Bristol was originally chartered in 1762 with the name Pocock. The name was changed to Bristol in 1789, and today, it is the second largest community in Addison County, with a population of about 3,800.
Main Street is lined with friendly village shops that satisfy every interest: antiques‚ gifts‚ home accessories and Vermont-made products such as handmade beeswax candles. Dine at restaurants with menu selections offering everything from pizza to champagne. For those wanting to explore the outdoors, Bristol is surrounded by serene woodlands‚ crystal clear streams and rivers, and delightful mountain scenery, and four-season natural beauty is within easy reach by car, bike, or foot.
The town green has been a central part of the village throughout its history. The Bristol Band has presented outdoor summer band concerts in the gazebo on the town green since the Civil War. Folks bring their lawn chairs‚ visit with their neighbors and enjoy the music. The green hosts 4th of July events‚ the Farmers’ Market‚ Movies in the Park‚ BBQs, the Bristol Harvest Festival, and many other activities. The green is also home to an ADA-compliant natural playground.
Attractions within a short driving distance of Bristol include:
- Bartlett Falls: Bartlett Falls, also called Bristol Falls or New Haven River Gorge, is easily accessible just a short drive from town. With a deep pool that the falls tumble into, this is a popular spot for cliff-jumping, however, another shallow pool provides the opportunity for wading.
- Memorial Park: This beautiful, wooded park boasts picnic areas, paths, stairs, and a bridge across a chasm that features a roaring waterfall on Baldwin Creek.
- Lord’s Prayer Rock: When Joseph C. Greene was a boy and lived in South Starksboro one of his tasks was to take the logs from the mountaintop to the sawmill in Bristol. The 9 Bridges Road or the Drake Woods Road in those days was a terrifying ride. Not only were there 9 bridges to cross‚ but also the logs were big and apt to slide off the load. When he arrived at the "Big Rock" he knew his problems were over‚ so he said a little prayer and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he would once more get his load to the mill safely. Years later when he was a practicing physician in Buffalo‚ New York‚ he and his brother took a trip around the world and after seeing the hieroglyphics in Egypt‚ he decided to come home and have the Lord's Prayer chiseled on the rock that had given him peace of mind and a feeling of security when he was a boy.
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