Winooski Vermont is located in the Burlington region of the state, off I-89 just north of Burlington and south of Colchester.The name "Winooski" comes from the Abenaki, meaning "wild onions," which were plentiful along the river.

In the early 1770s, Ira Allen constructed a blockhouse on the river which served as both a fort, a general store, and an office for the "Onion River Company." The fort, "Fort Frederick" was never used for defense, but it's presence increassed property values, which helped promote settlement to the area.