Vermont Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.vt.us/

Income

The population of Vermont in 2002 was 616,408. Its rank was 49th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Vermont had a per capita personal income of $29,764. This per capita personal income ranked 23rd in the United States and was 96 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.7 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Vermont was $19,065 and ranked 30th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.6 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Vermont had a total personal income of $18,346,636. This total personal income ranked 49th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Vermont was $10,919,263 and ranked 50th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.3 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Vermont. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 64.8 percent of total personal income (compared with 66.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 19.6 percent (compared with 19.8 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 15.7 percent (compared with 14.2 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 2.5 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.8 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.1 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 5.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.3 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Vermont increased from $12,825,854 in 2001 to $13,173,274 in 2002, an increase of 2.7 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $8,056,499 to the 2002 estimate was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Vermont ranks 43rd in size among the states, with a total area of 24,903 sq km (9615 sq mi), including 948 sq km (366 sq mi) of inland water. It is the second largest of the six New England states, ranking next to Maine. Vermont has a maximum length, from north to south, of 251 km (156 mi) and varies in width from 60 km (37 mi) in the south to about 143 km (about 89 mi) along the northern border. Average elevation is about 300 m (about 1000 ft).

Climate - In Vermont, winters are generally long and cold and summers mostly short but warm. Average January temperatures range from more than about -6° C (about 22° F) in the extreme southwest corner to less than -10° C (less than 14° F) in the northeast. Temperatures below -18° C (0° F) are frequent during winter, and they occasionally drop to -34° C (-30° F) or lower. July averages are usually above 21° C (70° F) in the lowlands and are somewhat lower in mountainous areas. There are few hot days, and summer nights are usually crisp and cool.
Precipitation in Vermont is well distributed throughout the year. Less than 810 mm (32 in) of rain falls annually in the Champlain Valley, the driest part of all the New England states, and more than 1300 mm (50 in) occurs in most of the mountainous areas. Snowfall normally is about 2300 mm (about 90 in) (equivalent to about 230 mm [about 9 in] of rain) and remains on the ground through most of the winter. Snowfall in the mountain region usually exceeds 3000 mm (120 in) per year.

State Flag

State Flower - Red Clover

State Capitol - Montpelier
Since it declared its independence from Great Britain in 1777, Vermont has had three constitutions. The first was adopted in 1777, the second in 1786, and the third and present one in 1793, two years after Vermont was admitted to the Union. Vermont's constitution is the shortest of all functioning state constitutions, with about 7600 words. Amendments may be proposed only once every four years. An amendment is proposed by a two- thirds vote of the senate. It must then pass the house of representatives by a majority vote in the same session. At the next session it must pass both houses by a majority vote. Final adoption is only after a popular vote approves the amendment by a majority. The process takes five years.

Famous People

Brigham Young religious leader, Whitingham
Calvin Coolidge U.S. president, Plymouth
Chester Alan Arthur U.S. president, Fairfield
Elisha Graves Otis inventor, Halifax
Ernest Thompson actor, writer
George Dewey admiral, Montpelier
Henry Wells pioneer entrepreneur, Thetford
Horace A. Tabor silver king, Holland
James Fisk financial speculator, Bennington
John Deere inventor, Rutland
John Dewey philosopher, educator, Burlington
Joseph Smith religious leader, Sharon
Justin Morrill politician, Strafford
Orson Bean actor, Burlington
Patty Sheehan golfer, Middlebury
Ralph E. Flanders senator, Barnet
Richard Morris Hunt architect, Brattleboro
Rudy Vallee singer, band leader, Island Pond
Sherman Adams governor, East Dover
Thomas Davenport inventor, Williamstown
Wilbur Fisk clergyman, educator,
William Morris Hunt painter, Bratleboro