1. Vermont officially became the 14th state in the United States on July 31, 1791. This came after the state had declared its independence from Great Britain in 1777 and operated as a republic for 14 years.

2. The Battle of Bennington, a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War, took place on August 16, 1777. However, the battle's precursor was fought on July 31 in nearby Hubbardton. The Battle of Hubbardton was a small engagement that allowed the American soldiers to regroup and stockpile supplies before the larger conflict at Bennington.

3. In 1856, President James Buchanan signed a bill that established the Essex County Court House in Guildhall, Vermont, which still stands today as an important historic landmark.

4. On July 31, 1956, the resort town of Stowe, Vermont was hit by a devastating flood that caused extensive damage and loss of life. The flooding was caused by the collapse of the Cote Dame Marie Dam, which inundated the town with water and debris.

5. In 1980, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy played a key role in the passage of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as Superfund. The legislation was created to clean up hazardous waste sites across the country, and it has since funded thousands of cleanup projects in Vermont and beyond.