Editing Williston, Vermont

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Williston, Vermont
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    = "Old town charm, new town spirit"

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Old Brick Tavern, Williston, Vermont.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Old Brick Tavern, Williston
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Chittenden County Vermont incorporated and unincorporated areas Williston highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]] and the state of [[Vermont]]
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[Vermont]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Vermont|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden]]
|parts_type               = Communities
|parts                    = Williston<br>North&nbsp;Williston<br>Kirby&nbsp;Corner

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             =
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            =
|leader_name1             =
|established_title        =
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  =  Imperial
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2           = 79.2
|area_land_km2            = 77.9
|area_water_km2           = 1.3

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 10103
|population_density_km2   = auto
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      =
|elevation_m              = 184
|elevation_ft             = 604
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|26|43|N|73|5|57|W|region:US-VT|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 05495
|area_code                = [[Area code 802|802]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 50-84475<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1462263<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.town.williston.vt.us}}
|footnotes                =
}}
'''Williston''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]], [[Vermont]], United States. Originally rural and laid out with many farms, in recent decades it has developed into a thriving suburb of [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], the largest city in the state of Vermont. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of Williston was 10,103, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Williston%20town,%20Chittenden%20County,%20Vermont&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Census - Table Results - Williston town, Chittenden County, Vermont| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref> Williston is one of the fastest-growing towns in Vermont, and while becoming more populated, it has also developed as a major retail center for the [[Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area|Burlington area]] as well as much of central and northern Vermont.<ref name="bfp080113">{{cite book | author = McLean, Dan |title = Retail Sales by the numbers | publisher = Burlington Free Press | date = July 13, 2008}}</ref> The town has a National Register Historic District in its unincorporated central village. 

==History==
[[File:Congregational Church, Williston, Vermont.jpg|thumb|left|alt=brick Congregational church in Williston, Vermont in winter|Williston Congregational Church]]
The town was chartered in the New Hampshire Grants in 1763 as a grant from Governor Benning Wentworth of the colony of New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=25274|title=Profile for Williston, Vermont|publisher=[[ePodunk]]|access-date=May 8, 2010}}</ref> It was named for Samuel Willis, a New York merchant who was one of the original 65 grantees, though he never visited the town that was named in his honor.

A private, boarding high school, Pine Ridge, was founded in 1968 to serve learning-disabled students. It closed in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Walsh|first=Molly|title=Pine Ridge School to close|work=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=July 5, 2013|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/burlingtonfreepress/access/1703942641.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+20%2C+2009&author=Molly+Walsh&pub=The+Burlington+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Pine+Ridge+School+to+close|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130705143236/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/burlingtonfreepress/access/1703942641.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+20,+2009&author=Molly+Walsh&pub=The+Burlington+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Pine+Ridge+School+to+close|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2013|date=March 20, 2009}}</ref>

The town is notable for its fine and well preserved central collection of brick nineteenth century civic and religious buildings including the "old Brick Church" of 1832, considered one of Vermont's finest country Gothic churches; the former Universalist Church, now the Town Hall, of 1860; the former Methodist Church of 1848, now the Town Annex; former Town Hall of approximately 1840. Also is the regal Federated Church of 1867, formerly the Methodist Episcopal Church, designed by noted Boston architect John Stevens. On the western side of the town, bordering South Burlington, is Vermont's largest mercantile development with numerous "big box" stores and other commercial activities, making it a destination from all over the region.

The town was also the home of several generations of the Chittenden family, for whom the surrounding county, Vermont's most populous, is named. A number of beautiful original Chittenden family homes still stand in the town. Thomas Chittenden, the President of the Vermont Republic, and first governor of the state had his home in Williston and is buried in the central cemetery, with a prominent memorial.

===Events===
During the night of July 7, 1984, an [[Amtrak]] train with 287 people aboard hit a landslide and derailed, killing five people and injuring about two hundred. Although the accident triggered one of Vermont's most intensive emergency responses, the final victims were not rescued until the end of the day.<ref>{{cite news | first=Matt | last=Sutkowski | title=Fatal crash 25 years ago leaves mark | newspaper=Burlington Free Press | location=Burlington, Vermont | pages= 1B | date=July 7, 2009 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Williston is in central Chittenden County, bordered on the north by the [[Winooski River]]. The city of [[South Burlington, Vermont|South Burlington]] is to the west. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Williston has a total area of {{convert|79.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|77.9|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 1.65%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Brooks===
Allen Brook drains the center of the town. It begins and flows from Mud Pond north to the village of Williston, and then in a northwesterly direction where it meets the Winooski River. It has a length of {{convert|10|mi}} and drains a watershed covering {{convert|6900|acre}}.

Muddy Brook flows on the western edge of Williston and marks the border between Williston and South Burlington.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 471
|1800= 836
|1810= 1185
|1820= 1246
|1830= 1608
|1840= 1554
|1850= 1669
|1860= 1479
|1870= 1441
|1880= 1342
|1890= 1161
|1900= 1176
|1910= 1000
|1920= 929
|1930= 961
|1940= 1021
|1950= 1182
|1960= 1484
|1970= 3187
|1980= 3843
|1990= 4887
|2000= 7650
|2010= 8698
|2020= 10103
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[United States Census|census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 8,698 people, 2,921 households, and 2,141 families residing in the town. The population density was 252.1 people per square mile (97.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 100.1 per square mile (38.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.10% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 2,921 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $61,467, and the median income for a family was $69,762. Males had a median income of $49,048, versus $31,740 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,757. About 0.8% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
One measure of economic activity is retail sales. Williston led the state in 2007 with US$434.8 million.<ref name="bfp080113"/> The part of town known as Taft Corners<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.willistonobserver.com/many-flunk-taft-corners-spelling-test/ |title=Many flunk Taft Corners spelling test |date=February 28, 2007 |work=Williston Observer}}</ref> has a number of [[big-box store]]s, as well as [[Chain store#Restaurant chain|chain restaurants]] not seen elsewhere in Vermont. 

The [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] operates a large law enforcement center in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/sep/12/20030912-120140-2185r/|title=ICE agents cite mismanagement|date=September 12, 2003|website=[[Washington Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mynbc5.com/article/protesters-block-road-in-front-of-ice-offices-in-williston/22581611|title=Protesters block road in front of Williston ICE offices|last=Ketschke|first=Ross|date=July 28, 2018|website=NBC 5}}</ref>
[[File:Williston central school williston vermont 20040808.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Williston Central School building in summer|Williston Central School]]

==Education==

The town has two schools: Allen Brook School, Pre-K–2, and Williston Central School, 3–8.

The Williston school district is part of the Champlain Valley School District. It therefore sends its students of high school age to [[Champlain Valley Union High School]], which it supports through taxation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cvsdvt.org/|title=Champlain Valley School District / Homepage|website=www.cvsdvt.org/}}</ref> Pine Ridge School, a boarding and day school which served students with learning disabilities and behavioral issues, was located in Williston from its founding in 1968 through its closure in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2008/04/a-boarding-scho.html | title=A Boarding School Runs into Admissions Drop and Allows Mission Drift }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
Bus service is provided by [[Chittenden County Transportation Authority]]. This transportation brings residents and workers to South Burlington and Burlington, the central locations of the bus system.

====Major routes====
[[Interstate 89]] passes through town from east to west, though it is signed north-south. There is an interchange just south of downtown.

[[U.S. Route 2 in Vermont|U.S. Route 2]], also known as Williston Road, passes through town from east to west. Williston's historic village is located along U.S. 2 in the center of town.

[[Vermont Route 2A]] provides a north-south route through town, connecting it to [[Hinesburg, Vermont|Hinesburg]] and [[Essex Junction, Vermont|Essex Junction]]. Much of the town's retail development, including nearly all of its big-box stores, is located along Route 2A, which runs through the western part of Williston and intersects I-89 and U.S. Route 2.

== Notable people ==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with Williston, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
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· All others will be deleted.
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* [[Edwin Atwater]], Canadian businessperson and politician<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/atwater_edwin_10E.html |title=Biography, Edwin Atwater |last=Landry |first=Pierre |date=1972 |website=Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Volume X |publisher=University of Toronto, Université Laval |access-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref>
* [[James Edmund Burke]], [[List of mayors of Burlington, Vermont|mayor of Burlington, Vermont]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Duffy |editor1-first=John J. |editor2-last=Hand |editor2-first=Samuel B. |editor3-last=Orth |editor3-first=Ralph H. |date=2003 |title=The Vermont Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&pg=PA71 |location=Hanover, NH |publisher=University Press of New England |page=71 |isbn=978-1-5846-5086-7 |via=[[Google Books]] |ref={{sfnRef|''The Vermont Encyclopedia''}}}}</ref>
* [[Lucius E. Chittenden]], attorney and author who served as [[Register of the Treasury|Register of the U.S. Treasury]] during the [[American Civil War]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 1900 |title=Death Notice, Lucius E. Chittenden |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUhHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA14 |magazine=The Vermonter |location=St. Albans, VT |publisher=Charles Spooner Forbes |page=13 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Martin Chittenden]], U.S. congressman and [[List of Governors of Vermont|governor of Vermont]]{{sfn|''The Vermont Encyclopedia''|page=85}}
* [[Thomas Chittenden]], founder of the Republic of Vermont and first governor of Vermont{{sfn|''The Vermont Encyclopedia''|page=85}}
* [[Ben Cohen (ice cream)|Ben Cohen]], entrepreneur and co-founder of [[Ben & Jerry's]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=Williston&st=VT&last=cohen&first=ben|title=online index of FEC reports for campaign donors, showing Cohen as living in Williston|website=newsmeat.com}}</ref>
* [[Bart Farley]], professional soccer player and coach<ref>{{cite web |url=https://static.uvmathletics.com/custompages/MensSoccer/1976/1976%20MSOC%20Stats.pdf |title=Final 1976 University of Vermont Soccer Statistics - Individual and Team |date=November 2, 1976 |website=UVM athletics.com/ |publisher=University of Vermont |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=August 18, 2021 |page=1}}</ref>
* [[Jerry Greenfield]], entrepreneur and co-founder of [[Ben & Jerry's]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Vincent |first=Isabel |date=July 31, 2021 |title=How Ben & Jerry rose from Vermont hippies selling ice cream to Palestinian activists |url=https://nypost.com/2021/07/31/how-ben-jerry-rose-from-vermont-hippies-selling-ice-cream-to-palestinian-activists/ |work=[[New York Post]] |location=New York, NY}}</ref>
* [[Raul Hilberg]], Austrian-born historian and leading scholar on the Holocaust<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Raul Hilberg, 81, Historian Who Wrote of the Holocaust as a Bureaucracy, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/us/07hilberg.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY}}</ref>
* [[Virginia V. Lyons]], member of the [[Vermont Senate]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Board |first=Riley |date=June 22, 2020 |title=Meet the major party candidates seeking to represent the Chittenden district in the Vermont Senate |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/06/22/vermont-senate-chittenden-county-candidates-august-primary/3202298001/ |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=Burlington, VT}}</ref>
* [[Ross Miner]], figure skater and skating coach<ref>{{cite news |last=Starr |first=Jason |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Olympic dreams dashed for Williston native |url=https://www.willistonobserver.com/olympic-dreams-dashed-for-williston-native/ |work=[[Williston Observer]] |location=Williston, VT |access-date=}}</ref>
* [[Haviland Smith]], retired [[CIA]] officer and former station chief<ref>{{cite news |last=McKeever |first=Andrew |date=January 23, 2012 |title=Former CIA official to give next 'First Wednesdays' talk |url=https://www.manchesterjournal.com/news/local/former-cia-official-to-give-next-first-wednesdays-talk/article_0c8e7364-f013-53f7-b779-0eee4b4ed537.html |work=[[Manchester Journal]] |location=Manchester, VT}}</ref>
* [[Russell S. Taft]], [[List of justices of the Vermont Supreme Court|chief justice]] of the [[Vermont Supreme Court]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 1902 |title=Obituary, Russell Smith Taft |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0I5AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA160 |magazine=The Vermonter |location=St. Albans, VT |publisher=Charles S. Forbes |page=160 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Vermont locations by per capita income]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://town.williston.vt.us Town of Williston official website]

{{Chittenden County, Vermont}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Williston, Vermont| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Vermont]]
[[Category:Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Chittenden County, Vermont]]