Buzz
When a Vermonter travels abroad and mentions their home state, there's a good chance that about half of the people they meet will have never heard of Vermont, while the other half might mistakenly believe it's part of Canada. To save you from such awkward encounters, here are 10 surprising facts about Vermont you probably didn’t know.
10. The Loch Ness Monster of Vermont
While Scotland's Loch Ness is famous for its legendary monster, Lake Champlain in Vermont also claims to be home to a shy and friendly creature known as Champ. Sadly, photos that allegedly show the creature have been largely debunked. The most famous image, taken in 1977, was later revealed to be of a decaying tree trunk. Most of the evidence for Champ comes from eyewitness reports, the majority of which were recorded during the 1980s.
There are conflicting historical stories about the Abenaki, a local Native American tribe, who supposedly warned French explorers about the monsters lurking in the lake. It's unclear if these creatures were referring to Champ or other large aquatic animals, but the legend persists. New sightings, photographs, videos, and eyewitness testimonies continue to appear every few years. The local Minor League Baseball team is even named The Vermont Lake Monsters, celebrating the fame of Champ.
9. Billboards Are Prohibited
As you drive through Vermont, you'll quickly notice something different from the rest of the country—there are no billboards. Since 1968, the state has prohibited billboards in an effort to protect its natural beauty. Road signs are strictly controlled, so you won’t find exit signs featuring logos from chains like McDonald's or Texaco. Even a company’s own signage is carefully regulated. This ban has been a major asset to Vermont's tourism, offering visitors a view free from distracting, unattractive signs.
The first exception to this rule came in 2008 when Bellows Falls received approval for a hand-painted mural advertising its downtown. The mural sparked a debate, but the Legislature allowed it to stay. This ruling opened the door for similar signs—though only if they are hand-painted murals promoting a downtown area, located on buildings that are at least 25 years old, and positioned within a five-kilometer radius of the place being advertised.
8. Vermont Was Once an Independent Nation
Vermont's distinct culture and infrastructure have always made it quite self-sufficient, and there is an ongoing movement pushing for Vermont's secession, especially notable during George W. Bush’s presidency. Driven by a strong spirit of independence and pioneering values, the movement advocates for local and small-scale industries and farming. Known as the Second Vermont Republic, it draws inspiration from the state's earlier days when it was once an independent republic.
Before becoming the 14th state in the union, Vermont was an independent nation for 14 years. The struggle over Vermont's land between New York and New Hampshire led to Vermonters declaring independence in July 1777. During this time, Vermont printed its own currency, established a separate postal service, and abolished slavery—becoming the first state to do so in its constitution. In 1791, Vermont was admitted to the United States, with its government modeled after a republic, where the leader was known as the Governor, and the nation’s official name was the 'State of Vermont.'
7. Lake Champlain Was Once Considered One of the Great Lakes
Lake Champlain, stretching almost the full length of the border between New York and Vermont, ranks as the sixth largest inland body of water in the U.S. The only bodies of water larger are the Great Lakes. It also extends into Canada via Missisquoi Bay. In March 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill officially recognizing Lake Champlain as the 'sixth Great Lake.' The campaign to elevate the lake's status was led by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. This designation enabled research at the lake to qualify for funding from the National Sea Grant Program.
However, just a few weeks later, the Senate repealed the bill, quickly followed by the House of Representatives. The controversy over the bill was sparked by politicians from the Great Lakes region. Some headlines mocked Leahy, calling him the 'fourth stooge.' Yet, despite the national ridicule, Leahy had already achieved his true objective. His aim was not to make Champlain a Great Lake, but to secure Vermont’s eligibility for the National Sea Grant—a benefit the state kept after the revocation of Champlain’s Great Lake status. A single line in a lengthy bill caused an uproar, but ultimately, Vermont received the funding, and the controversy settled.
6. The State’s Pride in Maple Syrup
What kind of list about Vermont would be complete without mentioning maple syrup? Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S., responsible for producing 35 percent of the nation’s supply. Thanks to a long history of tapping local maple trees, nearly every community in the state has families making their own syrup. While some are large-scale producers selling their syrup worldwide, many are smaller, informal producers who only make syrup for their family and friends.
Vermonters are so passionate about their maple syrup that the state has laws governing what can be labeled as “maple.” When McDonald's introduced a breakfast item called Fruit and Maple Oatmeal, it faced backlash in Vermont because it didn’t contain real maple syrup. Following an official complaint by Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, McDonald's revised the menu at all 28 Vermont locations, offering a choice between pure Vermont maple syrup or pure Vermont maple sugar, instead of the artificial flavor.
5. Warrant Issued for Bush and Cheney
In 2008, two towns in Vermont made headlines when they passed resolutions calling for the arrest of then-President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Although the act was mostly symbolic, it led to a citizen’s warrant for their arrest if they ever visited Brattleboro or Marlboro, accusing them of constitutional violations. The resolutions stated that, if arrested, Bush and Cheney would be “extradited for prosecution.” Despite the dramatic gesture, neither man ever visited Vermont, and the arrest never occurred. In fact, the first presidential visit to Vermont in nearly two decades came in early 2012 with Barack Obama’s quick stop.
Brattleboro is a charming and quirky town nestled on the Connecticut River, known for its progressive political views. However, in 2007, the town did take a more conservative stance—despite Vermont’s statewide lack of laws against public nudity, Brattleboro introduced an ordinance making it illegal to go about town in the nude. Prior to this, teenagers had been hosting naked hula-hoop contests and cycling through the downtown area without clothing. But that wasn’t the most unusual event; an elderly tourist visiting from the Southwest thought it would be a good idea to go sightseeing in his birthday suit. The lesson here is that even Vermont’s most liberal towns have their limits.
4. Snowboarding
Vermont is recognized as a significant birthplace in the history of snowboarding. Snowboarding drew inspiration from surfing, and the first snowboarders rode 'snurfers,' a type of board, and even called themselves 'snurfers.' These early boards lacked straps, and control was achieved using a rope attached to the front. The sport evolved when Jake Burton, a former ski racer, became enamored with snurfing and began innovating the sport. Based in Vermont, Burton worked on designs suited for packed snow, which made them globally relevant. His small company, initially operating out of a barn in South Londonderry, grew into the largest snowboarding company in the world, and it still has its headquarters in Vermont.
Vermont is one of only two states in the U.S. to offer snowboarding as a varsity sport, complete with a state championship. Many Vermont high schools are located near ski resorts, making it easy for students to practice. Despite being the second least-populated state in the country, Vermont has produced numerous homegrown snowboarding champions and played a pivotal role in transforming snowboarding from a recreational activity into an Olympic sport. However, not all of Vermont’s snowboarding contributions have been without controversy. When Burton designed the uniforms for the 2014 USA Olympic Snowboarding Team, there was public outrage when it was revealed that the uniforms were being made overseas—the fabric was sourced from Italy and Vietnam, and the assembly took place in Taiwan and Japan.
3. Health and Education in Vermont
In 2013, Hawaii surpassed Vermont as the healthiest state, largely due to rising rates of binge drinking and an increase in children living in poverty. On the other hand, a study based on US Census education data ranked Vermont as the fifth most educated state in the country. However, the state's Act 60, which redistributes funds from wealthier towns to those with poorer schools, has sparked controversy. While it has helped improve schools in several areas, it has also been criticized for lowering the quality of education in resort towns, where property taxes are high but many students do not come from wealthy families. Some schools have seen performance improvements, while others have experienced declines.
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2. Vermont’s Ice Cream and Dairy Legacy
Ben & Jerry’s may now be a global name, but their headquarters remain in Vermont. They even recycle their ice cream waste, sending it to local farmers to feed their pigs. Vermont's connection to dairy runs deep—every summer, Brattleboro hosts the popular 'Strolling of the Heifers' festival. At one time, Vermont had more cows than people. Even today, it boasts the highest cow-to-person ratio in the U.S., with one cow for every 3.8 residents.
Vermont is harnessing the power of its cows with a renewable energy initiative called 'Cow Power.' Each cow generates about 30 gallons (114 liters) of manure daily, which, while long used as fertilizer, is now being turned into energy. Bacteria break down the manure in large tanks to produce methane gas, which is captured and used to power generators.
1. Native American Influence in Vermont
Vermont was initially hesitant to officially recognize its Native American tribes. The same concern for preserving the state’s natural beauty that led to the billboard ban also fueled fears that recognizing the tribes could pave the way for federal acknowledgment, potentially allowing them to build casinos or make land claims. Archaeological evidence backs the longstanding presence of American Indians in Vermont, with a Paleo-Indian site found in Ludlow dating back roughly 11,000 years.
By 2012, four bands of the Abenaki Nation, collectively known as the Abenaki Alliance, had gained official recognition from the state. This acknowledgment was a crucial step in confronting Vermont’s troubling history of eugenics, which included the forced sterilization of 253 individuals during the 1930s and ’40s, many of whom were Abenaki Native Americans.
