Burlington, Vermont

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Burlington, VT
Nickname: "Queen City"
Location
Location of Burlington
Coordinates: (city proper)) 44°28′0″N, 73°9′0″W
Government
Country
State
County		 United States
Vermont
Chittenden County
Mayor Bob Kiss
Geographical characteristics
Area  
  City 40.1 km²  (15.5 sq mi)
    Land   27.4 km²  (10.6 sq mi)
    Water   4.9 km² (12.7 sq mi)
Elevation 61 m  (200 ft)
Demographics
Population  
  City (2000) 38,889 (city proper)
    Density   1,421.9/km² (3,682.0/sq mi)
Time zone
  Summer (DST)		 EST (UTC-5)
EDT (UTC-4)
Website: www.ci.burlington.vt.us

Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and is the shire town of Chittenden County, Vermont. At a population of 38,889, the city is the core of one of the nation's smaller metropolitan areas. The urbanized area consists of the cities of Burlington, South Burlington, and Winooski; the towns of Colchester, Essex, and Williston; and the village of Essex Junction. As of 2000, the metropolitan area contained the three northwestern counties of Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle, with a 2000 confirmed population of 198,889, and an estimated 2003 population of 203,503.[1]

Contents

[edit] Law and government

Church Street, Burlington
Church Street, Burlington

The city has a city council-mayor form of government. Left-of-center moderate Democrats and the left-of-center Progressive Party share seats. U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders was mayor of Burlington from 1981 to 1989. Bob Kiss, the current Mayor, is a Progressive who was elected in 2006. The City Council has 14 seats, which are currently occupied by 6 Democrats, 4 Progressives, 2 Republicans, and 2 Independents. Peter Clavelle, Burlington's longest serving Mayor, held that office from 1989 to 1993, and again from 1995 to 2006.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 38,889 people, 15,885 households, and 7,052 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,682.0 people per square mile (1,421.9/km²). There were 16,395 housing units at an average density of 1,552.3 per square mile (599.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.27% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,885 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union[citation needed], 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.6% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 16.3% under the age of 18, 25.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median age is 32.1, well under the state figure of 40.7, and under the national figure of 37.6.[2]

The average family size is 2.2 people. 12.59% of the people are married with children. 8.16% have children and are not married.[3]

[edit] Economy

[edit] Personal Income

The median income for a household in the city was $33,070, and the median income for a family was $46,012. Males had a median income of $30,144 versus $25,270 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,011. About 10.4% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Industry

The largest industrial facility in Vermont is IBM's semiconductor plant a few kilometers east in Essex Junction. Small industrial and service companies are located in the Burlington area.

It is also home to the corporate headquarters of Bruegger's, a chain of 260 bagel bakeries, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The Magic Hat Brewing Company is located in South Burlington, just outside the city limits.

Ben and Jerry's is headquartered in nearby South Burlington. .

Downtown is the Burlington Town Center mall with over 75 specialty shops and 15 national retailers such as Macy's and Old Navy.

[edit] Health

Burlington is the site of Fletcher Allen Health Care, a tertiary referral hospital for Vermont and northern New York State, Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital.

In 2006, Men's Health magazine graded Burlington the ninth best city in the nation to live in, out of 100. The criteria were health, quality of life and fitness.[4] In 2007, it was rated 11th out of 100, for auto safety. The criteria were observing speed limits, accident infrequency, and seatbelt use.[5]

[edit] Culture and landmarks

Burlington is a college town, home to the University of Vermont (UVM), Burlington College, and to Champlain College, as well as a Community College of Vermont campus. The Vermont Lake Monsters, formerly the Vermont Expos baseball club of the New York-Penn League plays on the campus of UVM in Centennial Field. Saint Michael's College is in nearby Colchester.

Burlington is home to Vermont's arts-focused alternative weekly, Seven Days. Events such as the South End Art Hop and public galleries such as The Firehouse Gallery and Pine Street Art Works, provide a forum for the visual arts.

Burlington is also the birthplace of the ice cream enterprise Ben & Jerry's, founded in 1978 in a renovated gas station, which was at that time located at the southwest corner of College and Saint Paul Streets.

The Church Street Marketplace, downtown, has festivals throughout the year.

The Burlington Waterfront on the shore of Lake Champlain has bench swings, shoreline, walking and bike paths. It provides an place to view the Adirondacks. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Vermont's first LEED Certified Green Building, is located at the waterfront and harbors over 70 species of fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles.

[edit] Media

Burlington is served by the Burlington Free Press newspaper which is delivered throughout Vermont.

[edit] Local music

Burlington has had a long and varied history of local music. The city has, over the years, supported a number of local bands as various "scenes" waxed and waned, and has even launched a handful of national acts. The most famous of these was Phish, which originated at the University of Vermont circa 1983 (they also attended Vermont's Goddard College), and which gave its final performance in 2004.

Other notable acts with ties to the city include From The Ground Up (Burlington, VT), The Samples, Strangefolk, The Essex Green, Raq, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, James Kochalka, Chin Ho, Pinhead, Pork Tornado, The Skamaphrodites, KT Tunstall, and The Middle Eight.

[edit] Sports

Club Logo Sport League Stadium
Vermont Lake Monsters Baseball Minor League Baseball; Class A (Short Season) Centennial Field
Vermont Frost Heaves Basketball American Basketball Association; Blue Conference Memorial Auditorium

The Auditorium (Barre, VT)
University of Vermont Catamounts Multiple sports

Most notably Men's Baseball and Men's and Women's Basketball

 NCAA Division I

America East Conference

 Patrick Gymnasium, Centennial Field, Gutterson Field House

Burlington is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters, a Class A minor league baseball team.

Burlington is also home to a professional basketball franchise, the Vermont Frost Heaves, for half of their season. The team, which is part of the American Basketball Association (ABA), splits their inaugural 2005-2006 season home games between Burlington and Barre. The Frost Heaves, owned by Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff, play their Burlington games at the Memorial Auditorium, on South Union Street, at the corner of Main.

There is also a rugby union team in Burlington, the Burlington RFC.

Daniel W. Fish, a former member of the Air Force's Wings of Blue, was the first person to obtain a permit and skydive in the city of Burlington.

Lake Champlain from Burlington Vermont
Lake Champlain from Burlington Vermont

[edit] Transportation

Burlington is the central focus of the Chittenden County Transportation Agency, providing bus service to and from the surrounding communities (and the shopping districts of South Burlington and Williston). Burlington is also the headquarters of the Lake Champlain Transportation Company with seasonal service provided between Burlington's King Street ferry terminal and Port Kent, New York.

Burlington International Airport provides the area with commercial service to major regional hubs and international airports. Vermont Transit provides intercity bus service while Amtrak rail service is provided via the nearby village of Essex Junction.

[edit] Sister cities

Burlington has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
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  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Burlington_VT-5010675010.aspx
  3. ^ http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Burlington_VT-5010675010.aspx
  4. ^ "Best and Worst Cities for Men",Men's Health, January/February 2006, page 129
  5. ^ "The Capitals of Crash",Men's Health, April 2007, page 86

[edit] Articles

[edit] External links

Wikisource has an original article from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica about:


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