Williston, Vermont

Williston, Vermont
Town

Downtown Williston
Motto: "Old town charm, new town spirit"

Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont.
Williston, Vermont

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 44°26′43″N 73°5′57″W / 44.44528°N 73.09917°W / 44.44528; -73.09917Coordinates: 44°26′43″N 73°5′57″W / 44.44528°N 73.09917°W / 44.44528; -73.09917
Country United States
State Vermont
County Chittenden
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 (2010)
 • Total 8,698
 • Density 289/sq mi (111.7/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 05495
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-84475[1]
GNIS feature ID 1462263[2]
Website www.town.williston.vt.us

Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, in the United States. Originally rural and laid out with many farms, in recent decades it has developed into a thriving suburb of Burlington, the largest city in the state. The population of Williston was 8,698 at the 2010 census,[3] an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census. The estimated population in 2015 estimate was 9,409.[4] Williston is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state, and while becoming more populated, has also developed as a major retail center for the Burlington area as well as much of central and northern Vermont.[5] The town contains the village of Williston, which is unincorporated.

History

The town was named for Samuel Willis, a landholder.[6]

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.[7]

A private, boarding high school, Pine Ridge, was founded in 1968 to serve learning-disabled students. It closed in June 2009.[8]

Geography

Williston is in central Chittenden County, bordered on the north by the Winooski River. The city of South Burlington is to the west. According to the United States Census Bureau, Williston has a total area of 30.6 square miles (79.2 km2), of which 30.1 square miles (77.9 km2) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.65%, is water.[3]

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 10 miles (16 km) and drains a watershed covering 6,900 acres (2,800 ha).

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

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790471—
180083677.5%
18101,18541.7%
18201,2465.1%
18301,60829.1%
18401,554−3.4%
18501,6697.4%
18601,479−11.4%
18701,441−2.6%
18801,342−6.9%
18901,161−13.5%
19001,1761.3%
19101,000−15.0%
1920929−7.1%
19309613.4%
19401,0216.2%
19501,18215.8%
19601,48425.5%
19703,187114.8%
19803,84320.6%
19904,88727.2%
20007,65056.5%
20108,69813.7%
Est. 20159,409[4]8.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[1] 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/km2). There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 100.1 per square mile (38.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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.[5] The part of town known as Taft Corners[10] has a number of big-box stores, including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Petsmart, Staples, Old Navy, and Best Buy.

Government and infrastructure

The Vermont Department of Corrections is headquartered in the White Cap Business Park in Williston.[11][12]

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 Chittenden South Supervisory Union. It therefore sends its students of high school age to Champlain Valley Union High School, which it supports through taxation.[13]

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, 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 and 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 US Route 2.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Williston town, Chittenden County, Vermont". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. 1 2 McLean, Dan (July 13, 2008). Retail Sales by the numbers. Burlington Free Press.
  6. ↑ "Profile for Williston, Vermont". ePodunk. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  7. ↑ Sutkowski, Matt (July 7, 2009). "Fatal crash 25 years ago leaves mark". Burlington, Vermont: Burlington Free Press. pp. 1B.
  8. ↑ Walsh, Molly (March 20, 2009). "Pine Ridge School to close". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Many flunk Taft Corners spelling test". Williston Observer. February 28, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Contact the Vermont Department of Corrections." Vermont Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 6, 2015. Physical Address: 426 Industrial Ave. Williston, VT 05495"
  12. ↑ Annual Report 2014". Community High School of Vermont. Retrieved on December 6, 2015. Second page: "Physical Address: White Cap Business Park 426 Industrial Avenue, Suite 120 Williston, VT 05495"
  13. ↑ CSSU
  14. ↑ online index of FEC reports for campaign donors, showing Cohen as living in Williston
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