Bristol, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bristol, Vermont
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Main Street in Bristol in the fall
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Location in Addison County and the state of Vermont.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Addison |
| Chartered | 1762 |
| Settled | 1783 |
| Organized | 1789 |
| Communities | Bristol Rocky Dale |
| Area | |
| • Total | 42.2 sq mi (109.2 km2) |
| • Land | 41.5 sq mi (107.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,782 |
| • Density | 91/sq mi (35.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
05443
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| Area code | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-09025 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462053 |
Bristol is a charming town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. It's a classic New England community. The town was officially started on June 26, 1762. Benning Wentworth, the governor of New Hampshire at the time, gave the special document (called a charter) to Samuel Averill and 63 other people. They named the town "Pocock" after a famous English admiral, but it later became Bristol.
In 2020, about 3,782 people lived here. Main Street is the heart of Bristol, where you'll find most of the shops and businesses. Bristol is also famous for the Lord's Prayer Rock.
Contents
Exploring Bristol's Location and Landscape
Bristol is located in the northeastern part of Addison County, Vermont. It sits at the western base of the beautiful Green Mountains. The New Haven River flows through the town center. This river comes from the mountains and eventually joins Otter Creek.
How Big is Bristol?
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bristol covers a total area of about 109.2 square kilometers (42.2 square miles). Most of this area, about 107.5 square kilometers (41.5 square miles), is land. The remaining 1.7 square kilometers (0.7 square miles) is water, which is about 1.57% of the total area.
Bristol's Main Settlement
The main part of the town is also called Bristol. This area is a "census-designated place," which means it's a specific area recognized for population counting. It's located north of the New Haven River, slightly northwest of the town's geographic center.
Who Lives in Bristol?
Bristol has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1790, only 211 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 3,782 people.
Bristol's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 211 | — | |
| 1800 | 665 | 215.2% | |
| 1810 | 1,179 | 77.3% | |
| 1820 | 1,051 | −10.9% | |
| 1830 | 1,274 | 21.2% | |
| 1840 | 1,233 | −3.2% | |
| 1850 | 1,344 | 9.0% | |
| 1860 | 1,355 | 0.8% | |
| 1870 | 1,365 | 0.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,579 | 15.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,828 | 15.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,061 | 12.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,005 | −2.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,952 | −2.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,832 | −6.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,939 | 5.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,988 | 2.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,159 | 8.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,744 | 27.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,293 | 20.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,762 | 14.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,788 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,894 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,782 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,788 people living in Bristol. About 37.1% of the households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.58 people. The median age in town was 37 years old.
Learning and Schools in Bristol
Bristol is part of the Mount Abraham Unified School District. This district serves several nearby towns, including Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven, and Starksboro. In Bristol, students attend Bristol Elementary School. Older students go to Mount Abraham Union Middle/High School.
Bristol's Economy and Fun Facts
Bristol was once home to a company called Freemountain Toys. They were famous for making stuffed toys shaped like vegetables, called Vegimals. You might even recognize them! The "Peas in a Pod" characters in the movie Toy Story 3 were inspired by these Vegimal peas.
Bristol on Screen
Bristol has also been a filming location! The movie 'The Wizard of Loneliness' (1988) was filmed here. This movie was set during World War II. The film crew even installed old-fashioned street lights on Main Street, and some of them are still there today.
Bristol's Weather
| Climate data for Bristol, Vermont | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F | 25.5 | 29.1 | 37.6 | 51.1 | 63.9 | 72.1 | 76.3 | 74.5 | 66.9 | 54.7 | 43.5 | 31.3 | 52.3 |
| Daily mean °F | 15.4 | 18.3 | 27.0 | 41.0 | 52.9 | 61.5 | 65.8 | 64.0 | 56.1 | 44.8 | 34.9 | 22.5 | 42.1 |
| Mean daily minimum °F | 5.4 | 7.5 | 16.5 | 30.9 | 41.9 | 51.1 | 55.2 | 53.8 | 45.3 | 34.7 | 26.4 | 13.6 | 32.0 |
| Average precipitation inches | 2.80 | 2.40 | 3.10 | 3.80 | 4.40 | 4.60 | 5.00 | 5.40 | 4.10 | 5.00 | 4.10 | 3.50 | 48.00 |
| Average snowfall inches | 26.2 | 23.7 | 22.1 | 9.3 | 0.6 | — | — | — | — | 2.3 | 11.0 | 29.1 | 124.3 |
| Mean daily maximum °C | −3.6 | −1.6 | 3.1 | 10.6 | 17.7 | 22.3 | 24.6 | 23.6 | 19.4 | 12.6 | 6.4 | −0.4 | 11.3 |
| Daily mean °C | −9.2 | −7.6 | −2.8 | 5.0 | 11.6 | 16.4 | 18.8 | 17.8 | 13.4 | 7.1 | 1.6 | −5.3 | 5.6 |
| Mean daily minimum °C | −14.8 | −13.6 | −8.6 | −0.6 | 5.5 | 10.6 | 12.9 | 12.1 | 7.4 | 1.5 | −3.1 | −10.2 | 0.0 |
| Average precipitation mm | 71.1 | 61.0 | 78.7 | 96.5 | 111.8 | 116.8 | 127.0 | 137.2 | 104.1 | 127.0 | 104.1 | 88.9 | 1,219.2 |
| Average snowfall cm | 66.5 | 60.2 | 56.1 | 23.6 | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | 5.8 | 27.9 | 73.9 | 315.7 |
| Average precipitation days | 15.8 | 12.5 | 14.7 | 13.8 | 15.1 | 15.0 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 14.5 | 14.9 | 16.1 | 170.5 |
| Average snowy days | 13.3 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 4.0 | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | 1.2 | 5.7 | 12.5 | 57.8 |
Bristol experiences a climate typical of Vermont. Summers are generally warm, and winters are cold with plenty of snow. The wettest months are usually August and July. The snowiest months are January and December.
Famous People from Bristol
Bristol has been home to several notable individuals:
- Chris Bohjalian – A well-known writer.
- Jeremiah Curtin – A writer and translator.
- Walter C. Dunton – A Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
- Ezra Butler Eddy – A Canadian businessman and political figure.
- Ethan Sonneborn – An activist who ran for Vermont governor in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Bristol (Vermont) para niños
