1. Vermont became the 14th state in the United States on January 20, 1791. The state was originally part of New Hampshire, but residents petitioned Congress for statehood following the American Revolution.

2. The first state constitution was adopted on January 20, 1777, during a meeting of delegates in Westminster. The document established Vermont as an independent republic, and was considered one of the most democratic and egalitarian constitutions of its time.

3. In 1830, the Vermont State House in Montpelier was partially destroyed by fire on January 20. The building was rebuilt, and stands today as one of the oldest state capitols still in use in the United States.

4. On January 20, 1930, a major ice storm struck Vermont, causing widespread damage and power outages across the state. Trees and power lines were coated in a thick layer of ice, making travel and communication difficult for many Vermonters.

5. In 2009, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy was sworn in as president pro tempore of the United States Senate on January 20. Leahy, who has represented Vermont in the Senate since 1975, was the first Vermonter to hold the position since 1911.