Vermont
State in NE USA; nicknamed Green Mountain State
Area:
24,900 sq km/9,611 sq mi
Capital:
Montpelier
Towns and Cities:
Burlington, Rutland, Barre
Physical:
Green Mountain national forest, with brilliant autumn foliage; Mount
Mansfield (1,339 m/4,393 ft), the highest peak in the state; Lake Champlain
Features:
No large cities or industrial areas; covered bridges; Bennington, site
of the Battle of Bennington 1777, with the Bennington Battle Monument
and Bennington Museum, with paintings by Grandma Moses; Newfane, with
Greek Revival courthouse; birthplace and family home of Calvin Coolidge
at Plymouth ; Woodstock (settled 1761), site of America's first ski
tow (1934); Middlebury College (1800); Shelburne museum of the history
of American life; State House, Montpelier; Marlboro Music Festival ;
Barre, the site of the world's largest granite quarry; Trapp Family
Lodge, Stowe; winter sports
Industries:
Apples, maple syrup, dairy products, china clay, granite, marble, slate,
business machines, paper and allied products; tourism is important
Population:
(1995) 584,800
Famous People:
Chester A Arthur, Calvin Coolidge, John Dewey
History:
Explored by Samuel de Champlain from 1609; settled by the French 1666
and the English 1724; became a state 1791. The first French settlement
was at Fort Ste Anne 1666; the first English settlers based themselves
at Fort Drummer (now Brattleboro) 1724. England controlled the
area from 1763 after the French and Indian War. The Green Mountain
Boys, organized 1764 to protect Vermont from New York's territorial
claims, captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point from the British
1775. After the Civil War - in which half the men of military
age joined the army, and one in seven lost his life - young people
tended to move west, and the state economy stagnated. Tourism
now accounts for more than 20% of the gross state product. The
`back to the earth´ movement has brought new farmers, businesses,
and second- home owners to Vermont; the population and cultural
activities are growing as a result.
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