Burlington, VT

Burlington, Vermont

Introduction to Burlington, Vermont

The city of Burlington, Vermont's largest city, rests on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. It is situated about 40 miles northwest of the state capital of Montpelier, about 70 miles north of Rutland, and 95 miles southeast of the city of Montreal in Canada's Quebec province. Major highways serving the city include Interstate 89, U.S. Route 7, and Vermont State Highway 15.

Despite popular belief that the city was named for the Earl of Burlington, it is more likely that the city's name is linked to the Burling family of New York City, a prominent and wealthy 19th century family whose members were original grantees of eleven Vermont towns. At the time of its incorporation as a city in 1864, the original town of Burlington was split into two parts: the northwestern portion of the town became the City of Burlington (Vermont's first incorporated city) and the more rural portion of the original town was established as a new town named South Burlington.

Burlington is home to the University of Vermont (UVM). With a richly deserved reputation as a college town, the city is also home to Burlington College, Champlain College, and a Community College of Vermont campus. Ice cream aficionados will recognize Burlington as the birthplace of the legendary Ben & Jerry's, which was founded in 1978 in a renovated Burlington gas station. The company's headquarters are now located in nearby South Burlington.

Burlington Attractions

Burlington is known for its lively arts culture. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is the oldest state-supported orchestra in the United States. Visual arts are highlighted at public galleries such as the Pine Street Art Works and the Firehouse Gallery. The Shelburne Museum spans 45 acres and features 37 buildings showcasing New England's proud pre-industrial traditions, such as the historic Lake Champlain Lighthouse, an old-fashioned covered bridge, furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the remains of an old jail cell. Annual Burlington events include First Night, a large and varied celebration which begins during the afternoon of New Year's Eve and culminates with a midnight fireworks display. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts can enjoy Burlington's Bike Path, a 6.5 mile paved trail sitting mostly on a former railbed close to the lakeshore and extending from one end of the city to the other. The trail passes through the revitalized Waterfront, and through the city's beach, campground and residential areas, before it connects to a similar path through South Burlington. The hope is to eventually have a continuous trail to the Canadian border.

There are no major league professional sports teams in Vermont. Burlington, however, has a couple of minor-league pro teams. The Vermont Lake Monsters (formerly the Vermont Expos) of the New York-Penn League are a class single-A baseball club affiliated with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals. The team plays on the campus of UVM at Centennial Field. Burlington is also home to a newly-formed professional basketball franchise, the Vermont Frost Heaves of the American Basketball Association. The team is beginning its inaugural season in the fall of 2006 and will be splitting its home games between Burlington's Memorial Auditorium and the Auditorium in Barre, Vermont.

Collegiate sports can be found at the University of Vermont, whose Catamounts participate in the NCAA's Division I America East Conference. The school's primary spectator sports are basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and hockey. The UVM ski teams, however, have had a tradition of success, laying claim to a long run of national championships.

High Points

Burlington strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Vermont):

Category	Trophy
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 2%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 6%
Short Commute Times (vs. Peers)	Top 14%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 17%

Comparative Profile of Burlington, VT

Comparing Burlington to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Vermont (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Female Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men
Male Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Racial Diversity
Children Under 5 Years Old

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People Living Alone
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Burlington Almanac

Burlington Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Burlington Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Burlington residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Burlington, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Burlington Hospitals

FLETCHER ALLEN HOSPITAL OF VERMONT
(Voluntary non-profit - Other)
COLCHESTER AVE
(802) 847-0000
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Burlington

Burlington High Schools (2004)

BURLINGTON SENIOR HIGH SCH
52 INSTITUTE ROAD
802-864-8411
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 1,135 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 14.5

BURLINGTON S.D.
150 COLCHESTER AVENUE
802-864-8461
A Special Education School
Serves 197 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 11.6

ONTOP
14 SOUTH WILLIAMS STREET
802-864-0496
A Non-traditional School
Serves 22 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 2.1

BURLINGTON TECHNICAL CENTER
52 INSTITUTE RD
802-864-8426
A Vocational School

Burlington Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Burlington College

Burlington Technical Center

Champlain College

University of Vermont

(List of All Vermont Colleges)

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