Overview

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 the Vermont Frost Heaves of the American Basketball Association.

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.

Demographics

People

Total Population42,513
Male Share of the Population48.7%
Female Share of the Population51.3%
Senior Citizens11.7%
Employed Population 16+22,725
Age of the Population27

Families

% of people married26.5%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher46.5%
Median Earnings25+$37,323
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,327
Median Earnings With High School Degree$27,135

Wealth

Median Family Income$79,371
% Above Poverty Level75.3%
% Below Poverty Level24.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time18 minutes
% Working from Home5%
% Walking and Biking to Work27.4%
% Using Public Transportation5.5%

Housing

People Living Alone35.7%
Median Gross Rent$1,177
Median House Value$279,000

Ancestry

Irish18.7%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)16.5%
English13.4%
German13.4%
Italian9.3%
French Except Basque9.2%
Canadian6%
Polish4.7%
Scottish4.1%
African2.8%
Russian2.4%
Swedish1.4%
Welsh1.4%
Norwegian1.3%
Dutch1%
Greek0.8%
Austrian0.8%
Arab0.8%
Hungarian0.7%
Ukrainian0.6%
Lebanese0.5%
Romanian0.5%
Portuguese0.5%
West Indian0.4%
Danishn0.4%
Finnish0.4%
US/American0.3%
Swiss0.3%
Somali0.3%
Slovak0.3%
Serbian0.3%
Czech0.3%
Jamaican0.2%
Lithuanian0.2%
Croatian0.2%
Iraqi0.2%
Haitian0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Latvian0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Iranian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
Ghanaian0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
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Burlington Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyChittenden County
Standard Zip Codes05401, 05408
P.O. Box Zip Codes5402, 5406
Company Zip Codes5405
Phone Area Codes802
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude44.48
Approximate Longitude-73.22

Burlington Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

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

StationBURLINGTON INTL AP
Distance3.1 miles
Jan Temp9 to 27 F
Apr Temp34 to 53 F
Jul Temp60 to 81 F
Oct Temp39 to 56 F
Annual Precip36 inches
StationSOUTH HERO
Distance11.7 miles
Jan Temp10 to 27 F
Apr Temp34 to 53 F
Jul Temp61 to 81 F
Oct Temp41 to 57 F
Annual Precip32.5 inches
StationPLATTSBURGH AFB
Distance17.4 miles
Jan Temp8 to 26 F
Apr Temp34 to 53 F
Jul Temp60 to 80 F
Oct Temp38 to 56 F
Annual Precip34.4 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Essex Junction10,395$93,583
Shelburne505$83,977
South Burlington18,975$89,576
Winooski7,232$54,764

Burlington Public Libraries

Fletcher Free
235 COLLEGE ST.
Burlington, Vermont
(802) 863-3403

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More Information for Librarians

Burlington Hospitals

Fletcher Allen Health Care
(Non-profit)
111 Colchester Ave
(802) 656-2345

Burlington Public Schools

Burlington Technical Center
52 Institute Road
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8426
Other
C. P. Smith School
332 Ethan Allen Parkway
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8479
Primary
Total Enrollment 277
Champlain School
800 Pine Street
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8477
Primary
Total Enrollment 635
Edmunds Elementary School
299 Main Street
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8473
Primary
Total Enrollment 335
Edmunds Middle School
275 Main Street
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8486
Middle
Total Enrollment 407
Integrated Arts Academy At H. O. Wheeler
6 Archibald Street
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8475
Primary
Total Enrollment 296
J. J. Flynn School
1645 North Avenue
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8478
Primary
Total Enrollment 376
Lyman C. Hunt Middle School
1364 North Avenue
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8469
Middle
Total Enrollment 400
Sustainability Academy At Lawrence Barnes
123 North Street
ZIP: 5401
(802) 864-8480
Primary
Total Enrollment 212
Burlington Senior High School
52 Institute Road
ZIP: 5408
(802) 864-8411
High
Total Enrollment 1032

Burlington Private Schools

Christ The King School
136 Locust St
ZIP: 5401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 201
Mater Christi School
50 Mansfield Ave
ZIP: 5401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 218
The Baird School
1138 Pine St
ZIP: 5401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 36
Rock Point School
1 Rock Point Rd
ZIP: 5408
Secondary
Total Enrollment 27
Sources :
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Historic Burlington

photo

The Van Ness House between 1910 and 1920

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The Van Ness House between 1910 and 1920

Post office and court house between 1900 and 1905

Mt. Mount Mansfield from University of Vermont grounds between 1900 and 1906

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