Williston, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Williston, Vermont
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Old Brick Tavern, Williston
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| Motto(s):
"Old town charm, new town spirit"
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Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont
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 Williston, Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Chittenden |
| Communities | Williston North Williston Kirby Corner |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30.6 sq mi (79.2 km2) |
| • Land | 30.1 sq mi (77.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,103 |
| • Density | 330.39/sq mi (127.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
05495
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| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-84475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462263 |
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It used to be mostly farmland. In recent years, it has grown into a busy area near Burlington, which is the biggest city in Vermont.
In 2020, about 10,103 people lived in Williston. This was more than 1,000 extra people since 2010! Williston is one of the fastest-growing towns in Vermont. It has also become a major shopping spot for the Burlington area and much of central and northern Vermont. The town has a special historic area in its main village that is listed on the National Register.
Contents
History of Williston
The town of Williston was officially created in 1763. This happened through a special grant from Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire. It was named after Samuel Willis, a merchant from New York. He was one of the first 65 people to receive land there, but he never actually visited the town.
Williston is known for its beautiful old buildings from the 1800s. Many of these are made of brick. They include the "old Brick Church" from 1832, which is a great example of Gothic church design. The building that is now the Town Hall was once a Universalist Church, built in 1860. The Town Annex used to be a Methodist Church from 1848.
On the west side of town, you'll find Vermont's largest shopping area. It has many big stores and restaurants. People from all over the region come here to shop.
The Chittenden family lived in Williston for many generations. The county Williston is in, Chittenden County, is named after them. Many of their old family homes are still standing in town. Thomas Chittenden, who was the first governor of Vermont, lived in Williston. He is buried in the central cemetery, where there is a large memorial for him.
Important Events in Williston's History
On July 7, 1984, an Amtrak train carrying 287 people had an accident. It hit a landslide and went off the tracks. Five people died, and about 200 were hurt. This accident led to one of the biggest emergency responses Vermont had ever seen.
Geography of Williston
Williston is located in the middle of Chittenden County. The Winooski River forms its northern border. To the west, it borders the city of South Burlington.
Williston covers about 79.2 square kilometers (30.6 square miles) in total. Most of this area, about 77.9 square kilometers (30.1 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles), is water.
Brooks and Waterways
Allen Brook flows through the center of Williston. It starts at Mud Pond and flows north through the village. Then it turns northwest and joins the Winooski River. This brook is about 10 miles long and drains an area of 6,900 acres.
Muddy Brook flows along the western edge of Williston. It forms the border between Williston and South Burlington.
Population and People of Williston
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 471 | — | |
| 1800 | 836 | 77.5% | |
| 1810 | 1,185 | 41.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,246 | 5.1% | |
| 1830 | 1,608 | 29.1% | |
| 1840 | 1,554 | −3.4% | |
| 1850 | 1,669 | 7.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,479 | −11.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,441 | −2.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,342 | −6.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,161 | −13.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,176 | 1.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,000 | −15.0% | |
| 1920 | 929 | −7.1% | |
| 1930 | 961 | 3.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,021 | 6.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,182 | 15.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,484 | 25.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,187 | 114.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,843 | 20.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,887 | 27.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,650 | 56.5% | |
| 2010 | 8,698 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 10,103 | 16.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 8,698 people living in Williston. There were 2,921 households and 2,141 families. The town had about 252 people per square mile.
Most people in Williston were White (95.6%). There were also smaller groups of African American (1.0%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (2.0%) residents. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (36.8%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.1%) were married couples. The average household had 2.59 people.
The median age in Williston was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39 and half were older. About 27.5% of the population was under 18.
The median income for a household in Williston was $61,467. For families, it was $69,762. This is the middle income level for households and families in the town.
Economy and Jobs in Williston
Williston is a big center for shopping. In 2007, the town had $434.8 million in retail sales, which was the highest in Vermont. The area called Taft Corners has many large stores and popular restaurant chains. These are places you might not find elsewhere in Vermont.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has a large office in Williston. This is a government center for law enforcement.
Education in Williston
Williston has two main schools for younger students. These are Allen Brook School, which teaches Pre-K through 2nd grade, and Williston Central School, for grades 3 through 8.
The Williston school district is part of the Champlain Valley School District. This means that high school students from Williston go to Champlain Valley Union High School. The town helps support this high school with taxes.
Getting Around Williston: Transportation
Bus Service
The Chittenden County Transportation Authority provides bus service in Williston. These buses help people get to work or other places in South Burlington and Burlington.
Main Roads
Interstate 89 goes through Williston from east to west. There's an exit for Williston just south of the town center.
U.S. Route 2, also known as Williston Road, also runs east to west through town. Williston's historic village is located along this road.
Vermont Route 2A goes north and south through Williston. It connects the town to Hinesburg and Essex Junction. Many of Williston's big stores are located along Route 2A. This road crosses both I-89 and U.S. Route 2.
Notable People from Williston
Many interesting people have lived in Williston, including:
- Edwin Atwater, a Canadian businessperson and politician.
- James Edmund Burke, a former mayor of Burlington, Vermont.
- Lucius E. Chittenden, a lawyer and writer who worked for the U.S. Treasury during the American Civil War.
- Martin Chittenden, a U.S. congressman and governor of Vermont.
- Thomas Chittenden, who helped create the Republic of Vermont and was its first governor.
- Ben Cohen, who helped start the famous ice cream company Ben & Jerry's.
- Jerry Greenfield, the other co-founder of Ben & Jerry's.
- Raul Hilberg, a historian who was a leading expert on the Holocaust.
- Virginia V. Lyons, a member of the Vermont Senate.
- Ross Miner, a figure skater and coach.
- Haviland Smith, a retired officer from the CIA.
- Russell S. Taft, a chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
Images for kids
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Williston Central School
See also
In Spanish: Williston (Vermont) para niños
