Vermont 2014
The capital city of Vermont is Montpelier, located in the center of the state. It is the smallest state capital in the United States, with a population of just over 8,000 people. According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Vermont is Burlington, located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. With a population of approximately 42,000 people, Burlington is the most populous city in the state. It has a vibrant downtown area that features many restaurants and shops as well as an extensive waterfront boardwalk and park system. Burlington is also home to several colleges and universities including University of Vermont and Champlain College.
Politics of Vermont in 2014
The politics of Vermont in 2014 were largely driven by the upcoming gubernatorial election, which was held in November of that year. The incumbent governor, Peter Shumlin, faced strong competition from his Republican challenger, Scott Milne. The election was seen as a referendum on Shumlin’s support for single-payer health care and other progressive policies.
In the months leading up to the election, there was much debate over issues such as energy policy, education reform, and taxation. Both candidates proposed plans to reduce energy costs for Vermonters while promoting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Shumlin touted his record on education reform while Milne argued that more needs to be done to ensure that students receive the best possible education. On taxation, both candidates proposed plans to reduce taxes for middle-class families while increasing taxes for the wealthy.
The election ultimately resulted in a narrow victory for Shumlin who won re-election with 50 percent of the vote compared to Milne’s 46 percent. While some viewed this as a sign of Vermonters’ continued support for progressive policies, others noted that it was likely due to name recognition rather than any real enthusiasm for Shumlin’s agenda.
In addition to the gubernatorial race, there were several other important political events in Vermont during 2014. In June of that year, Vermont became the first state in the nation to pass a law legalizing same-sex marriage without being forced to do so by a court ruling or popular vote initiative. This marked an important milestone in LGBT rights history and set an example for other states across the country looking to pass similar legislation.
Overall, 2014 was an important year politically in Vermont with many issues being debated and discussed throughout the year leading up to the gubernatorial election in November. From energy policy and education reform to same-sex marriage and tax reform, there were many issues at play during this pivotal time in Vermont’s history.
Population of Vermont in 2014
In 2014, according to beautyphoon, the population of Vermont was estimated to be 626,042 people. According to the United States Census Bureau, Vermont had a population density of 67.4 people per square mile, making it the second-least densely populated state in the country. The population of Vermont is largely rural and spread across the state’s nine counties. The largest city in Vermont is Burlington, with an estimated population of 42,417 in 2014. Other major cities in Vermont include Rutland (16,495), South Burlington (17,904), Barre (8,459), and Montpelier (7,855).
Vermont is one of the least diverse states in terms of race and ethnicity. According to census data from 2014, 94 percent of the state’s population was white with only 4 percent being black or African American and 1 percent being Asian or Pacific Islander. Hispanics or Latino Americans made up 2 percent of Vermont’s population while Native Americans accounted for 0.5 percent.
In terms of religion, most Vermonters are Christian with a reported 44 percent identifying as such in 2014. Other religious affiliations included Jewish (1%), Buddhist (1%), Muslim (<1%), Hindu (<1%), Unitarian Universalist (<1%) and other non-Christian religions (<1%).
The median age in Vermont was 41 years old in 2014 with a gender split that favored women slightly at 51 percent compared to 49 percent for men. In terms of age distribution among adults aged 18-64 years old, 33% were between 18-24 years old; 32% were 25-44 years old; 20% were 45-64 years old; 10% were 65+ years old; and 5% were under 18 years old.
The median household income for all households in Vermont was $53,017 as reported by the U.S Census Bureau in 2014 which was slightly higher than the national average at that time ($51,939). In terms of educational attainment among adults aged 25+ years old living in Vermont at that time, 89% had earned a high school diploma or higher while 36% had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Overall,the population of Vermont during 2014 was largely rural, Caucasian, Christian, middle class, and well educated. These demographics have remained relatively constant over time despite some slight changes such as an increase in median household income and educational attainment levels since then.
Economy of Vermont in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, the economy of Vermont was largely driven by the services sector, which accounted for the majority of the state’s output. This sector included retail and wholesale trade, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, professional and technical services, educational services, finance and insurance, real estate rental and leasing, transportation and warehousing. Other important sectors included manufacturing; construction; agriculture; mining; forestry; fishing; hunting and trapping.
The state’s largest employers were IBM Corporation in Essex Junction with 6100 employees; University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington with 5400 employees; Global Foundries in Essex Junction with 5000 employees; Walmart Stores Inc. in Williston with 3000 employees; Green Mountain Power Corp. in Colchester with 2500 employees; Dealer.com in Burlington with 2000 employees; Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe with 1500 employees; Killington Ski Resort in Killington with 1000 employees; IBM Corporation in Essex Junction with 800 employees; Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., South Burlington with 600 employees; Cabot Creamery Cooperative Inc., Cabot with 500 Employees; Keurig Green Mountain Inc., Waterbury Center with 400 Employees; National Life Group / Life Insurance Co., Montpelier 400 Employees; King Arthur Flour Co. Inc., Norwich 400 Employees; Price Chopper Supermarkets Inc., Wilton 300 Employees.
Vermont had a highly educated workforce that provided a competitive advantage for businesses operating within the state. The median household income was $56,990 (in 2013) which was slightly higher than the national median of $52,250 (in 2013). The unemployment rate stood at 4 percent as of November 2014 which was slightly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.8 percent during that same period. The poverty rate was 11 percent as compared to 14 percent nationally (in 2012). In 2014 Vermont had one of the lowest foreclosure rates nationally at 0.4%, while nationally it stood at 1%. This low foreclosure rate can be attributed to strong housing market fundamentals such as low vacancy rates due to limited housing supply relative to demand from an influx of new residents into Vermont over recent years as well as consistently rising home prices throughout most parts of the state throughout 2014.
Events Held in Vermont in 2014
Vermont has long been a popular destination for tourists and residents alike, with its picturesque mountains, rolling green hills, and charming small towns. 2014 was no exception, as the state hosted a number of exciting events throughout the year.
In February, the Burlington Winter Festival took place in downtown Burlington. This event featured ice sculptures, live music performances, and a variety of winter-themed activities for all ages. The annual Stowe Winter Carnival was held in March, with activities such as ice skating on the outdoor rink at Trapp Family Lodge, snowshoeing in the nearby hills, and an impressive fireworks display.
The Vermont Maple Festival was held in April in St. Albans. This event celebrated all things maple-related with breakfast buffets featuring maple syrup dishes from around the state, family-friendly activities such as face painting and balloon animals, and a maple syrup cooking competition where contestants could win prizes for their creations.
In May, the Shelburne Farms’ Annual Plant Sale & Festival took place at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne. This event showcased locally grown plants and flowers for sale to visitors along with food vendors selling local fare and live music performances by local bands.
The summer months brought many outdoor events to Vermont including The Tour de Heifer bike ride in June which raised money for Heifer International’s work around the world; The Green Mountain Stage Race bicycle race which ran across seven stages of Vermont’s beautiful countryside; The Vermont Dairy Festival which featured live music performances from local favorites; The Craft Brew Race which had runners running through five craft breweries while tasting samples along the way; And The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival which celebrated jazz music from around the world over nine days of performances by both international stars and local up-and-coming musicians alike.
The fall season saw festivals such as The Taste of Cambridge which showcased food from many of Cambridge’s restaurants; The Killington Brewfest which had craft beers from around New England on tap; And Oktoberfest Burlington where visitors could enjoy German beer samples along with traditional German food like bratwurst and sauerkraut while listening to live polka music outside on Church Street Marketplace.
Finally, December brought holiday cheer to Vermont with events like Santa’s Arrival Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Rutland where kids could meet Santa Claus himself; A Holiday Open House at Ben & Jerry’s Factory where visitors could sample some of their favorite flavors while taking part in festive activities like decorating gingerbread houses; And Holidays on Ice at Waterbury Reservoir where visitors could go ice skating outdoors among twinkling lights strung up along its banks while sipping hot cocoa or spiced apple cider next to an open fire pit under a starry sky above them.
