1. Vermont became the 14th state on August 24, 1791. It was the first state to be admitted to the Union following the original 13 colonies. Vermont was originally claimed by both New Hampshire and New York, but it became an independent republic in 1777 and was recognized as a state by the United States Congress in 1791.

2. The Battle of Bennington, a key Revolutionary War battle, took place on August 16, 1777. However, it was the victory at Bennington that contributed significantly to the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga, which was a turning point of the American Revolutionary War.

3. The first public library in Vermont was established in Middlebury on August 24, 1803. The library was funded by a group of local citizens, and its collection grew significantly over the years. Today, the library is known as the Ilsley Public Library and is still in operation, with a collection of over 60,000 books.

4. The Vermont Eugenics Survey, a study focused on identifying and sterilizing individuals deemed "unfit" to reproduce, began on August 24, 1925. The survey was conducted by the University of Vermont and received funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. It ultimately led to the forced sterilization of over 200 Vermonters, many of whom were poor, disabled, or Indigenous.

5. On August 24, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused widespread damage and flooding in Vermont. It was one of the worst disasters in the state's history, with over $700 million in damages and 6 fatalities. Many Vermonters came together to rebuild their communities in the aftermath of the storm, and the state has since implemented measures to improve resiliency in the face of future natural disasters.