13 Reasons The Entire Country Should Be Thankful For Vermont

We all know that Vermont is special and we are thankful for its bounty every day.  But does everyone know how special it is here? We may be small, but we’re mighty. Here are the 13 best things about Vermont that the entire country should be as thankful for as we Vermonters are.

1. Ben & Jerry’s.

Everybody’s favorite ice cream-loving, hippie duo, Ben & Jerry’s, began in Vermont on May 5, 1978 with just $12,000. Not only does the company make donations to charity, they are known for giving their ice cream waste to local farmers to feed their hogs. The hogs reportedly like all of the flavors, with the exception of Mint Oreo. Oh, and the company walls are rounded, because these hippies aren’t square. There are many reasons to love Vermont, but Ben & Jerry's takes the cake (ice cream).

2. Presidential history.

President Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth, and is the only president to be born on the fourth of July. Every year, a birthday celebration is held in his honor at his birthplace. Also, Vermont is home to a second president, Chester A. Arthur, who was born in Fairfield. There is a historic site dedicated to President Arthur in Fairfield.

3. Social security.

Vermont resident Ida May Fuller was the first American citizen to receive a Social Security check. She collected her first check in 1940 and lived to be 100 years old.

4. Champ.

Vermont’s very own Loch Ness monster, affectionately known as Champ, has reportedly been sighted many times. Despite no conclusive evidence to support that he (or she) is real, we still look with a glimmer of hope that we’ll spot him. We love you, Champ!

5. No billboards.

Living in Vermont, we've come to love our long stretches of highway and we’ll keep them unobstructed, thank you very much. Billboards are illegal in the state of Vermont and advertising along roadways is highly regulated. Other states should take note.

6. Independence.

Vermont was an independent republic before joining the Union. Between 1777, when Vermont established its independence, and 1791, when Vermont joined the Union as the 14th state, Vermont was truly independent - with its own coins and its own postal service.

7. Anti-slavery.

After being admitted to the union in 1791, Vermont’s state constitution contained a slavery ban. The 1777 constitution entitles Vermont to claim to be the first U.S. state to have abolished slavery.

8. McNo.

The capital of Vermont, Montpelier, is the only capital in the United States that doesn’t have a McDonald’s restaurant and is the smallest state capital in the country, with a population of under 9,000 people.

9. We think organic.

In 2014, there were a whopping 578 organic farms registered in Vermont.

10. Everyone wants a part of Vermont.

At one time or another, the states of New Hampshire and New York both claimed Vermont as their own. Back off!

11. More bridges.

The state of Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the country.

12. Even more cows.

It’s often joked that there are more cows than people in Vermont. This isn’t true, however, in ratio of cows to people, Vermont has the greatest number of dairy cows in the country.

13. Maple syrup.

You probably know Vermont is famous for its maple syrup, but did you know the state produces more than 500,000 gallons every year? It takes between 30-50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of Maple Syrup, depending on the grade. That’s a lot of work, and we’ll never take our syrup for granted.

Why do you think the country should be thanking Vermont? What do you consider to be the best things about Vermont? We love to hear from you. Share your thoughts and remarks with us in the comments section below.