Vermont Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Located in the New England Region of the northeastern U.S., Vermont ranks 45th in the nation by total area. It is the only New England state with no coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, but it does incorporate other natural beauties including Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains.
Cities: The state capital is Montpelier, and the largest city and metropolitan area is Burlington. No other state has as its largest city a city as small as Burlington or a capital city as small as Montpelier.
Behind the Name: Vermont is nicknamed the “Green Mountain State” in reference to the Green Mountains named by Samuel de Champlain in 1647. (2)
A Closer Look: Vermont tries harder: In 1791, Vermont joined the United States as the fourteenth state, and the first outside the original Thirteen Colonies.
Did You Know? Vermont is one of four states (along with Texas, Hawaii, and the brief California Republic) to have at one point existed as its own sovereign nation.
Vermont Careers and Employment:
Population: 621,270 (2.0% increase since 2000) – 50.8% Female, 49.2% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 37th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) retail trade; (3) health care and social assistance; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 3.6% to 9.5% and Sales Tax, 6% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 117.9 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 2nd of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 16.41; Apr: 41.40; July: 67.38; Oct: 45.31 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 4th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Vermont Economics:
In General: The biggest contributor to the state economy is tourism, followed by manufacturing.
Service Industry: The biggest employer in Vermont is the service industry, which employs 39% of the workforce in such main areas as private health care, hotels and ski resorts, law firms and repair shops.
Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated Vermont’s top five agricultural products are dairy products, beef cattle and calves, greenhouse and nursery products, hay and maple products. Vermont is a leading maple-syrup producing state and also produces many specialty food products such as cheese, ice cream and sauces.
Manufacturing: The production of electrical equipment (semiconductors and electrical components) is Vermont’s most important manufacturing activity, with one of the largest electronics companies in the world running a large plant near Burlington.
Did You Know? The largest granite quarries in the nation are found in Vermont.
Vermont Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Vemont, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
