Why So Few Americans Live In Vermont

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Vermont, also known as the Green Mountain State, has one of the longest and most interesting histories in the United States. At one point, for a considerable period of time, it was even it's own country! But despite this lengthy history, only about 647,000 people call the state home, less than half its neighbor New Hampshire and MUCH smaller than either New York State or Massachusetts. So why don't more people live in Vermont if it's both beautiful and in a region that is otherwise densely populated?
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[@GeographyByGeoff]

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[@maureenreagan9544]

Non merde.

[@bmeht]

Gross shill.

[@wayneworkman3436]

You lost me at war...goodbye

[@MartinReiter143]

For me, the relatively low population density is a major attraction, and not a negative.

[@Kathleen67.]

As long as you are not anywhere near a city.

[@danielcorrigan8805]

It's my favourite state for that reason. All the small town charm but still being progressive. Also it's close to where I live in Montréal.

[@AmazingJayB51]

I was thinking the same! 😂

[@AmazingJayB51]

@@danielcorrigan8805is it a friendly state toward ethnic groups

[@vipermad358]

It's not for normal human life in the 21st c. 😐

[@user-wr2sz1kj1r]

I am a Vermonter who lives in the Lebanon region as you called it. We call it the Upper Valley. You missed Act 250 as a major reason that Vermont is still not very populated. It is a state law passed in 1970 to preserve Vermont’s character and community by restricting development in the state. Permits can be denied for anything over 10 acres in a rural area and over 1 acre in a town that has no zoning rules.

[@FXwashere]

Fun fact: Vermont got its name from the green mountains that it has, and that name literally translates to "Green Mountain" in French (Vert = Green ; Mont = Mountain).

[@AndyDustman]

It's psuedo-French-ish. green mountain = montagne Verte

[@kiewies]

​@@AndyDustmanInteresting, it's French vocabulary with English adjective structure haha. I never thought about that before.

[@historian-x]

It is also translatable as spanish. Verde montana.

[@Explorerlloyd]

It literally translates to "worm mount"😂

[@darhmakarma4838]

@@Explorerlloyd actually, worm is ver and green is vert… Subtleties of the French language 😂😂😂 BTW, I’m a French speaking Québécois. I live in Magog just a few miles north of Vermont.

[@SofaSpy]

You should do a video on why Vermont is so rich but yet West Virginia is so poor when both have the same mountainous terrain and geographic challenges

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Answer: Inbreeding.

[@mitchellcoonahan5798]

Reason: next to 3 of the richest states in the country

[@FrigginCatsBruh]

​@@mitchellcoonahan5798 and how does that help us in VT? 😅 We don't share tax money, do you know how anything works?

[@stormix5755]

@@mitchellcoonahan5798 WV has virginia and PA, two pretty wealthy states. Plus kentucky is relatively well off too, they don't lack rich neighbors

[@joesorkin]

@@FrigginCatsBruhthere’s a lot more traveling between states than tax money buddy lol Humans, disease, economic conditions, weather, proximity to important places, etc

[@clav93089]

I grew up in Vermont in a town just north of Burlington. On the one hand, you grow up very much in tune with nature and the seasons and the entire state has a small town feel where people are friendly and are happy to visit, borrow, and barter with their neighbors. We made apple cider and maple syrup from our trees and traded for pork and beef from neighbors with hobby farms. On the other hand, it really can feel very remote to those who visit from the major population centers who expect the same creature comforts. Do NOT expect to find a Starbucks anywhere outside of Burlington. There is only ONE Target store in the whole state, which only opened about five years ago. Most fast food chains are not in Vermont. A lot of trends in culture and technology are slow to be adopted (good luck finding an Uber or Lyft anywhere outside of Burlington!). So for those who want a break from modern society, Vermont is a paradise!

[@ConnorRianHickey]

Hi there! I’m from NH, I’ve been military for 8 years in AZ and MO and am moving to St Albans (working in South Burlington at the base) in June. Did you like the area north of Burlington? In very familiar with the small town life and am excited for that.

[@user-iy5mh6ff6l]

And it’s a 98% predominantly white state ❤❤❤❤❤!

[@user-iy5mh6ff6l]

Well,it sounds like a backward countryside which is inhabited by hillbillies and hicks… But it ain’t true fortunately. It’s rather WV.

[@johndemars2551]

@@user-iy5mh6ff6l With that attitude, don't come here.

[@hiphoppeep]

@@user-iy5mh6ff6lcan be. Especially Franklin county which is where I’m from

[@rcc2786]

Born in VT, lived here almost 67 years and love it here. Have worked both here in VT and nearby in MA for the past 50+ years, and if you have any abilities to do anything constructive, or are trained in almost any kind of trade, there's lots of work and business to be had. It's a great place to live, and not far (where we live) from some larger cities in NY and MA. I like it just the way it is.

[@m1t2a1]

I thought Vermont was a figment of Bob's imagination. Dick Louden, the Stratford Inn, and Vermont are all just part of a dream.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Hi! My name is George Utley. Got anything you want fixed … poorly?

[@damnjustassignmeone]

This video is also part of the dream.

[@Kathleen67.]

Very real, I love Vermont.

[@jonnyminogue]

You should wear more sweaters 😂

[@bobbyvox2352]

George Utley I have some work for you but I can’t reach you because you still 14:09 don’t have a f**kin’ phone (land line or other wise) !!!!😂

[@Vermonter1245]

I am more than happy to keep the state small. part of its beauty

[@davidsmith3623]

Why So Few Americans Live In Vermont. It's getting too expensive to live here. And we're being taxed to death!!

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Exactly!

[@Kathleen67.]

That is the only reason I no longer live there.

[@michaeldowson6988]

Same reason much of Canada is empty. You have to provide everything you need yourself, when far from a town or city.

[@JonHosford]

Absolutely true. I can't afford to retire here and will be gone in a few years.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Watch put states like Florida are getting really expensive. ​@@JonHosford

[@kosycat1]

I've spent months of my time driving up from Maryland to Vermont to snowboard. I love it there. old school feel and quiet and peaceful. Every time I Pass the Bennington monument headed towards Dover up the mountain passes like Suddenly everyone is gone, and you feel a sense of emptiness as soon as you cross the border. Killington, Stowe, Sugarbush, and Jay Peak are my favs.

[@Kathleen67.]

I love having dinner in front of the fireplace at the Stowe Away Inn. It's fun to throw another log on the fire and the ambiance is great.

[@kosycat1]

@@Kathleen67. I stayed at the Gray Ghost inn one time it had a couple nice fireplaces inside that remids me of.

[@slickwoodworker3023]

It is spelled "border"

[@kosycat1]

@@slickwoodworker3023 Thank you

[@ZakhadWOW]

no Mad RIve Glen, the one place that has intentionally tried to keep the older spirit of non giant corporate resorts?

[@sapinva]

A little bit misleading. If you included everything from the Adirondacks to the White Mountains, it's all pretty much empty. Vermont just happens to sit in the middle of that area. In fact Burlington is basically the metro center of that whole region.

[@marknc9616]

Yeah, I was thinking this, too. The population for NY state includes NYC area and Long Island where most of the people actually live. The population for Massachusetts is mainly centered around Boston to the east.

[@iraqipremiumoil]

@@marknc9616 massachusetts is relatively dense all around; the extremely thick forests tend to hide this but i do agree that it's unfair to use new york's high population here

[@tehGazzy]

"Metro Center" is a very generous way of describing Burlington. 😅 There's not much there other than the University of Vermont and they've dedicated a decent chunk of their property to a cow barn.....

[@dougdupont6134]

@@tehGazzy I think he meant "open air homeless shelter."

[@joesorkin]

I like Geoff but this whole video series is that type of misleading. It’s not that interesting why Wyoming is the least populated state, like it’s mostly desert and it’s really far west. I don’t think we need dozens of these lol

[@maxpowr90]

Fun Fact: The Ethan Allen "Express": is an Amtrak line that goes from NYC, now to Burlington, VT.

[@ingibingi2000]

If they can get that line to Montreal then we got something

[@larrywillard844]

I don't believe it runs more than once a day. And you will learn some odd stuff happens after Springfield MA going north (slow going).

[@ZakhadWOW]

@@ingibingi2000 there was an older route back inthe 80s called the Montrealer, which began in Montreal. I actually took it from Essex Jct (Burlington) down to NY and then took one all the way to Newport News and then a bus around the harbor to the Naval Hospital for my first duty station post boot camp and Corps School.. JUly 1985 . Man almost 40 years ago o.0

[@susanvirgilio4615]

@@ingibingi2000 Amtrak's Adirondack goes up the western shoreline of Lake Champlain in NYS to Montreal, although service seems to have stopped at Saratoga Springs recently due to issues regarding track maintenance. I have ridden that route when it was running all the way to Canada, and the scenic views are gorgeous. I hope they reinstate it soon.

[@AntoineLavoisier]

I went to school in Vermont and spent a few summers there. Winters are brutal but the summers are amazing!

[@kevincui5282]

Fun fact: There are more ski resorts than McDonald’s locations in Vermont!

[@atrifle8364]

No, there are not. Their used to be, but not no.

[@Masons4Liberty]

@@atrifle8364well, it has the only state capitol that does not have one.

[@Xalta_Sailor]

@@Masons4Libertya McDonalds?

[@heatherkandzior2731]

Nope. I've lived in VT my whole life.

[@John572d4]

There are six (MCD’s) in the Burlington area and about nineteen total in the state, so would have to find that many ski areas (or resorts), can it include private ones that might be cross country only like the Hermitage, etc., probably, but still have to tally them up. Find ‘em and count ‘em. P.S. And I have just done it. It’s a tie, add in one or two private ones like the one mentioned above and the ski areas still lead. Ski.

[@Fairiris1]

I spent this past winter season in Burlington, VT to try to see if I'd actually want to relocate there as a resident. It was a nice quirky little town and Vermont as a state is gorgeous no doubt. The reality of sparse housing with an expensive cost was settling in and its no joke. They've had a housing issue for some years now and especially in Burlington which is a college town mostly. Decided not to seek permanent residency there due to these reasons. It's nice to be so close to Montreal though as I went a few times. Definitely love the community and hippie vibe VT offers though.

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

Currently live in Burlington, I would recommend living in one of the surrounding towns and not the city itself. They're cheaper, and honestly Burlington has gone really downhill just the past few years.

[@thegreeninvasion5511]

Burlington may as well be a separate state! The majority of its population are college students from out of state or their wealthy parents!

[@mainemagic4968]

Johnboy, A man has no business...

[@jcjclalonde]

Green mountain state isnt just a nickname, its litteraly its name, vert meant green and mont means mountain in french

[@Chris_at_Home]

Growing up in the 1960s we had a cabin in Newark. We would go there every few weeks and spent much of the summers there. I 91 was being built and every year it got longer. We lived in CT. My sister lived there starting in 2000. She told me that out of state people have inflated the cost of housing so high that any of the kids graduating from school know they will never afford a home there and leave. A canal connects Lake Champlain to the Hudson River.

[@southport5232]

Newark is largely unchanged from the 60’s. Still pretty wild/remote

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@southport5232 I was back there in 2009. Our place was on Bean Brook that had great trout fishing. After going there all the time and then being stationed in Maine I moved to Alaska because Ct just didn’t have the outdoors I longed for.

[@southport5232]

Alaska and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont are very similar. They definitely remind me of each other. Enjoy Alaska. I’m jealous. Lived in Nome area once…can’t wait to get back

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@southport5232 Thanks, I’ve been here 45 years now.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Limited housing stock and not much development due to close proximity to natural parks and conservation areas makes it expensive.

[@thexalon]

I spent many summers attending and later working for a camp in Vermont. The terrain doesn't really lend itself to large cities, and frankly I'm just as happy they haven't tried to shoehorn anything in there. Also notable is that Vermont heavily limits commercial signs, often opposes big box stores with zoning rules, and generally zealously guards its rural and "quaint" character. Something worth mentioning in Vermont's more modern history is the "back to the land" movement of the 1970's, which led to a large influx of city-born hippies, and some conflicts between them and the "real Vermonters" from previous generations of mostly farming families. Some things to come out of that are Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and the prominent senator Bernie Sanders.

[@davidbach7003]

I think Vermont was the last state to have a WalMart.

[@thexalon]

@@davidbach7003 I don't know whether they were the last state to get a Walmart, but looking through Walmart's store directory they have only 6, making them the least Walmart-ed state in the entire country (D.C. has 3, but they aren't a state) by that simple measure.

[@atrifle8364]

Yes, because people who own Vermont and send their children expensive summer camps rather like their quaint. The people who live and work there are to be quaint for the people who visit. Thus, if they have to drive hours to pick up Chinese made goods to live, so be it. Vermont truly is just a giant summer camp/retirement home for NYC/Boston area.

[@qbrown4239]

I just visited Vermont for the first time last week. Truly beautiful. Came back with maple syrup and cheese ;-)

[@southport5232]

Woodstock or Stowe?

[@Eastsid3]

My friend lives there, he sent me a huge tub of it for Christmas a coue years ago.

[@thegreeninvasion5511]

@@southport5232 lol! Neither is recognized by native Vermonters😂

[@southport5232]

@@thegreeninvasion5511 never fails…

[@gregundahood202]

@@thegreeninvasion5511 😂😂 very accurate

[@jeffyoung60]

The images of Vermont in most Americans' minds is that of autumn and early winter picturesque scenery found on calendars.

[@lindakingsley-gx2td]

And they are true pictures and that is what Vermont is like.

[@MouthBreather_]

@@lindakingsley-gx2td yasss

[@Gladescat]

Too bad they don't show mud season.

[@YouCanCallMeReTro]

Vermont in autumn gotta be one of the most beautiful things to see in the country.

[@lindakingsley-gx2td]

@@YouCanCallMeReTro Totally agree. I miss Autumn in the north east so much. It is and was my favorite time of year.

[@beaglybeagle]

Thanks for the background....I often wondered why Vermont is so lightly populated. Let's keep it that way! Send everybody to the sunbelt! Love how beautiful Vermont is!!!

[@scotttild]

Forgot to mention that Vermont has some of the highest personal income taxes in the country for a small state. It is not a business friendly state and not many people want to retire in Vermont.

[@stan3070]

I'd love to but not when it's communist

[@InterloperBob]

These are some crazy opinions. Lots of people retire here, and we're obviously not communist. Vermont has all the same loopholes to let rich property owners off that every other state has.

[@stan3070]

@@InterloperBob they literally tax your social security benefits love the state with a passion won't move there cause the gov forced to move to NH instead

[@nathanclaypole3778]

Yeah I feel like this video was really light on contemporary comparisons and information compared to his other videos. I think a lot of the research hours just went into plugging war thunder

[@hydrolifetech7911]

​@@stan3070communist? You are a boomer or something? And they prefer you staying away am certain

[@larrysherk]

As a Vermonter, I can tell you why so few people live in the state. The simple asnwer is that we maintain a healthy distance between people. It costs a little more, but it works. A lovely place, with 10,000 trees for each of us.

[@clav93089]

Because Vermont missed out on the Industrial Revolution and has rocky terrain not ideal for large-scale agriculture, the economy really had to focus on small-scale farming and manufacturing out of necessity. Several decades later, craft industries became the trendy alternative to large-scale industrial products that used too many chemicals, cut corners on quality, and took advantage of workers. So Vermont was primed for companies that focused on quality craft goods like Ben and Jerry's, Cabot Creamery, Darn Tough Socks, Green Mountain Coffee, Seventh Generation, etc. to take off and "Made in Vermont" became a tagline that symbolized socially responsible business and high-quality products.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Ben and Jerry is super expensive

[@jvaneck8991]

@@paxundpeace9970 Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is wholly owned by Royal Ahold Corporation of the Netherlands.

[@davidjohnson5557]

Explains why there are no whole foods there lmao

[@David-lr2tj]

Vermont's Conn.River Valley was an important part of the industrial revolution. Visit the Precision Machine Museum in Windsor. Water power was the primary driver for machines before the fossil fuel era.

[@GoBirds802]

I’m 35, born and raised in north west VT. This state is beautiful, but the cost of living and taxes force many out. VT legislature is more concerned about collecting tax revenue than sustaining the population.

[@BS-vx8dg]

Just came through your old neighborhood two months ago, crossing the US 2 bridge at Alburgh. What an incredibly beautiful place!

[@atrifle8364]

Yep. The government is completely indifferent to the flight of young VTers. Kids are just school bills. It's a retirement community now.

[@BS-vx8dg]

@@atrifle8364 Perhaps that's why I (a Boomer) found it so beautiful.

[@heatherkandzior2731]

It's forcing more and more out! Our tax is as high as florida and California at 11% and we have nothing compared to those two states. There's nothing here to do unless you ski/snowboard and can afford the expensive equipment and the daily lift ticket. Over the last ten years the snow falls and melts the next day in most of the state. Our summer lasts 3 -4 months. Then it's cold and everything is brown and dead! If I ever have enough money to move, I'd be gone from here asap.

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

Empty is good. Who needs a big population?!

[@michaellavin6417]

A friend of mine who has a place in Cavendish described the state as "one big, small town." He told me several towns do not have police departments, which draws those for whom gun rights rank superior to all others. If you need emergency medical services, e.g. a hospital-911, then you better hope you're on good terms with your "neighbors" and that they are home. Springfield, VT and Lebanon, NH are the only "close" regional hospitals. If someone breaks in, you place two calls: one to the police, the second to morgue. By the time the former arrives, they'll be bringing one of you out. The presenter also neglected to address Act 250. This legislation contributes in large part to the reason big box stores have no locations in Vermont and compounds the geographic and topographic reasons for a small population. Most Vermonters, from my limited experience, however, enjoy that. All the tough-guy Grizzly Adams' love the isolation until, for whatever reason, they truly need one or more of the above services. The irony is that in Vermont neighbors genuinely look out for one another, but there remain many desolate parts.

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

@@michaellavin6417 I wouldn't be too worried. It's not northern Alaska.

[@jeffyoung60]

I met a young woman in Los Angeles who was from Vermont. She told me that Vermont is a beautiful, wonderful place to grow up all the way to the end of college. But after that and you're now an adult responsible for yourself. It's time to leave Vermont for the big urban cities to find a job career which is very difficult to do in Vermont.

[@clav93089]

I'm from Vermont too, and can attest to this! Many people leave Vermont after college for jobs in Boston, NY, DC, etc. and then return once they're ready to start a family. So with few professional jobs available, recent college grads are competing for limited jobs with those in their early thirties who just spent eight years working in a big city. It's not uncommon to have waiters and waitresses with college degrees as that's one of the best options for many in their 20's who really want to stay in Vermont but cannot find another job.

[@FrigginCatsBruh]

Yeah, I wonder why there's no jobs. Real vermonters stay and create something or get addicted to drugs 😅

[@jeffyoung60]

@@clav93089 Isn't that really sad, to have to work as a waiter or waitress after college graduation? Have you ever considered that the Vermont politicians don't want economic growth. It would mean an influx of people into Vermont bringing higher rentals and real estate prices; more crime and pollution. No one wants the Californiazation of their state. Vermont politicians might be perfectly satisfied as things are right now, even if young Vermonters have to leave the state. Other states with small populations are quite happy that way as well even if it means poor economic and job prospects. No Californiazation here!

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

@@jeffyoung60 I grew up there and left in the late 70's, went back in the late 80's and watched the wealthy people come up from the large metro areas. They bought large parcels and forced the original dairy farmers out, not that giving that up to retire rich broke their hearts but it completely changed the politics. Now it's "forever green" and a bunch of rich NIMBY's.

[@hiphoppeep]

I’m also from Vermont and i feel the same. Once you cross the mass state line you won’t wanna go back. And the snow. Lord the snow…..

[@Vermontguy87]

Hi from Burlington Vermont!!!

[@elgatofelix8917]

Burlington Vermont is basically the Snortland Whoregon of the New England region

[@TheBirdGuy10]

Hello from Rutland Vermont!

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Hello from Essex/Colchester

[@Grahzzyvtvlog]

Wrj here 😂

[@greywolf845]

Hi from the Fingerlakes region! Give a "Good Morning" to Sen. Sanders for me!

[@TristanCunningham55]

11:21 fun fact: locals call it “Leb-a-nin” unlike the country, Lebanon

[@tehGazzy]

Actually, locals just call it "Leb" 🤷‍♂

[@crouton5892]

Yep. I made a post about Leba-nin here too!

[@WizardToby]

Never been to Vermont but it seems like a beautiful quaint little corner of America to visit.

[@samuelcrafts3657]

When you highlighted the Winooski River, you actually highlighted the Lamoille River. The Winooski is further south and runs parallel to i89 for much of its length.

[@ZakhadWOW]

the Winooski river was the one place of even minor industrialization, with al the mills on the river near Burlington. See Lawrence, Mass.

[@Da__goat]

Because there’s little economic reason. Just like every other of these videos. It’s all economics. No major harbors, no navigable rivers, heavily mountainous terrain makes development difficult. It’s the West Virginia of New England. People only move there to retire or to get away from Boston or NY. It has a really high cost of living despite its population and most of its population lives on the border with NY, specifically along the lake.

[@hiphoppeep]

Act 250 as well. This is more so the reason. Plenty of other mountainous areas including New Hampshire. In fact the whites are bigger than the greens. There is no reason Burlington couldn’t build up like Manchester other than the people prevent it. They don’t allow building. It is very difficult. And they wanna make it harder! Bc these extreme progressives have taken over. They want to get rid of roads and be bikes bikes bikes. They have prevented the building of the full spur route 189 for over 60 years. It’s a never ending battle up there. But under act. 250 1 person can derail an entire project. And it happens all the time. There is no progress in that state. Despite them claiming to be progressives.

[@timothkeyyprice]

What you didn’t mention was Vermont’s quarries, which provided the marble for many of Washington DC’s monuments. Skilled Italian craftsmen fashioned the stone, while the Irish built the railways to haul it to its destination. Consequently we have Celtic music and great Italian food.😉

[@eliplayz22]

I’m from Maine but I have family in Vermont. Once a year (with the obvious exception of the Covid years), we would visit that family. Vermont is a really nice state.

[@fredericperrin3279]

And so is Maine!

[@herschelwright4663]

The name Vermont is a combination of two French words vert and mont meaning green mountain.

[@timguillory6339]

Lack of jobs there I saved you time

[@Jamestown23_]

There's plenty of work here.

[@ericnicholls3955]

Give it to Canada and it would be populated with Canadians Overnight.

[@hirsch4155]

Very true. Eastern Canada doesn’t have mountains similar to Vermont plus it looks so damn cozy and has got that classic New England vibe. I’m Canadian. Yes I know the Laurentians are amazing but Vermont has that quaint mountain atmosphere.

[@maryjeanjones7569]

​@@hirsch4155 I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains in Northern New Brunswick. We do have the same mountain range as the Eastern States.

[@BS-vx8dg]

Oh, yes, it would almost certainly be the 4th most populous province in 5-10 years.

[@noobsfansub]

Sounds about right. If Vermont wasn't in the US I would have moved there a decade ago.

[@noobsfansub]

​@@maryjeanjones7569I'm from the Gaspé peninsula and half of my family is from Northern NB. Whenever I feel suffocated living in the Montreal area, Vermont feels like being back home.

[@mnap1595]

As a Vermonter, I can say this is a great historical overview but falls *very* short of modern day dynamics driving the state's nearly stagnant population.

[@hiphoppeep]

Yup no mention of act 250 and lack of development and extreme progressives. It’s getting worse too

[@tomb.6618]

It’s butt-cold up there, for what, 7 months of the year? Lots of folks want to live in a warmer climate.

[@Jamestown23_]

Then stay where you are.

[@rapidthrash1964]

Vermont has fewer people than Alaska

[@williamberry8895]

Well it's way too mountainous and the police are gestapo

[@paxundpeace9970]

Alaska is a few times larger and as soon as your neighboor things you have slept with his wife you better have to leave the state.

[@ZakhadWOW]

well it didnt have a fur or gold rush either, and no huge military bases. YOu can see Quebec from your window, but not Russia :P Anchorage ended up becoming a major metro area, with Fairbanks a good chunk behind. Not such industrial boom , as the ripple effect of all the people left behind from teh Gold Rush, and then the various industires like OIL. Once the oil boom hit, THEN Anchorage exploded.

[@Jamestown23_]

​@@williamberry8895 don't be a pos and break the law. Commonsense.

[@benjaminminty9602]

Do you realize how large Alaska is compared to Vermont?

[@ghost21501]

Vermont sounds like heaven.

[@UHaulShorts]

2 who?

[@ghost21501]

@@UHaulShorts smart people. Rural life, beautiful scenery, devoid of many people.

[@UHaulShorts]

@@ghost21501 Smart how, votang 4 a *socialist?*

[@naptime0143]

I wouldn't say that. For it being a rural state it's still a pretty expensive state with high taxes and not that much economic opportunity but it's cool to visit during the fall

[@ghost21501]

@@UHaulShorts I don't like that part, but if you can afford to live there, it seems like a fantastic state among the northeast states.

[@jdthewanderer]

I grew up in New York and now live in Maine, yet I have never been to Vermont. It's not on the way to anything. I-95 misses it, and I-87 doesn't have a good way to get there without taking a ferry across Lake Champlain. You really have to want to go there.

[@BarryWilkinson]

You can exit I-87 at Exit 20 (Lake George) and be at the Vermont border in 35 minutes, no ferry involved.

[@John572d4]

From Boston, it’s a Route 2 drive which is okay, but even that becomes just a two lane road in central Mass, generally then it’s up 91.

[@supremlyfoxylass]

And we like it like that😂

[@John572d4]

@@BarryWilkinson Do Saratoga people go there

[@stuartaaron613]

Two pieces of Vermont trivia: 1. Vermont's capital, Montpelier, is the only state capital without a McDonalds (I will not judge if that is a good or bad thing). 2. Vermont and New Hampshire had a dispute over jurisdiction over the Connecticut River. New Hampshire gave in and allowed Vermont to claim both banks of the river, not realizing at the time that it meant that Vermont has to cover the full cost of maintaining and replacing the bridges over the river.

[@tommyhaynes9157]

That is interesting

[@m1t2a1]

Vermont has the Minuteman Cafe though. It's next door to the Stratford Inn.

[@markkillian350]

Vermont also sued McDonalds over their maple syrup not being pure enough and won. That and your 1st piece of trivia are some of my favs to share :)

[@naptime0143]

Also fun fact Montpelier is the least populated state capital

[@southport5232]

New Hampshire owns the Connecticut River. They build / maintain the bridges.

[@bridgecross]

I’ve noticed that nobody can make a video about the New England region without using the word “nestled.”

[@cathyu.1487]

Moved there from the southwest US in the mid 2000s for a job and lived there for 10 years. Still live nearby in NH/MA. Love VT. People in VT were very friendly and welcoming of this flatlander. 😆

[@SomeDudeSomewhereOverThere]

Shhhh..... Don't tell everyone. I'm planning on moving up there soon

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Hopefully you can afford the rent. It's not cheap. Average for 1 bedroom is $1000 a month. If you're lucky

[@MrTakaMOSHi]

@@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812 Laughs in California prices

[@ConnorRianHickey]

I am next month, got a double wide north of Burlington for 330K 😅

[@SomeDudeSomewhereOverThere]

@@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812 coming from Seattle, that's a steal

[@jonm7888]

Come down to Ct. and see what $1,000 gets you. 😂

[@bnthern]

well presented - thx

[@dfuller81]

The story of the merino sheep in Vermont is really interesting. People started raising sheep, so a lot of the small farms were consolidated into larger farms. When people out west (with a whole lot more land) were able to sell their wool at lower prices, the economy collapsed and a lot of people moved from Vermont to the midwest or into Boston to work in the factories.

[@parihav]

I was actually looking into moving to Vermont and needed more info as to why so few people live here. Thanks for posting Geoff!

[@jvaneck8991]

There are five seasons in Vermont: Almost winter; winter; still winter; mud season; and Road Construction.

[@reagandogg9734]

Taxes are high, weather is bad, all kinds of hidden fees. Food is unbelievably expensive. Insurance is unreal. Expensive to own a vehicle which you need if you live in Vermont. Sales tax high. They even tax cloths. Home heating oil has hidden fees. I should know I just moved out of Vermont and glad I did!

[@drayne3750]

I’m currently remodeling a 50 room hotel on Bromley Mountain in Manchester,Vermont

[@snowygirl131]

Good luck!

[@southport5232]

There’s a great deli just down the road from you. Always stop there when heading to Manchester

[@teeder1]

Steve Truskoski.

[@shraddashradda]

According to this video you won’t fill it 🤭🤐

[@lobsterpilot]

Really interesting. I didn't anticipate the direction of the rivers as one of the factors.

[@MartinReiter143]

He left out the fact that the Connecticut River flows south all the way to Long Island Sound, and was a major highway for the development of inland Connecticut, central Massachusetts, and southern Vermont. It and the Hudson made it possible for the British to challenge the French. Remember, there were no roads then; the rivers were the highways. The first actual road in Vermont was built by the British military, connecting the Connecticut River to Lake Champlain.

[@ZakhadWOW]

yeah there are 3 moderate rivers that come down from Green Mountain ridge and feed into Lake Champlian, but the lake itself drains thru the larger RIchilieu river into the St. Lawrence, near Sorel, QC. FUN FACT: Lake Champlain is expressly included in the treaty ending the War of 1812, where UK and USA committed to never again building.manning warships the the Great Lakes or Lake Champlain. There was an actual Naval bombardment of Burlington back then.

[@MartinReiter143]

@@ZakhadWOW I read about sunken or scuttled American warships from the Revolution found between Valcour Island and the New York shore.

[@jeank8061]

I've long wondered this! Thanks, Geoff! :)

[@clav93089]

Act 250 is a law that keeps the state beautiful, but makes it very difficult to build anything. Any new commercial structure must go through extensive review and approval to ensure it does not interfere with the state's natural beauty. But it's part of why starting a business or building a residential development takes a long time, which stalls growth and inflates housing prices. The other reason is local opposition to new development. So many homes are old farm houses, and local residents make a big deal over any type of new construction, complaining that a four-story building will cast a shadow over their town or a row of townhomes will destroy the local character. So nothing gets built and homeowners must pay higher taxes per person to keep up with maintaining aging buildings and infrastructure.

[@hiphoppeep]

It’s awful. I hate it. It needs to be repealed. My entire family hates it. Thankfully I no longer live there and you’ll never find such a law in ms. But it is absolutely killing that state. I crossed the mass state line for the first time in college and it was tbh s life changing moment. I had cell service. There was 3 lanes. There was actual buildings and signs. Vermont is so isolating. And you don’t realize what you are missing til you leave. I’ll never go back

[@CMbassin]

That certainly doesn’t look to be the case in Chittenden county. Single family, duplexes, town houses and apartment buildings are going up at a rapid rate. There is more building going on than tradesmen and the utility company’s can keep up with.

[@alexdavis9696]

Vermont is an underrated state. I visited Stowe a while back and it was a cool place

[@hiltonian_1260]

The only reason that Vermont isn’t a national park is the Champlain Canal. It was finished in 1823, linking the lake with the Hudson River. With the ability to ship goods cheaply in and out of the Champlain Valley there was a population boom. By the 1870s Burlington was one of the biggest lumber ports in the world, transferring lumber that came down the Richelieu River from Canada. Still, anywhere farther than a days wagon ride from the lake was the backwoods. The population of Vermont was static in the mid 300,000 range from about 1850 to 1950. The mountains also inhibited the construction of railroads. There were lines up the Champlain Valley and the Connecticut River Valley, but nothing East/west south of the Winooski River. Access was as much a problem as land quality.

[@raymondmartin6737]

Nice state, being from NYC area, very popular for sking and in the summer too. Being now in New Hampshire, double the VT population a lot due to the southern part of the state being near to the Boston area. 😊

[@GabagoolFool]

Im starting my long trail thru hike tomorrow! Doing the whole state/ trail

[@Unhinged29]

One less person now, I got out a few weeks ago, living in beautiful and affordable South Dakota now

[@tommyhaynes9157]

I've heard about half of Vermont's population moved there in the last 50 years

[@joecalcagni9615]

I was born and raised in VT, lived in Maine for a few years, traveled the country for a year, and moved back to VT to get back to elderly family and start one of my own. The low population and relatively undeveloped landscape are big factors in why I came back, and the people of VT, on the whole, treat the landscape with a bit more respect than maybe the average American would. Don't expect many creature comforts; you won't find any huge shopping malls, department stores, or fast food places, and you need to be able to weather some very harsh climate (not just nasty cold in the winters, but flooding and/or humidity in summer as well). For these reasons, among others, Vermont has a vivid and colorful personality that you won't find in other states. Everywhere else I've been across the US feels more crowded, dirty, and "used". The wealth demographics are also pretty unique: a very large proportion of our citizens are upper-middle-class, which is why our state is usually known as "weirdly rich", which I would actually correct to "weirdly wealthy". There are very few rich people and there are a good number of low-income families as well. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, many people from urban areas have moved to VT or bought homes here and it is causing a huge slew of issues, primarily in the housing and real-estate markets, all while slowly degrading that "charm" we all love. I also believe development is not encouraged the same way you would see in our neighboring states, mostly to preserve the land and wildlife. New Hampshire and Maine to a pretty good job of this as well. We are a quirky little state for sure: there are some super progressive (bordering on communist) politics, but we also have a huge amount of freedom with our firearms and the Governor is Republican. You find a ton of hippies and you find a ton of rednecks. It is a great place to hide a doomsday shelter or an equally great place to start a homestead. I absolutely love it here! Advice for the city-slickers that move here or visit during the winter: snow tires are not a suggestion, they are a REQUIREMENT. Stop crashing into shit...

[@howardwhitcomb6381]

Taxes are so high here now so we are moving our family have been in Vermont for couple hundred + years and were leaving Vermont sucks now

[@danielsbizop]

Loved going to Burlington in the 1980’s across Lake Champlain from Plattsburgh as a kid. I remember the cobblestone streets in the downtown area

[@shawndavis228]

Taxation is terrible and the state tries to survive on services and not longer offers many export products. Born and raised there. Cant afford to retire there.

[@stickynorth]

Vermont in many many ways seems like a lost Canadian province akin to New Brunswick in both population and ethno-religious make up... Not to mention politically. Vermont seems like the only place really fully aligned with the Canadian vision of the world... I.e. progressive, high taxes on the wealthy, eco-conscious... But also the fact it's entirely dependent on Hydro-Quebec to keep the lights on once it switched off its own nuclear power plant, which even as a Canadian, seems nutty!

[@fredericperrin3279]

It's true that Northern VT feels more like Canada than the US.

[@ZakhadWOW]

and Burlington got rid of pits polluting coal(?) plant along the waterfront.

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

Denuclearization was a catastrophe, and that will become even more clear as we switch to unreliable renewables.

[@jgedutis]

Calling a Vermonter Canadian is fighting words. Just kidding. I live 9 miles from the Canadian border in Enosburg Falls. It sure feels like America here to me, until you go over the border.

[@andremauboussin2705]

A goegeous state. I have many fond memories of skiing in Vermont in my youth. I spent a week in the early 90s driving through the state and staying at B&Bs. People were friendly and so much beauty.

[@carolkafer3078]

What a ridiculous question. I’ve skied in Vermont a few times. It is beautiful with a lot of natural resources , but just like Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, it is COLD. I met someone from Minnesota with a tee shirt saying Minnesota 40 below keeps the rift raft out.

[@julieemig432]

I grew up in Bennington and we always liked it that way.

[@lowreztv]

Manchester, Nashua (and Lowell, MA) were KEY manufacturing areas back then: By 1912, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester, New Hampshire was the largest textile manufacturing company in the ENTIRE world. It had 15,000 employees and 40 mills. It produced almost 500 miles of cloth per day.

[@cadkoger]

Funny enough, I used to live in Vermont. It’s a lovely place, and it’s very rural. The big population center is Burlington, which isn’t a particularly big city, and most of the state lives in small towns and hamlets.

[@EagleExplores]

Im starting my long trail thru hike tomorrow

[@blogdesign7126]

That Thumbnail indicated that Vermont has the same population size close to Wyoming. Also the crazy part is that the entire populations of both Vermont and Wyoming can fit inside San Jose, California.

[@milansikela8383]

That's a trip when you think about it. According to Google, Vermont's population is 647,064 and Wyoming's population is 581,381 while San Jose's population is 971,233 (although it used to be over 1 million but has lost population since then). There have been population losses in several of the biggest cities in California like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Oakland, etc. However, according to some sources, the trend of population loss might be slowing down and/or reversing. The population numbers are as of 2022 so it has presumably changed since then. The trends of loss are based on comparisons between 2020 and 2024 which will undoubtedly also change. The entire San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland Consolidated Statistical Area (which includes the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties plus five more counties bordering the San Francisco Bay Area counties), there are almost 10 million people. This would make the San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland Consolidated Statistical Area larger in population than forty of the fifty states in the United States of America. Crazy shit.

[@Marquipuchi]

@@milansikela8383 all those cities will bounce back from their covid losses so its best to just use the 2020 population

[@blogdesign7126]

@@milansikela8383 True but then again I looked at Santa Clara County current population figures and its in that range. Also a better argument than the one I gave. The entire populations of Vermont and Wyoming will fit inside Manhattan or the Bronx given that its in that range of 1 to 1.6 million people.

[@geefreck]

Indeed, that's crazy. Crazy as that is, think about this - Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area. It has more total area than the next three largest states - Texas, California and Montana - combined. Alaska lies in the same north latitudes of the world as Scandanavia (part of Europe). Alaska is larger than both the Scandinavian countries of Norway and Sweden. In fact it's about 4/5 the size of both those country's total land area combined. They have populations of roughly 5.5 million and 10.5 million people, respectively. And Alaska has a population of just about 733,400. Not even a million. It's the 3rd least populated state. So all the people of the USA's largest state, by far, _could also fit inside San Jose CA._

[@1point8te]

Vermont is a highly taxed state. The budget of the state government is roughly the same as that of New Hampshire, but with half of the people, making the burden nearly twice as high as its neighbor.

[@digital_benadryl]

I wonder if the new Amtrak extension through Vermont will aid its development. it'd be even cooler if it extended to Montreal. We need to connect more with Quebec

[@Frequent200FLYswimmer]

More amtrak service addes to Vermont in 2022! Someday i will rode the route, Berkshire flyer

[@johnherlihy4739]

You have great geography videos! I am a substitute teacher in Ridgewood, NJ. I have noticed keen interest in geography, especially among some of the Asian boys! During snack break, some of the boys assemble around the world globe and challenge each other about finding different countries. When I teach them geography, they are fascinated about Vermont but especially Maine! They are shocked that Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it became a state. Even today, the residents of Maine in the south are so different than the Maine residents in the northern part of the state. Some of the Maine residents call people in southern Maine “Massholes”!

[@sgrant9814]

Green mountain/vermont = vert/green - mount/ mountain. as well, Pls note your depiction of where the appalachians are is incorrect in northern nys. They don't exist there. They are the adirondacks, a totally different, and much older mountain range. the catskills, greens, whites, berkshires are all part of the Appalachians,,,not the adirondacks

[@RossSpeirs]

As someone who grew up in Southern Alberta but now lives on the west coast, I get why not that many people want to deal with cold, snowy winters. If a state doesn’t have enough industry to justify a huge population draw, the population just never really develops. The only reason places like Edmonton in Canada can have over 1 million people is the oil money. I guess Vermont reminds me a bit of the more rural parts of Ontario and Quebec.

[@Nerple]

The area of the green mountain range that you highlighted below the state line in Massachusetts is known locally as the Berkshire Mountains.

[@user-ek4bm2qr4v]

The entire northeast is to expensive to live in.

[@paulsmith8510]

I am from New Hampshire. I love Vermont, but New Hampshire has all of the same and more. We have no sales nor income tax, a tiny coastline to the ocean, bigger mointains... we don't have a Lake Champlain but Winnipesaukee/Lakes Region is also gorgeous. There are a lot of great things about Vermont, but there is a reason NH has double the population. In the end, most people don't want to live in either state.

[@history_leisure]

Vermont + Maine + W. Virginia = broke off from existing states (technically)

[@diaphanouswaffle]

Seeing Brattleboro (with NH's Mt. Wantastiquet in background) at the 8:45 mark I was like "hey, that's my downtown-cool !". Born & raised in Maine, when I was a teen my family moved to NY state, then as an adult I chose to move to VT & have never regretted it...have lived here longer than anyplace else (nearly 29 yrs). There are aspects I like & that I dislike, but overall am quite content to be right where I am :)

[@ReviewTimeWithTim]

As a person from VT that's the way we like it small. What you would not find is that a lot of local towns have land size to home build requirements. Want to build a house you need to have 3acers or more to build. Shopping centers are squeezed into zones. Also the granite industry is big in VT Barre VT. Also the Capital Montpelier doesn't have any fast food joints.

[@TheEdwardfitzgerald]

Great Shirt! Gotta send me a link!

[@sublimebud]

All I knew about Vermont is you had to be careful and watch out for Super Troopers ......

[@xCemeteryGatesx]

Watching from Rutland, Vermont 🙂

[@RoadTripTelevision]

When I was young in the late 60's, 70's and early 80's, our family visited Vermont every summer 🌞. My late uncle had a cottage on Ticklenaked Pond in Ryegate, VT off of I-91 (located in east-central VT, near the NH border). We would visit downtown Wells River, VT and Woodsville, NH, right on the border. Miss visiting there. 🙁

[@user-xy7lf1tx1d]

Being a former New Englander, (Connecticut), I am very familiar with Vermont. I used to love going to Vermont for weekend camping trips. I always dreamed of living there. What kept me away was the employment situation. Not many good-paying jobs to go around. Now that I am retired and can afford to live in Vermont, the snow and ice and cold weather keep me from moving there. (I live in Florida now). So in a nutshell, poor salaries and cold weather keep people from living in a beautiful and picturesque place like Vermont.

[@trinasyoutube]

I’ve always wanted to visit Vermont. They sell Cheeses made in Vermont here in our grocery stores in NC & it’s my favorite!

[@maikotter9945]

6:02 ~ 4 395 feet above sea level ~ 1 340 meters above sea level

[@michauxburn]

From info found online, Vermont has 70 residents per sq.mi.- Maine has 45 per sq. mi.

[@richardowens9170]

Your historical explanation of the impact of geography on Vermont's early development is incomplete. You assert that trade was difficult to the south because the principal waterways flowed north toward Montreal rather than south to NYC. That is not correct because you ignore the impact of the very early canal development in the area and the fact that the Richelieu River was not navigable for agricultural cargo. Although the Richelieu River runs from Lake Champlain into the Saint Lawrence, it was not navigable by barges. Southward barge travel all the way from Burlington to NYC began when the Hudson/Champlain Canal linked lake Champlain's southern end to the navigable stretch of the Hudson River in 1823--about the same time as the Erie Canal opened access to the midwest. The Camby canal, which links the northern end of the lake to the Saint Lawrence (and bypasses the rapids on the Richelieu River) was not completed until 1843 -- twenty years later. Thus, as of the 1820s, Vermonters' access to markets in New York (at least those on the western side of the Green Mountains) was easier than anywhere else in the interior New England. The biggest impact on Vermont's economy and population growth in the first half of the 19th century was a byproduct of the Napoleonic wars which had an unexpected and long-lasting impact on Vermont's economy and population. You don't mention that anywhere and I wonder if you are aware of it.

[@ericdanielski4802]

Nice video.

[@gsmith207]

great channel! being from Maine we get a lot of out of State’ahs but dont see many VT plates. can see why lol. I wouldnt leave either. good peeps

[@TQFMTradingStrategies]

“Let’s ask Wally with the weather, Wally?” Wally; “ITS F***ING COLD”

[@shawndavis228]

Vermont had a very productive copper and granite mining. Go to the Rock of Ages in Barre, VT. Looking down in a deep granite quarry is like looking of the top of the Empire State Building in NYC.

[@worldview730]

Wow, would love to have a shot at living there

[@michaelangelo4147]

I’ve been living in Rhode Island for the last 31 years. Traveling through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, I found myself experiencing quite a bit amount of bigotry, hatred and even the attitude of why are you even here vibe from some of its residence that feels more like being in most southern states. Although things have definitely changed over the years in the southern states, where there seems to be a more free like friendly atmosphere now, where people tend to approach you more in conversation than years ago back in the 80’s. Vermont is a beautiful state and Lake Champlain is a wonderful sight. I generally do the road trip by riding the motorcycle around into New York and back down for the 3 days trip.

[@RMMomma4Eva]

I figured this would be the case. The laws and policies restricting development that are supposedly to retain Vermont 's beauty are really in place to keep minorities out.