Williston Real Estate
The thriving town of Williston is located in Chittenden County, just a few miles east of Burlington, Vermont. With 7,650 residents registered at the 2000 Census, Williston is modest compared to many of it’s neighbors, but is one of the most rapidly growing towns in the state, a tribute to its vibrant local economy. Williston enjoys a diverse setting, from the business district on Williston Road and the retail center of Taft’s Corners to the quiet village on Route 2A and the hill and farm country beyond. With such multifaceted amenities, Williston has it all.
Education
Williston has a fine educational system with two schools, the Allen Brook Pre K-4 and the Williston Central School K-8. Williston’s high school students attend the Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) in nearby Hinesburg. CVU is the second largest high school in Vermont, with about 1,400 students, and has a respectable academic reputation. In fact, in 2008, CVU had the second highest graduation rate of any public school in Chittenden County. In character with the strong sense of community typical of Vermont, students in CVU’s Presidential Honors Society and Key Club are encouraged to become involved in a wide array of community service opportunities. And as an added bonus, unique language courses, such as Greek, Latin and Chinese, are offered to students interested in broadening their linguistic expertise.
CVU is classified as a D-1 school in athletics, with a wide variety of traditional men’s and women’s sports, including many winter sports such as Alpine Skiing and the Snowboard Club. The CVU Redhawks are a highly competitive group, especially in soccer, where they have won an amazing six state championships since 2002! A relatively new addition to CVU’s superb athletic program debuted in 2004 with the addition of a men’s football team, which currently competes in the D-2 class.
Williston residents are also within easy commuting distance of the University of Vermont (UVM), the Community College of Vermont (CCV), and Saint Michael’s College. The Vermont Technical College, which offers degrees in Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and many others, has campuses conveniently located in Tafts Corners.
Town Life and Activities
Williston offers a diverse array of activities suited for the whole family. For the outdoor enthusiast, the Allen Brook Nature Trail and the Mud Pond nature area offer opportunities for hiking and fishing, without the hassle of a long drive. There are also three public parks in town, Brennan Park, Rossignol Park, and Williston Community Park, offering amenities such as horseshoe pits, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and baseball fields. Williston Community Park also has two sand volleyball courts and a skating rink, and is connected to the village bike path. And of course, for those cold winter months, Williston is less than an hour’s drive from many of the top ski resorts in the region.
The Parks and Recreation department offers programs for all ages, from pre-school to seniors. With summer day camps for children, golf lessons for adults, youth soccer leagues, and many, many more, in Williston there is an activity suited for everyone. The town also has the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, located in the village off of Route 2, which loans out books and videos, and offers a variety of community-centered programs, including the always popular Kid’s Knitting Club!
Business
Williston may be a quaint town, but in 2007 it lead the state of Vermont in retail sales! People from all over Chittenden county come to Williston to shop and dine at the retail center at Taft ‘s Corners, or to catch a movie at the modern Majestic 10 theater. The town has many major retail outlets like Best Buy, Walmart, and Toys “R” Us. There are plenty of great places to eat too, like the italian bistro Three Tomatoes and Texas Road House, serving classic American fare.
Williston is also conveniently located close to many of the largest employers in the region. UVM, Fletcher Allen Healthcare, IBM, GE Healthcare, and General Dynamics are all within fifteen minutes or less from Williston. Burlington, the largest city in the state, is only a few minutes drive down the road, allowing residents easy access to its multitude of businesses and employers.
Transportation
Williston is served by Routes 2 and 2A, and has it’s own exit off Interstate 89. CCTA (Chittenden County Transportation Authority) runs bus routes through Williston, connecting it to transportation hubs in Burlington and Essex. The Essex transportation terminal provides rail services by Amtrak, and the Burlington Greyhound terminal on Pine street provides bus services throughout New England. Williston is also only minutes away from the Burlington International Airport, which offers commercial flights on Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and others.
Williston has the distinction of being both a community-friendly small town and a hotbed for business opportunity. So whether you are looking for the perfect place to raise a family or the ideal location to begin or expand your business, Williston offers both in one of the most picturesque settings New England has to offer.