Williston

Chartered in 1763, Williston spent most of its history as a quiet farming town in Chittenden County. That changed dramatically in the late twentieth century when commercial development along Route 2 and Taft Corners transformed the town into the retail and commercial hub of the greater Burlington area. What was once farmland became box stores, shopping plazas, and office parks — a transformation that made Williston a cautionary tale in Vermont planning circles and prompted the state's Act 250 discussions.

With a population of about 10,117, Williston is now one of the larger communities in the state. In recent years, the town has made deliberate efforts to create a more walkable town center, moving away from the strip-mall development pattern. Williston adopted a town manager form of government alongside its selectboard, and residents engage in local governance through town meeting and regular public hearings — grappling with the ongoing challenge of balancing growth, traffic, and community character.