Capital: Montpelier

Governor: Howard Dean, D (to Jan. 2005)

Lieut. Governor: Douglas A. Racine, D (to Jan. 2005)

Senators: James M. Jeffords, R (to Jan. 2007); Patrick Leahy, D (to Jan. 2005)

Secy. of State: Deborah L. Markowitz, D (to Jan. 2005)

Treasurer: James H. Douglas, R (to Jan. 2005)

Auditor of Accounts: Elizabeth M. Ready, D (to Jan. 2005)

Atty. General: William Sorrell, D (to Jan. 2005)

Entered Union (rank): March 4, 1791 (14)

Present constitution adopted: 1793

Motto: Vermont, Freedom and Unity

State Symbols:

The Vermont region was explored and claimed for France by Samuel de Champlain in 1609 and the first French settlement was established at Fort Ste. Anne in 1666. The first English settlers moved into the area in 1724 and built Fort Dummer on the site of present-day Brattleboro. England gained control of the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars.

First organized to drive settlers from New York out of Vermont, the Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen, won fame by capturing Fort Ticonderoga from the British on May 10, 1775, in the early days of the Revolutionary War. In 1777 Vermont adopted its first constitution abolishing slavery and providing for universal male suffrage without property qualifications.

Vermont leads the nation in the production of monument granite, marble, and maple syrup. It is also a leader in the production of talc. Vermont's rugged, rocky terrain discourages extensive agricultural farming, but is well suited to raising fruit trees, and to dairy farming.

Principal industrial products include electrical equipment, fabricated metal products, printing and publishing, and paper and allied products.

Tourism is a major industry in Vermont. Vermont's many famous ski areas include Stowe, Killington, Mt. Snow, Bromley, Jay Peak, and Sugarbush. Hunting and fishing also attract many visitors to Vermont each year. Among the many points of interest are the Green Mountain National Forest, Bennington Battle Monument, the Calvin Coolidge Homestead at Plymouth, and the Marble Exhibit in Proctor.

Nickname: Green Mountain State

Origin of name: From the French "vert mont," meaning "green mountain"

10 largest cities (1999 est.): Burlington, 38,332; Rutland, 16,649; South Burlington, 14,257; Barre, 9,106; Essex Junction, 8,748; St. Albans, 7,715; Montpelier, 7,686; Winooski, 6,609; Newport, 4,261; Bellows Falls, 3,149

Land area: 9,249 sq mi. (23,956 sq km)

Geographic center: In Washington Co., 3 mi. E of Roxbury

Number of counties: 14

Largest county by population and area: Chittenden, 143,947 (1999 est.); Windsor, 971 sq mi.

State forests: 34 (113,953 ac.)

State parks: 45 (31,325 ac.)

Residents: Vermonter

1999 resident population est.: 593,740

1990 resident census population (rank): 562,758 (48). Male: 275,492; Female: 287,266. White: 555,088 (98.6%); Black: 1,951 (0.3%); American Indian: 1,696 (0.3%); Asian: 3,215 (0.6%); Other race: 808 (0.1%); Hispanic: 3,661 (0.7%). 1990 percent population under 18: 25.4; 65 and over: 11.8; median age: 32.9.