National Register of Historic Places

Williston Village Historic District

Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont
Listed
December 19, 1979
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79000222

About this property

The Williston Village Historic District encompasses the village center of Williston, Vermont. The predominantly rural community is home to a well-preserved array of Federal and Greek Revival buildings, constructed mainly in the first half of the 19th century. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, with a minor enlargement in 1992. The town of Williston has had a long history as a primarily agrarian community, from its earliest settlement in the late 18th century. The town center arose at this location, in part as a stagecoach stop on the Williston Turnpike, opened in 1805 between Burlington and Montpelier. Now United States Route 2, it was the major route between these two cities until Interstate 89 was built in the 1960s. The town also benefited from nearby Allen Brook, whose waters powered sawmills and tanneries at the eastern end of the village. The town was generally prosperous in its agriculture, resulting in a fine collection of architecture built between about 1800 and 1860. The historic district is visually anchored at its western end by a cluster of brick buildings, the 1832 Williston Congregational Church dominating. It extends eastward to where US 2 crosses Allen Brook, including a c. 1896 pedestrian bridge that is one of the oldest known concrete bridges in the state. Several of the houses in the district were built by members of the politically prominent Chittenden family; Thomas Chittenden was an important figure in Vermont's drive for statehood, and was its first governor. He was one of Williston's first settlers, and his son and grandson both lived here. Non-residential buildings in the district include four churches and two former taverns. None of the village's 19th-century industrial infrastructure survives, although archaeological remains may be present along Allen Brook. National Register of Historic Places listings in Chittenden County, Vermont

Location

Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont
44.43802, -73.07079

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Williston Congregational Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Williston Village Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.3 mi
Johnson, Dan, Farmstead
Listed
0.8 mi
Chittenden, Giles, Farmstead
Listed
1.5 mi
Winooski River Bridge
Industrial
2.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Carleton's Raid
1778Revolutionary War
8.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Williston Village Historic District listed on the National Register?

Williston Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Williston Village Historic District?

Williston Village Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Williston Village Historic District?

The period of significance for Williston Village Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Williston Village Historic District?

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