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, England, as a homage to both Blenheim Palace 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. 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 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, Federal Style, 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 has contributed to the town's economic vitality and livelihood, while at the same time diminished its accessibility to…

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, Vermont Route 12 and Vermont Route 106. Interstate 89 does not pass through the town, it is served by exit 1 in nearby Quechee. It is bordered by 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 or Lebanon Airports. Vermont Translines operates a daily intercity bus route between Rutland and Lebanon, stopping in Woodstock along the way. The closest regular public transportation hubs are in White River Junction ( east) and Rutland ( west). 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.

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  23,254
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  22,247
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19,507
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  16,820
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,075
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  14,772
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  13,911
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  12,702

Largest nearby schools

• Hartford High School
  High · White River Junction · 518 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• Woodstock Union Middle/High School
  High · Woodstock · 449 students · 10:1 ratio
• Hartford Memorial Middle School
  Middle · White River Junction · 294 students · 9.5:1 ratio
• Hartland Elementary School
  Elementary · Hartland · 281 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Woodstock Elementary School
  Elementary · Woodstock · 269 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Ottauquechee School
  Elementary · Quechee · 203 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• White River School
  Elementary · White River Junction · 198 students · 9:1 ratio
• Prosper Valley School
  Middle · South Pomfret · 91 students · 13:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2024-06-18
  3 km SE of Haverhill, New Hampshire
• M 2.7 — 2023-12-23
  5 km SW of Chichester, New Hampshire
• M 2.9 — 2023-04-25
  4 km SW of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire
• M 3.1 — 2020-03-11
  0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York
• M 2.8 — 2016-03-21
  4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire
• M 2.61 — 2013-10-11
  New Hampshire