Vermont, the only entirely inland state of New England, received its name from its mountains (Verd Mont). It lies west of New Hampshire, with Canada on the north, Massachusetts on the south, and New York and Lake Champlain on the west. Its length from north to south is 140 miles, its width from 40 to 90 miles; area, 10,200 sq. m. The Green Mountains extend its entire length, being divided in the northern part, and forming a second range. Four peaks rise beyond 4000 feet above sea-level. The surface of the state is broken by many hills. The mountains are mostly clothed with trees to their summits. The hills furnish the best of pasturage, and, for the most part, can be cultivated to their tops. The air is pure and invigorating, and the scenery varied and beautiful. The average temperature is from 40° to 47° F., and the rainfall from 30 to 40 inches.
Vermont is rich in quarries of granite, marble, and slate, which are extensively worked. Many of the rocks contain lime, and by disintegration make a strong soil. Steatite, verd-antique, sulphuret of iron, manganese, kaolin, and iron exist. Agriculture is the prevailing industry, and manufactures are comparatively few. A larger area is devoted to the raising of cereals—barley, buckwheat, Indian corn, oats, rye, and wheat—than in any other New England state. Its annual product of maple sugar exceeds that of any other state, and is nearly one-third of the total product of the country. By reason of the richness of the pasturage, the butter and cheese produced is of a superior quality.
The state is divided into fourteen counties, and returns two representatives to congress. Montpelier, centrally located, is the capital. The state prison is at Windsor; and there are insane asylums at Brattleboro and Waterbury, a reform school at Vergennes, and a house of correction at Rutland. Vermont possesses, besides its public schools and academies, three normal schools, the Vermont University and Agricultural College, Middlebury College, Norwich University, and the Methodist Conference Seminary and Female College.
History.—Samuel Champlain, in 1609, was the first white man who looked upon Vermont. The first permanent settlement was made at Bennington in 1761; a year later, one in Newbury. The whole territory now called Vermont was claimed by New Hampshire, and Governor Wentworth, of that state, between 1762 and 1768, conveyed to settlers 138 townships. These went by the name of 'New Hampshire Grants.' New York, however, asserted that the whole territory belonged to her, under a charter given by King Charles II. to the Duke of York; and in 1763 Governor Tryon ordered a sheriff to eject all settlers holding lands under titles from New Hampshire. But the settlers, under the lead of Ethan Allen, Seth Baker, and others, organised themselves into companies, and agreed to protect each other against all efforts to drive them from their lands. These were called 'Green Mountain Boys.' Their opposition to the New York officers was so determined and effective that the latter were compelled to return home without accomplishing their purpose. New York appealed to King George, and obtained a decision supporting its title. But as the settlers had paid for their lands, they refused to give them up on the king's decree. A bloody contest seemed inevitable, but the opening of the revolutionary war engrossed the attention of all parties. The settlers, however, intent on maintaining their rights, met in convention, adopted a constitution, proclaimed their independence, chose representatives to congress, and asked admission into the Confederacy. New York, by persistent opposition, succeeded for thirteen years in keeping them out. Finally, on payment of $30,000, it yielded, and Vermont was received into the Union, March 4, 1791, as the fourteenth state. Meanwhile the settlers rendered valiant service to the other states during the revolutionary war at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Bennington. At the same time, all the diplomacy of Ethan and Ira Allen was brought into requisition to prevent the 'Grants' from being overrun by British troops from Canada, who hoped to retain Vermont a British colony.
In the civil war the state furnished 35,242 soldiers, or one for every ten of its entire population, and one-half of all its able-bodied men. Pop. (1800) 154,465; (1840) 211,948; (1880) 332,286; (1900) 343,641. There is much emigration hence to other states.