3302. Public Utility Commission: 1-800-622-4496.

Support: Child abuse reporting: 1-800-649-5285. Domestic violence and sexual assault hotline: 800-656-4673. Animal protection: 802-722-4600. (The nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at any time by dialing 988.)

These numbers are provided for convenience and may change over time; in any life-threatening situation, always dial 911 first.

The InfoCons Travel Passport: 1 App, 33 Languages, Every Destination

The InfoCons app is more than an emergency directory — it is designed to function as a genuine “travel passport” for the modern consumer. Available free of charge and offered in 33 internationally spoken languages, it gives users access to accurate, transparent, and independent information wherever they go. For a traveler moving between states — or between countries — that means the emergency numbers, consumer-protection contacts, and practical guidance for each destination are all gathered in a single place, ready before you even land.

The idea is simple but powerful: your safety information should travel with you as reliably as your passport does. Whether you are exploring Vermont during this 250th-anniversary year or planning a trip abroad next month, the InfoCons app aims to be the first thing you check when you arrive somewhere new — helping you make informed decisions, protect your rights as a consumer, and know exactly whom to call if something goes wrong. Download the free InfoCons app and let your phone become your travel passport for a safer, smarter 250th-anniversary year and beyond.

A Fitting Way to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence

Vermont’s story — of the Green Mountain Boys and an independent republic, of the first constitution to abolish slavery, of maple syrup and dairy farms and Ben & Jerry’s, of town meetings and fiercely independent politics — is a small but principled chapter of the American story. In this 250th-anniversary year, it is striking to recall that Vermont abolished slavery in 1777, at the very dawn of the nation.

To visit Vermont is to wander its villages, taste its syrup and hike its green mountains. And to visit it prepared — with the InfoCons app and its emergency lifelines close at hand, valuable in a rural state of mountain roads and hard winters — is simply to travel wisely. Here is to the next 250 years — happy semiquincentennial, America.

InfoCons Communication Department