Woodstock is the shire town ( county seat) of Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 3,005. It includes the villages of Woodstock,

South Woodstock South Woodstock is a villagePrincipal Communities in Connecticut
Dept. of Economic and Comm ...

, Taftsville, and West Woodstock.

History

Chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth on July 10, 1761, the town was a New Hampshire grant to David Page and 61 others. It was named after Woodstock in

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

, England, as a homage to both

Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace (pronounced ) is a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the only non-royal, non- episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, on ...

and its owner, George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough. The town was first settled in 1768 by James Sanderson and his family. In 1776, Joab Hoisington built a gristmill, followed by a sawmill, on the south branch of the Ottauquechee River.A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, ''A History and Description of New England''; Boston, Massachusetts 1859
/ref> The town was incorporated in 1837. Although the Revolution slowed settlement, Woodstock developed rapidly once the war ended in 1783. The Vermont General Assembly met here in 1807 before moving the next year to the new capital at Montpelier. Waterfalls in the Ottauquechee River provided water power to operate mills. Factories made scythes and axes, carding machines, and woolens. There was a machine shop and gunsmith shop. Manufacturers also produced furniture, wooden wares, window sashes and blinds. Carriages, horse harnesses, saddles, luggage trunks and leather goods were also manufactured. By 1859, the population was 3,041. The

Woodstock Railroad The Woodstock Railway was an intrastate railroad in southeastern Vermont. It ran from White River Junction, Vermont to Woodstock, Vermont, a distance of approximately . History The legislature of Vermont granted a charter to construct the railroa ...

opened to

White River Junction White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Hartford in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2020 census, up from 2,286 in 2010, making it the largest co ...

on September 29, 1875, carrying freight and tourists. The Woodstock Inn opened in 1892. The Industrial Revolution helped the town grow prosperous. The economy is now largely driven by tourism. Woodstock has the 20th highest per-capita income of Vermont towns as reported by the United States Census, and a high percentage of homes owned by non-residents. The town's central square, called the Green, is bordered by restored late

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

Federal Style Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the newly founded United States between 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815, which was heavily based on the works of Andrea Palladio with several inn ...

, and Greek Revival houses. The cost of real estate in the district adjoining the Green is among the highest in the state. The seasonal presence of wealthy second-home owners from cities such as Boston and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

has contributed to the town's economic vitality and livelihood, while at the same time diminished its accessibility to native Vermonters. The town maintains a free (paid for through taxation) community wi-fi internet service that covers most of the village of Woodstock, dubbed "Wireless Woodstock". File:Woodstock, Vermont from Mount Tom.jpg, Village from Mount Tom in 1913 File:The Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, VT.jpg, Norman Williams Public Library , built in 1883–1884 File:Old Woodstock Inn, Woodstock, VT.jpg, Original Woodstock Inn in 1907, open from 1892 to the late 1960s File:Store Front early 1900's.jpg, F. H. Gillingham & Sons, Elm Street, early 1900s

Layout and design

In his ''City Life: Urban Expectations in a New World'', Canadian author and architect Witold Rybczynski extensively analyzes the layout of the town and the informal and unwritten rules which determined it. According to Rybczynski: The author goes on to explicate some of the informal rules, such as that buildings stand close to the sidewalk, in the case of businesses, or ten to fourteen feet behind for homes; that plots are generally deep and narrow, keeping street frontages roughly equivalent; commercial buildings stand side by side, with only important buildings with a public function—the library or courthouse, for instance—being free-standing objects. Rybczynsk points out that there is no zoning in Woodstock, and "buildings with different functions sat—and still sit today—side by side on the same streets", with practical exceptions such as the slaughterhouse and the gasworks. The

Rockefellers The Rockefeller family () is an American industrial, political, and banking family that owns one of the world's largest fortunes. The fortune was made in the American petroleum industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by brothe ...

have had an enormous impact on the overall character of the town as it exists today. They helped preserve the 19th century architecture and the rural feel. They built the Woodstock Inn, a center point for the town.

Laurance Laurance is a surname or given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname * John Laurance (1750–1810), American lawyer and politician from New York * William F. Laurance (born 1957), American-Australian biology professor *Bill Laurance ( ...

and Mary French Rockefeller also had the village's power lines buried underground. To protect their ridgeline views, the town adopted an ordinance creating a Scenic Ridgeline District in order to protect the aesthetics and the views of the town. It was updated in 2007. Woodstock was named "The Prettiest Small Town in America" by the '' Ladies Home Journal'' magazine, and in 2011, North and South Park Street and one block of Elm Street won an award for great streetscape by the

American Planning Association The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization representing the field of urban planning in the United States. APA was formed in 1978, when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Pla ...

's "Great Places in America" program. APA looks at street form and composition, street character and personality and the overall street environment and sustainable practices. File:Ottauquechee Bank, Woodstock, VT.jpg, Town center File:Street Scene, Woodstock, VT.jpg, Street scene in 1906 File:Woodstock-Wolcott-snowy-night.jpeg, Snowy night in 1940

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.63%, is water. The Ottauquechee River flows through the town. Woodstock is crossed by

U.S. Route 4 U.S. Route 4 (US 4) is a long United States highway that runs from East Greenbush, New York, in the west to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in the east, traversing Vermont. In New York, US 4 is signed North-South to reflect its alignment in the s ...

, Vermont Route 12 and

Vermont Route 106 Vermont Route 106 (VT 106) is a north–south state highway in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The route begins at an intersection with VT 11 in the town of Springfield and runs along the Black River for several mil ...

. Interstate 89 does not pass through the town, it is served by exit 1 in nearby Quechee. It is bordered the town of Pomfret to the north, Hartford to the northeast, Hartland to the east, Reading to the south, and Bridgewater to the west. Woodstock is a three-hour drive from Boston and is away from New York City. It is easily accessible via car or plane to

Rutland Rutland () is a ceremonial county and unitary authority in the East Midlands, England. The county is bounded to the west and north by Leicestershire, to the northeast by Lincolnshire and the southeast by Northamptonshire. Its greatest len ...

or Lebanon Airports.

Vermont Translines Vermont Translines is an intercity bus company founded by its parent company, charter bus company Premier Coach, in 2013. The bus company mainly serves the US Route 7 in Vermont, US Route 7 and US Route 4 in Vermont, US Route 4 corridors in the N ...

operates a daily intercity bus route between Rutland and Lebanon, stopping in Woodstock along the way. The closest regular public transportation hubs are in

( east) and Rutland ( west).

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Woodstock has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,048 people, 1,388 households, and 877 families residing in the town. The population density was 72.6 people per square mile (28.0/km²). There were 1,775 housing units at an average density of 39.9 per square mile (15.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.62%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.25% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 0.80% of the population. There were 1,388 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.79. In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $47,143, and the median income for a family was $57,330. Males had a median income of $33,229 versus $26,769 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,326. About 4.3% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

* The annual Harvest Weekend at the Billings Farm and Museum is held in October and includes a husking bee, barn dance, and 19th century harvest activities. * The annual Wassail Weekend is held in early December.

Tourism

The Billings Farm & Museum is a local tourist attraction. The land and farmhouse were owned by Laurance Rockefeller and his wife Mary French Rockefeller. The farm and museum include an operating dairy farm and a restored 1890 farm house. F. H. Gillingham & Sons, a general store located in its original building at 16 Elm Street, is another local tourist attraction. The store was established in 1886 by Frank Henry Gillingham.

Parks and recreation

The

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vermont. The park preserves the Marsh-Billings House, as well as the site where Frederick Billings established a managed forest and a p ...

is located in Woodstock, and is the only unit of the United States National Park System in Vermont (except for the Appalachian Trail). The park preserves the site where Frederick Billings established a managed forest and a progressive dairy farm.

Education

Woodstock is served by Woodstock Elementary School, The Prosper Valley School, and Woodstock Union High School & Middle School. The schools are part of the

Windsor Central Supervisory Union Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area *Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland ** Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...

Local government

File:Woodstock Court House.jpg, Windsor County Courthouse

Notable people

* Fred C. Ainsworth, U.S. Army surgeon and Adjutant General *

Ivan Albright Ivan Le Lorraine Albright (February 20, 1897 – November 18, 1983) was an American painter, sculptor and print-maker most renowned for his self-portraits, character studies, and still lifes. Due to his technique and dark subject matter, he is of ...

, artist * Benjamin Allen, politician *

Nicholas Baylies Nicholas Baylies (April 9, 1768April 14, 1847) was a Vermont lawyer, politician, and judge. He served as a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1831 to 1833. Biography Nicholas Baylies was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts on April 9, 1768, th ...

, Associate Justice of the

Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Court ...

Franklin S. Billings Franklin Swift Billings (May 11, 1862 – January 16, 1935) was an American businessman and politician from Woodstock, Vermont. He served as the 54th lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1923 to 1925 and as the 60th governor of Vermont from 1 ...

, 60th Governor of Vermont *

Franklin S. Billings Jr. Franklin Swift Billings Jr. (June 5, 1922 – March 9, 2014) was an American politician and judge from the state of Vermont. Billings served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and Chie ...

, Chief Justice

& United States District Court for the District of Vermont *

Franklin Noble Billings Franklin Noble Billings (March 8, 1829 - December 11, 1894) was a Vermont businessman and merchant. A member of the prominent Billings family, he was notable for his investment stakes and management roles in several Vermont businesses. He was the ...

, businessman and brother of

Frederick H. Billings Frederick H. Billings (September 27, 1823 – September 30, 1890) was an American lawyer, financier, and politician. He is best known for his legal work on land claims during the early years of California's statehood and his presidency of the ...

, lawyer, financier and President of the

Northern Pacific Railway The Northern Pacific Railway was a transcontinental railroad that operated across the northern tier of the western United States, from Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest. It was approved by Congress in 1864 and given nearly of land grants, whic ...

* Keegan Bradley, PGA Tour golfer *

Richard M. Brett Richard M. Brett (September 3, 1903 – September 7, 1989) was an American conservationist and author. Biography Early life Brett was born in Darien, Connecticut and spent most of his life in Woodstock, Vermont, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Br ...

, conservationist and author * Isaac Bullard (Vermont religious leader) *

Frank H. Chapman Frank H. Chapman (March 8, 1851 – June 29, 1923) was an American public official from Vermont. He served as Vermont's Deputy United States Marshal for more than 20 years (1901-1923), and was acting U.S. Marshal for Vermont for several days in ...

, US Marshal for Vermont *

Sylvester Churchill Sylvester Churchill (August 2, 1783 – December 7, 1862) was an American journalist and Regular Army officer. Early life Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah (Cobb) Churchill. Educated in the schools of his hom ...

, journalist *

Jacob Collamer Jacob Collamer (January 8, 1791 – November 9, 1865) was an American politician from Vermont. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as Postmaster General in the cabinet of President Zachary Taylor, and as a U.S. Senator. Born in Tr ...

, politician *

Philip Cummings Philip Harry Cummings (1906–1991) was a world traveler, teacher of Spanish and other languages, news analyst, and public speaker. The only child of Harry Foster and Addie Cummings, Philip was born and grew up in Hardwick, Vermont. His father was ...

, lecturer on world affairs * Thomas M. Debevoise,

Vermont Attorney General The Vermont Attorney General is a statewide elected executive official in the U.S. state of Vermont who is elected every two years. It was created by an act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1790, repealed in 1797, and revived in 1904. The office ...

, Dean of Vermont Law School * George Dewey, admiral * Maud Durbin, actress and wife of

Otis Skinner Otis Skinner (June 28, 1858 – January 4, 1942) was an American stage actor active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Early life Otis A. Skinner was born on June 28, 1858, in Cambridge, Massachusetts the middle of three ...

* Harold "Duke" Eaton Jr., Supreme Court Justice, State of Vermont *

Elon Farnsworth Elon John Farnsworth (July 30, 1837 – July 3, 1863) was a Union Army captain in the American Civil War. He commanded Brigade 1, Division 3 of the Cavalry Corps (Union Army) from June 28, 1863 to July 3, 1863, when he was mortally wounded and di ...

, Attorney General of Michigan * Marianne Gaillard Faulkner, philanthropist *

Robert Hager Robert Hager is an analyst and a former correspondent for the US television network NBC News. Hager started his journalism career in radio before moving to network news. He began his work at NBC in June 1969, covering the Vietnam War. He worked as a ...

, television journalist *

Benjamin Tyler Henry Benjamin Tyler Henry (March 22, 1821 – June 8, 1898) was an American gunsmith and manufacturer. He was the inventor of the Henry rifle, the first reliable lever-action repeating rifle. Henry was born in Claremont, New Hampshire in 1821. ...

, gunsmith and manufacturer *

Rebecca Hammond Lard Rebecca Hammond Lard (Laird) (born Rebecca Hammond; March 7, 1772 – September 28, 1855), is called by some critics "the first poet in Indiana".Cavinder, Fred D. ''The Indiana Book of Records, Firsts, and Fascinating Facts''. Indiana University ...

, poet from Indiana * Charles Marsh, U.S. congressman * George Perkins Marsh, environmentalist *

Joseph A. Mower Joseph Anthony Mower (August 22, 1827 – January 6, 1870) was a Union general during the American Civil War. He was a competent officer and well respected by his troops and fellow officers to whom he was known as "Fighting Joe". Major General Wil ...

, general * Hiram Powers, sculptor *

Origen D. Richardson Origen Drew Richardson (July 20, 1795 – November 29, 1876) was an American lawyer and politician in the U.S. state of Michigan and in the Nebraska Territory. He served in the Michigan House of Representatives and was the fourth lieutenant ...

, politician * Laurance Rockefeller, American businessman, financier, philanthropist and major conservationist. Financier of the Woodstock Inn & Resort *

, actor * Charles Stimets, First Town Manager of Woodstock *

Benjamin Swan Benjamin Swan is a former American state legislator who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and represented the 11th Hampden District from 2009 to 2016. On February 6, 2014, Swan was one of five members of the legislative body ...

, longest serving

Vermont State Treasurer The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for several administrative and service duties, in accordance with Vermont Statutes. These include: investing state funds; issuing state bonds; serving as the central bank for state agencies; managing the ...

Andrew Tracy Andrew Tracy (December 15, 1797 – October 28, 1868) was an American politician, teacher and lawyer. He served as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Vermont. Early life Tracy was born in Hartford, Vermont, to Ja ...

, U.S. congressman *

Gwen Verdon Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon (January 13, 1925October 18, 2000) was an American actress and dancer. She won four Tony Awards for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for t ...

, dancer and actress * Peter T. Washburn, 31st Governor of Vermont *

Hezekiah Williams Hezekiah Williams (July 28, 1798 – October 23, 1856) was a United States representative from Maine. He was born near Woodstock, Vermont. Pursuing higher education, he graduated from Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire in 1820. He st ...

, U.S. congressman * Norman Williams,

Vermont Auditor of Accounts The Vermont State Auditor of Accounts is one of six constitutional officers in Vermont, elected statewide every two years. The Office provides an independent and objective assessment of Vermont's governmental operations. The current Auditor is ...

and Secretary of State of Vermont * Paul Watson, Conservationist, author and television star * Daphne Zuniga, film and television actress

In popular culture

*Several movies have been filmed in or around Woodstock, including ''

Dr. Cook's Garden ''Dr. Cook's Garden'' is a play by Ira Levin. It was adapted as a TV movie in 1971 starring Bing Crosby. Plot James Tennyson is a young and idealistic physician who returns to his hometown of Greenfield to work with Doctor Leonard Cook, his mentor ...

'' (1971), ''

Ghost Story A ghost story is any piece of fiction, or drama, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them."Ghost Stories" in Margaret Drabble (ed.), ''Oxford Companion to English Literature'' ...

'' (1981) and ''

Funny Farm Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specializing in the treatment of severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociati ...

'' (1988).

Sites of interest

* Billings Farm & Museum * Lincoln Covered Bridge, built in 1877 *

* F. H. Gillingham & Sons * Middle Covered Bridge, built in 1969 *

Taftsville Covered Bridge The Taftsville Covered Bridge is a timber-framed covered bridge which spans the Ottauquechee River in the Taftsville village of Woodstock, Vermont, in the United States. Built in 1836 and exhibiting no influence from patented bridge designs, it is ...

, built in 1836 *

First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Vermont The First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Vermont is an active Congregational church in Woodstock, Vermont. The original building was constructed in 1807. It acquired a bell produced by Paul Revere Paul Revere (; December 21, 1734 ...

* Town Hall Theatre * Woodstock Historical Society & Dana House Museum

* ''

Woodstock Observer The ''Woodstock Observer'' was a newspaper published in Woodstock, Vermont. Its debut issue was dated January 11, 1820. History The ''Woodstock Observers founder, as well as first editor and publisher, was David Watson. Trained as a printer, Wa ...

'' * Woodstock Railway * Billings Library, University of Vermont

References

External links

Town of Woodstock official website

Norman Williams Public Library

Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce

The ''Vermont Standard''
local newspaper
ePodunk

{{Authority control Towns in Vermont County seats in Vermont Towns in Windsor County, Vermont Populated places established in 1761 1761 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies