Bristol is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was chartered on June 26, 1762, by the colonial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The charter was granted to Samuel Averill and sixty-three associates in the name of Pocock—in honor of a distinguished English admiral of that name. The population was 3,782 at the 2020 census. Main Street is home to most of the businesses of the town. The town is also home to the Lord's Prayer Rock.

Geography

thumb|left|Bristol Rock (otherwise known as Lord's Prayer Rock) on [[Vermont Route 17|Route 17 / Route 116 in Bristol, commissioned by local physician Joseph C. Greene.]]

Bristol is in northeastern Addison County, at the western foot of the Green Mountains. The New Haven River, a tributary of Otter Creek, flows out of the mountains through the town center. The town is crossed by Vermont Route 17 (east-west) and Vermont Route 116 (north-south).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.57%, is water.

The main settlement in the town is Bristol, a census-designated place, located on the north side of the New Haven River, northwest of the geographic center of town.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census,

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

|-

|White (non-Hispanic)

|4,160

|92.21%

|-

|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|13

|0.34%

|-

|Native American

|2

|0.053%

|-

|Asian

|27

|0.72%

|-

|Pacific Islander

|0

|0

|-

|Other/Mixed

|186

|4.62%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|78

|2.07%

|}

Education

Bristol is part of the Mount Abraham Unified School District, which serves the towns of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven, and Starksboro. Bristol is home to Bristol Elementary School and Mount Abraham Union Middle/High School. Additionally, Bristol is served by the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, which provides career and technical education programs for high school students and adult learners, preparing them for success in the workforce and beyond.

Economy

Bristol was once home to the now defunct Freemountain Toys, known for producing stuffed vegetable toys known as Vegimals. The Peas in a Pod in the movie Toy Story 3 are based on the peas Vegimal.

Media

Northeast Addison Television (NEAT TV) - Channel 16 is the local public-access television cable TV station.

The feature film The Wizard of Loneliness (1988),' a period piece set during World War II starring Lukas Haas, Lea Thompson and Dylan Baker, was filmed in Bristol. The production company installed period street lights on Main Street that are still there today.

Climate

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Notable people

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  • Chris Bohjalian, writer
  • Jeremiah Curtin, writer and translator
  • Walter C. Dunton, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
  • Ezra Butler Eddy, Canadian businessman and political figure
  • Ethan Sonneborn, activist and 2018 Vermont gubernatorial candidate

References

  • Town of Bristol official website
  • Discover Bristol Vermont (A Project of Bristol CORE)
  • Bristol Recreation Department