Vermont became the 14th U.S. state after the original 13 colonies.
Vermont joined the Union on March 4, 1791. Before statehood, the territory existed as the Vermont Republic, which declared independence in 1777 and adopted its own constitution. Vermont’s admission followed an agreement that settled its long-running boundary dispute with New York.
Vermont’s name comes from the French phrase “vert mont,” meaning “green mountain,” a reference to the Green Mountains running through the region. The state’s admission also changed the design of the United States flag: the 1795 Flag Act added two stars and two stripes for Vermont and Kentucky. Congress later returned the stripes to 13 while continuing to add stars for new states.