Vermont Geography: A Comprehensive Overview of the Green Mountain State

Geography of Vermont Browse the article Geography of Vermont

Introduction to Geography of Vermont

Vermont, one of the New England states of the United States, popularly called the Green Mountain State. It is bordered by New Hampshire, Massachusetts. New York, and Quebec, Canada; it is the only state in New England that does not lie on the Atlantic Ocean. In area and population Vermont is one of the smallest states in the nation.

With little urban development or industrialization, Vermont has a rustic charm reminiscent of an earlier age. It is especially known for its mountains, its clean air and water, and its unspoiled scenery.

Like Texas, Vermont was once an independent republic (1777–91). It was the first state admitted to the Union after the Revolution, the first to forbid slavery, and the first to adopt universal male suffrage.

Vermont's state bird is the hermit thrush.Vermont in briefGeneral informationStatehood: March 4, 1791, the 14th state.State abbreviations: Vt. (traditional); VT (postal).State capital: Montpelier, the capital of Vermont since 1805. Many towns served as temporary capitals between 1777 and 1805.State motto: Freedom and Unity.Popular name: The Green Mountain States.State song: "Hail, Vermont!" Words and music by Josephine Hovey Perry.Symbols of VermontState bird: Hermit thrush.State flower: Red clover.State tree: Sugar maple.State flag and seal: Vermont's state flag, adopted in 1923, bears the Vermont coat of arms on a blue background. The coat of arms shows a large pine tree, three sheaves of grain, and a cow. Mountains rise in the background. On the state seal, adopted in 1779, a pine tree with 14 branches represents the 13 original states and Vermont. A row of wooded hills cuts across the center. Wavy lines at the top and bottom represent sky and water. Sheaves of grain and a cow symbolize agriculture.Land and climateArea: 9,615 mi2 (24,903 km2), including 366 mi2 (947 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--Mount Mansfield, 4,393 ft (1,339 m) above sea level. Lowest--Lake Champlain in Franklin County, 95 ft (29 m) above sea level.Record high temperature: 105 degrees F (41 degrees C) at Vernon on July 4, 1911.Record low temperature: –50 degrees F (-46 degrees C) at Bloomfield on Dec. 30, 1933.Average July temperature: 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).Average January temperature: 17 degrees F (–8 degrees C).Average yearly precipitation: 39 in (99 cm).PeoplePopulation: 608,827.Rank among the states: 49th.Density: 63 per mi2 (24 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).Distribution: 62 percent rural, 38 percent urban.Largest cities in Vermont: Burlington (38,889); Essex (18,626); Rutland (17,292); Colchester (16,986); South Burlington (15,814); Bennington (15,737).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: apples, beef cattle, greenhouse and nursery products, hay, maple syrup, milk.Manufacturing: electronic equipment, fabricated metal products, food products, machinery, nonmetallic mineral products.Mining: granite, limestone, marble, talc.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 2-year term.State senators: 30; 2-year terms.State representatives: 150; 2-year terms.Towns: 237 (towns, rather than counties, are the main units of local government in Vermont).Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 1.Electoral votes: 3.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, 6 Baldwin Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633-1301. The Web site at http://www.vermontvacation.com also provides information.For information on the economy, write to: Agency of Commerce and Community Development, National Life Building, 6th Floor North, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501.The state’s official Web site at http://www.vermont.gov also provides a gateway to much information on Vermont’s economy, government, and history.

Physical Geography

Vermont is one of the New England states that lie in the northeastern United States.Land

Vermont occupies part of the Appalachian region of North America, which extends from Alabama northeastward into Canada. All of the state was glaciated during the last Ice Age. Many of its surface features are largely or partly the result of glacial action.

The Green Mountains extend across the state in a north-south band some 20 to 35 miles (32 to 56 km) wide. Rounded summits and rather gentle slopes are typical of the range, which is geologically very old and eroded. Mount Mansfield, in the northern part of the range, is the highest peak in Vermont, cresting at 4,393 feet (1,339 m).

The New England Upland is a plateau region that makes up most of eastern Vermont. It lies between the Green Mountains and the Connecticut River, which forms the eastern boundary of the state. Most of the land is hilly to moderately rolling. In some areas, single mountains called monadnocks rise conspicuously above the surrounding area.

The Northeastern Highland is a complex of low mountains in the northeastern corner of the state. The maximum elevation here is slightly more than 3,400 feet (1,036 m). Geologically, the region is an outlying part of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The Taconic Mountains, in the southwestern part of the state, form a low north-south range extending from the Massachusetts border almost to Brandon. Elevations here rarely exceed 3,000 feet (914 m). The Taconic Mountains are separated from the Green Mountains by the Valley of Vermont.

The Champlain Valley lies in the northwestern part of the state, between Lake Champlain and the Green and Taconic Mountains. It is a rolling lowland some 95 to 500 feet (29 to 152 m) above sea level.

Water

The rivers of Vermont are generally small but of great scenic beauty. Their valleys contain the bulk of Vermont's arable land. Some rivers, such as the Connecticut, provide hydroelectric power.

Drainage is mainly eastward to the Connecticut River and westward to Lake Champlain. The Green Mountains in most areas form the divide. Tributaries of the Connecticut River include the West, White, and Passumpsic rivers. Among streams flowing into Lake Champlain are Otter Creek and the Winooski, Lamoille, and Missisquoi rivers. Otter Creek, flowing through the Valley of Vermont, is the longest stream entirely within the state.

Scattered throughout Vermont are hundreds of lakes and ponds, mostly of glacial origin. Lake Champlain, New England's largest lake, lies primarily in Vermont. Lake Memphremagog is shared by Vermont and Quebec. Other natural lakes include Willoughby and Bomoseen. Among large manmade lakes are Moore, Harriman, and Somerset reservoirs.

ClimateVermont's state flower is the red clover.

Vermont has an invigorating climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are short and generally warm to cool. July, the warmest month, has average temperatures of about 65° to 70° F. (18° to 21° C). Daytime highs are usually near 80° F. (27° C). Higher temperatures are infrequent. Winters normally are long and cold. January, the coldest month, has average readings of about 15° F. (-9° C). Temperatures of below 0° F. (-18° C.) are frequent but rarely of long duration.

Precipitation is plentiful and well distributed throughout the year. The Champlain Valley, which is the driest part of the state, receives up to about 32 inches (810 mm) annually. Elsewhere, precipitation totals as much as 55 inches (1,400 mm) each year. Snowfall is heavy throughout the state. Some mountain areas receive 120 inches (3,050 mm) or more of snow annually.

Interesting facts about VermontThe Concord Academy was the first school established solely for the purpose of training teachers. The academy was opened in 1823 by Reverend Samuel Read Hall.The first patent issued by the United States government was granted to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont on July 31, 1790, for his method of making potash and pearl ash out of wood ash. Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State at the time, signed the patent.Vermont has the lowest percentage of urban residents in the United States. More than three-fifths of the state's citizens live in rural areas. In addition, Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, has the lowest population of any state capital.Vermont was the first state to forbid involuntary slavery. The issue of emancipation was included in one of the articles of the state's constitution, signed on July 2, 1777.Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States. Factories in Vermont bottle the syrup or use it to make such products as maple cream, maple sugar cakes, granulated maple sugar, and maple taffy. The syrup is also used in other products, such as salad dressing and barbecue sauce.Vermont's state tree is the red maple.

Economy

The Vermont quarter features an image of a Vermont resident tapping maple trees for their sap. In the background lies a silhouette of a peak in the Green Mountains. Vermont is a leading producer of maple syrup, and the state’s mountains attract skiers and hikers.

Until the 1950's farming, although only marginally profitable, was the predominant economic activity in Vermont. Agriculture then began to decline in importance,and manufacturing and tourism became the leading income producers in the state. At the same time, Vermont's population began to grow, largely because of a rise in the number of factory jobs and a rapid increase in the ski-resort and summer-resort businesses. Also, Vermont was becoming increasingly popular with people from neighboring states as a site for vacation or retirement homes.

The leading sources of employment in Vermont are services, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and government (federal, state, and local).

Manufacturing

Vermont is not a heavily industrialized state, yet in terms of the revenues produced manufacturing is the leading industry in the state. Within New England, however, Vermont accounts for a small percentage of the total manufacturing workforce.

The leading manufacturing activities are the making of electrical and electronic equipment and the manufacturing of nonelectrical machinery. Chief products include computer components and industrial equipment. Burlington is the main center for the production of electrical and electronic equipment. Plants that manufacture industrial equipment are located mainly in the Springfield-Ludlow-Windsor area in the southeastern part of the state.

Vermont has extensive forests, and both lumbering and the manufacturing of wood products are important industries. Also significant are printing and publishing and the manufacturing of paper and paper products, glass goods, furniture, processed foods, and fabricated metal products.

Tourism

Tourism is one of the largest sources of income in the state. Millions of persons visit Vermont each year, primarily because of its scenic mountains and recreational facilities. Summer is the chief tourist season, but brilliant autumn foliage and winter sports at numerous Green Mountain ski areas, including such major ones as Killington and Stowe, also attract many visitors to the state.

Agriculture

Dairying is the most important agricultural activity in the state. Milk, mainly for metropolitan Boston and New York City, accounts for most farm income. Of considerably less importance, in terms of income produced, are cattle and calves, maple syrup and maple sugar, hay, and sweet corn. In quantities produced, Vermont is one of leading producers of milk, butter, and cheese. Maple syrup and maple sugar are Vermont specialties.

The most productive farming areas are the Champlain and Connecticut valleys. Elsewhere, many farms have ceased to exist as such because of the thin rocky soils, the acreage reverting to woodland and brush. Only about one-fifth of the state is presently in farms.

Mining

Vermont is a leading stone-producing state, ranking high in the production of granite, marble, and slate. Most of the stone is of fine quality and is widely marketed for use in construction and for monuments. Barre is the center of granite production. Marble is quarried primarily at Proctor, near Rutland. Slate, for tile, comes from the Poultney–Fair Haven area. Vermont also produces talc.

Transportation

The main routes for railways and roads run north and south, following the Champlain and Connecticut valleys. The principal connection between these two valleys is the Winooski-White river valley, which cuts through the Green Mountains, linking Burlington, Montpelier-Barre, and White River Junction.

Canadian as well as American railways have trackage in Vermont. Vermont's road and highway network includes segments of three Interstate routes.

Burlington is the main center of commercial air transportation. There is also commercial service at Rutland and Montpelier-Barre. Lake Champlain is a link in the water route connecting the Hudson River in New York with the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. There is no commercial navigation on the Connecticut River.

The People

According to the 2000 census, Vermont had an increase inpopulation of 46,069—or 8.2 per cent—since 1990. Before 1960, there was little or no growth in population for more than a century. Vermont's rank among states fell from 48th in 1990 to 49th in 2000 (only Wyoming had fewer people in 2000).

The overall population density of Vermont in 2000 was 65.8 persons per square mile of land (25.4 per km2), slightly less than that of the United States as a whole. This was a slight increase from 1990. Virtually all the people in the state of Vermont (96.8 per cent) were white. Asians made up the largest minority, followed by blacks and American Indians.

Annual events in VermontJanuary-JuneStowe Winter Carnival (January); Town Meeting Day, statewide (first Tuesday in March); Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans (April); Vermont Dairy Festival in Enosburg Falls (June); Antique Gas and Steam Engine Show in Brownington (June).July-NovemberOld-Time Fiddlers Contest in Hardwick (July); Vermont Quilt Festival in Northfield (July); Arts Festival on the Green in Middlebury (July); Vermont Mozart Festival in Burlington (July-August); Fairs in Barton, Bradford, Essex Junction, Lyndonville, Rutland, and Tunbridge (July to September); Foliage Festivals, statewide (September to October).

Education

The state board of education is appointed by the governor. The board, in turn, selects the commissioner of education. The commissioner heads the state department of education, which supervises the public school system.

Shortly after Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791, the state legislature provided for the establishment of public schools. The nation's first normal school (for training teachers) was founded at Concord in 1823. Vermont was the second state to enact a compulsory school attendance law, in 1867. The present law requires school attendance from age 7 to 16.

The University of Vermont is at Burlington. It is a state-supported, land-grant college. The present name (officially, the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College) was adopted in 1865 when the University of Vermont (opened in 1800) and Vermont Agricultural College (chartered in 1864) were merged.

Government

Vermont's State House is in Montpelier, the capital since 1805.

Vermont is governed under a constitution adopted in 1793 and amended several times. The state's first constitution (1777) was unusual for its day. It prohibited slavery and provided for the right of all adult male citizens to vote, regardless of race, religion, or property ownership.

The executive branch of government consists of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, and attorney general, all elected to two-year terms. The General Assembly, composed of a 30-member senate and a 150-member house of representatives, has legislative power. Members are elected to serve two-year terms. The Assembly is required to convene in odd-numbered years but usually has annual sessions.

The judiciary is composed of a supreme court of five justices, superior courts, district courts, and various lower courts. Supreme court justices and judges of the superior and district courts are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate; other judges are elected.

Vermont is divided into 14 counties. On the local level, there are county, city, and town governments. (A town is not a municipality but a subdivision of a county.) A special feature of town government is the annual town meeting, where citizens participate directly in the legislative process. The state sends one representative and two senators to the U.S. Congress.