Williston, Florida
15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1895 and the latest in 1978. It stands in the Williston-Bronson census division. It lies in ZIP code area 32696. The Survey maps it on the Williston quadrangle. 2,976 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 75 feet above sea level.
Then and now
1895 to 1978The same ground, surveyed 83 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.


Compare 1895 against another survey:
On record in Williston
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Citizens Banklisted 1995
Population over time
2 figuresWilliston grew from 2,768 to 2,976 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,768 | |
| 2020 | 2,976 | +208 (+8%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 15 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1895 USGS Williston quadrangle1:62500, 6 printings
- 1954 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:250000
- 1959 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Williston quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1978 USGS Ocala quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
145 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 145 fires within 5 miles of Williston between 1992 and 2020, burning about 639 acres in total. 14 started naturally. 7 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 44 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 43 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 16 |
| Natural | 14 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 7 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 5 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
| Other causes | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2008 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | LEVY/1113 WEST LINE FIRE |
| 4 September 1999 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 4 September 1997 | Natural | 7.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 3 September 1992 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 26 September 2002 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 21 September 2006 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | LEVY/THE WIRE FIRE |
| 8 August 2020 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | NE 38TH PL (38) |
| 18 August 1993 | Natural | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
6 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Williston: 4 producers, 2 past producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Limestone, General. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V.E. Whitehurst & Sons - Raleigh Quarry | Limestone, General | Producer | Limestone | |
| Limestone Quarry No Three | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Limestone Quarry Number 1 | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Raleigh Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Williston Pit | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Williston Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
35 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Williston in 35 storm reports between 1994 and 2023: 18 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 1 tornado, 1 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $250,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused significant wind damage to roofs, siding, awnings and overhangs of several homes in Williston. Thunderstorm winds also downed several street signs, large trees and power lines throughout Williston. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $75,000 | Law enforcement of Levy county reported that thunderstorm winds downed several trees and power lines along U.S. Highway 41 and County Road 121 near Williston. Also, thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines at the intersection of County Road 339 and 320. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed a large antenna and several power poles in Williston |
| April 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $30,000 | The Sheriff Office reported numerous trees and power lines down, along with roof damage to sheds and barns, from Williston to Morriston to Inglis. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $25,000 | The Williston Police Department reported that several power poles, large trees and numerous branches were downed and a convenience store roof damaged by thunderstorm winds along and near U.S. Highway 27. |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $25,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large branches along U.S. Highway 41 between County Roads 322 and 326. |
| February 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $20,000 | Williston Fire Rescue reported on a social media page that numerous trees and power lines were down across the area, with some of the trees down across roads and on houses. Pictures accompanying the post showed several large oak trees down. Time was estimated from radar. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Williston | $20,000 | Quarter to nickel sized hail that covered the ground white and caused minor damage to a few vehicles was reported by Skywarn Spotters in Williston. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $15,000 | Law enforcement of Levy county reported that thunderstorm winds removed the roof of a barn and snapped several large trees in Williston. |
| June 2023 | Flood | Williston | $10,000 | Local law enforcement reported high water along the 300 block of NW 1st Ave with several vehicles stranded. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $10,000 | The canopy of a gas station in Raleigh was torn off by thunderstorms winds. No injuries were reported. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $10,000 | Two large trees and limbs down knocked out power to some residents on the east side of the city. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew off the roof of a home on NE 150th Avenue near County Road 316. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $5,000 | The canopy over a gas station was blown down. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Williston | $5,000 | A Skywarn Spotter reported that quarter sized hail caused minor damage to his vehicle. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Williston | $2,000 | Levy County Fire Department reported via Social Media that a few trees were down on CR 320. Time of the event was estimated by radar. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $1,000 | A Skywarn Spotter reported that thunderstorm winds downed at least two large trees along U.S. Highway 41 in Williston. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees along U.S. Highway 41 and State Road 326. |
| June 2023 | Heavy Rain | East Williston | - | WeatherSTEM site 0566W Williston reported 7.54 inches of rain over approximately 8 hour period from 2 am to 10 am EST. |
| February 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Williston | - | Williston Mesonet site 0566W reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph. |
| June 2009 | Hail | Williston | - | Nickel sized hail was reported near Highway 27 in Williston. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Williston | - | The public reported nickel sized hail near Williston. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Williston | - | The public reported penny sized hail in Williston. |
| June 2007 | Hail | Williston | - | The public reported nickel size hail one half mile west of the Marion County border. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Williston | - | A trained spotter reported nickel size hail. |
| September 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Williston | - | Emergency Management reported a brief tornado touchdown in the city of Williston. |
| February 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Williston | - | Law enforcement reported power lines down. |
| August 2000 | Hail | Williston | - | The Levy County Emergency Management reported dime sized hail in downtown Williston. |
| April 1999 | Hail | Williston | - | Skywarn spotters reported that dime sized hail covered the ground in Williston. |
| August 1998 | Hail | Williston | - | Quarter to dime sized hail was reported along U.S. Highway 41 between County Roads 322 and 326 by the public. |
| June 1998 | Hail | Williston | - | Golfball sized hail was reported by the Williston police department. |
| September 1994 | Hail | Williston | - | Dime-size hail reported by Sheriff's Office in Williston |
| February 2003 | Hail | Williston | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Hail | Williston | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgson | 1.2 miles | 15 | |
| Raleigh | 3.9 miles | 15 | |
| Montbrook | 4.2 miles | 16 | |
| Williston Highlands | 6.0 miles | 11 | |
| Morriston | 7.3 miles | 16 | |
| Merediths | 10.4 miles | 10 | |
| Bronson | 11.2 miles | 10 | |
| Beetree Ford | 15.2 miles | 11 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Williston | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2152341 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 293351. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.





