Vermont's verdant valleys and mountains – bordered by Canada to the north, New York to the west, Massachusetts to the south and New Hampshire to the east – were settled by both the British and French early in the 18th century. After the French were defeated in the French and Indian War, Vermonters declared their independence from England separately from the original 13 colonies – though the Continental Congress did not recognize this separation.

Among Vermont’s most famous contributions to the American Revolution are the “Green Mountain Boys,’’ a band of patriots led by Ethan Allen who formed a militia to fight in the war and later became among the founding fathers of the state. After 14 years as a self-declared independent republic, Vermont was admitted to the Union as the 14th state in 1791.

The Green Mountain State derives its name from the French, “montagne verte.”

The sweetest product of Vermont’s forests is its renowned maple syrup, the purest labeled “Grade A.” Vermont leads the nation in maple syrup production, with nearly 2 million gallons a year accounting for nearly half of the total U.S. syrup crop.

A dairy-producing state, its most famous brand is Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream , a nationally known product from a company founded in the northern city of Burlington, situated on Lake Champlain, in 1978. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield sold their business to Unilever for $326 million. Another home-grown Vermont product made founder Robert Stiller a billionaire – Green Mountain Coffee Roasters , made popular nationally in pods for Keurig coffee-makers.