Fayston, Vermont, New England USA
About Fayston, Vermont
Washington County
Chartered: February 27, 1782 (Vermont Charter)
Area: 23,369 Acres = 36.51 Square Miles [ Size Rank: 170* ]
Coordinates (Geographic Center): N 44° 12′ W 72°52′
Altitude: 1,209 feet ASL
Population (US Census, 2010): 1,353 [ Population Rank: 142* ]
Population Density (persons per square mile): 37.1 [ Density Rank: 131* ]
Full Census Info: Town County State
*Area, Population and Density rankings refer to Fayston’s relative position among Vermont’s 255 civic entities (9 cities, 242 towns, 4 gores and grants). Complete rankings are here.
Until the rise in popularity of downhill skiing, the mountainous western half was valueless except for timber. There is no indication as to why such an insignificant (at the time) parcel was named for the Fays, a family which figured so prominently in the founding of the state, nor is there any indication as to what the family thought of having a town named for them. While they were among the grantees of several Vermont towns, they are not among those of Fayston.
Stephen (“Landlord”) Fay (formerly of Hardwick, Massachusetts) owned the Green Mountain (or Catamount) Tavern in Bennington, the headquarters of the Council of Safety and the Green Mountain Boys prior to the Revolution. Five of his seven sons fought at the Battle of Bennington, one of whom was the first man killed. Son Jonas was “the Boys'” doctor and sometime scribe. Son Joseph was Clerk of the Governor and the Council, negotiated with the Governor of Canada for a separate peace between Vermont and England, and represented Vermont at the first Continental Congress in its effort to be admitted to the Union.
One cannot help but wonder if Vermont’s Founding Fathers knew the origin of the name Fay: in Old French, “beech tree”, one of the surnames which migrated to England with or soon after William the Conqueror. The Green Mountain Boys were known to apply what they referred to as “the beech seal” (to whip with a beech switch) to Yorkers who tried to dispute the settlers’ right to Vermont lands under the Wentworth grants.
Activities & Points of Interest
Goings-on in and near Fayston
Calendar of Events provided by the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing.
Contact Info
Emergency Services (Statewide): 911
Hospital: Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin) 802-229-9121
Town Clerk: Patti Lewis 866 N Fayston Rd N Fayston, VT 05660
802-496-2454
M-Th 9-3:30; F 9-3
Schools
Washington West Supervisory Union 802-496-2272
Fayston Elementary School 802-496-3636
Neighboring Towns
This is a basic geographic reference, intended to show relative location of adjacent towns. Directional accuracy is limited to 16 compass points. There isn’t even the slightest suggestion that one can necessarily travel directly from one town to the next (as in “You can’t get there from here”).
Fayston
Utilities
Notes about utilities:
- One electric or phone company indicates that company serves the entire town. More than one of either indicates each serves different areas of town.
- A listed cable company MIGHT mean the entire town is covered, but not necessarily. More than one listed indicates each serves different areas of town.
- Unless your area is one served by Vermont’s only gas utility, your only option is bottled gas (any dealer).
Cable Waitsfield Cable 802-496-5800
Electric Green Mountain Power 888-835-4672
Electric Washington Electric Co-op 800-932-5245
Telephone Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom 802-496-3391
