Burlington, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
name = Burlington
official_name = City of Burlington
settlement_type = City
nickname = Chocolate City, U.S.A.
motto = The town with Tall Tales


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
flag_link =
image_

seal_link =
seal_size =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Burlington within Wisconsin
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wisconsin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Racine, Walworth
government_type = Mayor-council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bob Miller
leader_title1 = Administrator
leader_name1 = Kevin Lahner
leader_title2 = Common Council
leader_name2 = 8 aldermen from 4 districts
established_title = Incorporated (village)
established_date = 1886
established_title1 = Incorporated (city)
established_date1 = 1900
founder =
named_for = Burlington, Vermont
unit_pref = imperial
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_km2 = 16
area_land_km2 = 15.4
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 6.2
land_area_sq_mi = 6
water_area_sq_mi = 0.2
area_water_percent = 3.25
elevation_m =
elevation_max_m =
elevation_min_m =
elevation_ft =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_ft =
latd = 42
latm = 40
lats = 40
latNS = N
longd = 88
longm = 16
longs = 41
longEW = W
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 9963
population_density_km2 = 622.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1606.9
population_demonym =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 53105
area_code = 262
website = http://www.burlington-wi.gov/

Burlington is a city mostly in Racine County,cite web |title=Economic Profile |url=http://www.burlingtonchamber.org/docs/economicprofile.pdf |format=PDF |month=December | year=2004 |publisher=Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |accessdate=2008-05-24] but partially in Walworth County and Kenosha County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.cite book |last=Barish |first=Lawrence S. (ed.) |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 |url=http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/ |format=PDF |month=July |year=2007 |location=Madison, Wisconsin |publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |isbn=978-0-9752820-2-1 |chapter=Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin |chapterurl=http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07/statistics.htm |page=750, 759 |accessdate=2008-05-23] The population was 9,936 at the 2000 census; as of 2006, its population is estimated to be 10,485 people, making it the 84th largest city or village in Wisconsin by population. The city is located mostly within the Town of Burlington.

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the area, Native American mounds were constructed in what is now Burlington. However, there was no Native American settlement within the current city, although around 1830 a small Potawatomi village stood somewhere in what is now the Town of Burlington.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=1]

The earliest certain European presence in what is now Burlington was in the fall of 1799, when a group of French explorers and missionaries led by Francis Morgan de Vereceones made a portage from the Root River to the Fox River, reaching the Fox at about Burlington's present location.cite news |title=Probable That First White Man Passed Through What is Now City of Burlington in Fall of 1799 |work=The Standard Democrat |date=November 16, 1923 |location=Burlington, Wisconsin |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=1&id=6497 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |page=1]

The earliest settlers in Burlington were four men: Moses and Lemuel Smith, the sons of a Revolutionary War veteran, Benjamin Perce, and William Whiting, all of whom arrived on either December 27 or December 28, 1835cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=3] and built a cabin;cite news |title=Early History of City of Burlington |last=McCumber |work=The Racine Daily Journal |date=November 9, 1923 |location=Racine, Wisconsin |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=1&id=6498 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |page=1] Moses Smith and Whiting had been in the area previously, making a so-called "jackknife claim" (carving their names and the date on trees in the vicinity), on December 15, 1835.cite web |url=http://www.burlingtonhistory.org/History.htm |title=Synopsis of Early Days of Burlington, Wisconsin |accessdate=2008-05-20 |date=2008-03-30 |publisher=Burlington Historical Society] Other settlers arrived in the spring and summer of 1836, mostly from New England;cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=4] they named their settlement Foxville. The residents of Foxville reportedly decided unanimously to change their settlement's name to "Burlington", after Burlington, Vermont, in 1836;cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=5] Foxville continued to be used, however, until the name was officially changed on July 15, 1839.

Up until this point, Foxville had been located in Michigan Territory; on July 3, 1836, however, the act of Congress organizing the Wisconsin Territory went into effect. Counties were created, and Foxville fell within the borders of Milwaukee County, which at that time included, among others, the present-day county of Racine. On December 7, 1836, Racine County, containing Foxville, was separated from the rest of Milwaukee County. Foxville became the official name of the settlement on March 21, 1837, when the first post office was created; Moses Smith was the first postmaster. In May 1837, a sawmill, the first frame building in the settlement, as well as a dam on the Fox River were completed.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=6]

On January 2, 1838, Rochester township, which included Foxville, as well as all of Racine County west of Mount Pleasant was established. On March 9, 1839, Burlington township, including at the time what is now the Town of Dover and much of Brighton, was separated from Rochester.

Burlington was incorporated as a village in 1886; in 1900 it became a city.

Geography

Burlington is located at coor dms|42|40|40|N|88|16|41|W|city (42.677945, -88.278279).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²), of which, 6.0 square miles (15.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (3.25%) is water.

The community of Voree, home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) is located just outside the city.

Climate

Infobox Weather
location = Burlington, Wisconsin
single_line = yes
Jan_Hi_°F = 26 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F = 60
Feb_Hi_°F = 30.6 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F = 62
Mar_Hi_°F = 42 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F = 82
Apr_Hi_°F = 56 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F = 90
May_Hi_°F = 68.4 |May_REC_Hi_°F = 94
Jun_Hi_°F = 78.3 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F = 102
Jul_Hi_°F = 82.7 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F = 105
Aug_Hi_°F = 80.3 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F = 102
Sep_Hi_°F = 72.9 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F = 101
Oct_Hi_°F = 61 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F = 90
Nov_Hi_°F = 46.2 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F = 76
Dec_Hi_°F = 31.6 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F = 65
Year_Hi_°F = 56.3 |Year_REC_Hi_°F = 105
Jan_Lo_°F = 8.7 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F = -27
Feb_Lo_°F = 12.5 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F = -27
Mar_Lo_°F = 24.1 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F = -13
Apr_Lo_°F = 35.7 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F = 3
May_Lo_°F = 45.2 |May_REC_Lo_°F = 22
Jun_Lo_°F = 54.8 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F = 32
Jul_Lo_°F = 60 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F = 39
Aug_Lo_°F = 58 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F = 39
Sep_Lo_°F = 50.1 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F = 23
Oct_Lo_°F = 38.8 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F = 15
Nov_Lo_°F = 28.6 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F = -9
Dec_Lo_°F = 15.3 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F = -18
Year_Lo_°F = 38 |Year_REC_Lo_°F = -27
Jan_Precip_inch = 1.4
Feb_Precip_inch = 1.1
Mar_Precip_inch = 2.4
Apr_Precip_inch = 3.3
May_Precip_inch = 3
Jun_Precip_inch = 4.1
Jul_Precip_inch = 4.2
Aug_Precip_inch = 4
Sep_Precip_inch = 3.6
Oct_Precip_inch = 2.5
Nov_Precip_inch = 2.6
Dec_Precip_inch = 1.8
Year_Precip_inch = 33.8
source = cite web
url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=502174&refer= |title=Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Burlington, Wisconsin, United States of America |accessdate=2008-05-21 |publisher=Weatherbase |year=2008]
accessdate=2008-05-21

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 2256
1910= 3212
1920= 3626
1930= 4114
1940= 4414
1950= 4780
1960= 5856
1970= 7479
1980= 8385
1990= 8855
2000= 9936
estyear=2006
estimate=10465
estref=

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,936 people, 3,838 households, and 2,590 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,667.9 people per square mile (643.7/km²). There were 3,976 housing units at an average density of 667.4/sq mi (257.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.89% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 2.21% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.65% of the population.

There were 3,838 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,365, and the median income for a family was $54,045. Males had a median income of $38,471 versus $25,082 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,789. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Burlington has a mayor-council form of government, as well as a city administrator. The mayor is the city's chief executive, responsible for seeing that state law and city ordinances are enforced.cite web |title=City of Burlington Mayor |url=http://www.burlington-wi.gov/Departments/City_Hall/mayor_Miller.htm |publisher=City of Burlington |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-05-29] Mayors are elected to two-year terms;cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=121] the current mayor is Bob Miller.

The Common Council is composed of eight aldermen; There are two alderman in each of Burlington's four districts.cite web |title=ALDERMANIC REPRESENTATIVES |url=http://www.burlington-wi.gov/Departments/City_Hall/council.htm |publisher=City of Burlington |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-05-29] In every year's spring election, one alderman is elected from each district. An alderman serves a two-year term.

Current Burlington Aldermen as of 2008 [ [http://www.burlington-wi.gov/Departments/City_Hall/council.htm] ]

The city administrator is appointed by the Common Council to oversee the routine operations of the city. The current administrator is Kevin Lahner, who was appointed in January 2008.cite web |title=City of Burlington City Administrator |url=http://www.burlington-wi.gov/Departments/City_Hall/city_administrator.htm |publisher=City of Burlington |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-05-29]

As of 2004, the Burlington Police Department employed 32 full-time personnel; the Fire Department employed 4 full-time personnel and 50 volunteer firefighters.

Education

The first schoolclasses in Burlington, at the time called Foxville, were taught in 1838; one of the first teachers was William Penn Lyon, later a Justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. The settlement's first schoolhouse was built in 1839; classes were taught there irregularly for the next fifteen years.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=10] An act of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1857 incorporated the Burlington Union School District of Racine County; in 1858 and 1859, a schoolhouse was built for the district's use.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=26] This schoolhouse, now called, Lincoln School, still stands, and is used as the headquarters for the Burlington Area School District. Early quarrels about the management and costs of the school led to the creation of two rival school boards, each claiming to be legal; a new board gained control in 1861, and lasting stability came to the system in 1872.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |pages=26–27]

Burlington is currently served by the Burlington Area School District.cite web |title=Home |work=Burlington Area School District |url=http://www.basd.k12.wi.us/ |year=2007 |publisher=BASD |accessdate=2008-05-24] The district has six schools in Burlington, out of eight districtwide.cite web |title=Schools |work=Burlington Area School District |url=http://www.basd.k12.wi.us/page3/page3.html |year=2007 |publisher=BASD |accessdate=2008-05-24] A campus of the Gateway Technical College is also in Burlington.

Private and Parochial schools

Burlington's first private school, the Burlington Academy, was created in 1844 due to dissatisfaction with the other schools existing at the time; one of its early teachers was John F. Potter, later a Congressman from Wisconsin.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |pages=25–26] The Burlington Academy no longer operates.

Current private and parochial schools in Burlington include:
* [http://www.stjohnsburlington.org St. John's Lutheran School]
*Catholic Central High School
* [http://www.stmb.org/SMGS/index.htm St. Mary's Elementary School]
* [http://mystcharles.org St. Charles Elementary School]

Burlington is the home of the 2007–2008 Capuchin Franciscan (Roman Catholic) Novitiate for Friars in Formation for religious life.

Culture

Burlington is nicknamed "Chocolate City, U.S.A.", due to the Nestlé chocolate factory built there in 1966. Burlington is also home to an annual ChocolateFest on Memorial Day weekend.

Media

The first newspaper in Burlington was the "Voree Herald", published in Voree in January 1846 by James Strang, the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite). Its primary purpose was to inform his congregation about events in the wider Latter Day Saint movement. The paper was renamed the "Gospel Herald" in September 1847, and continued to be pulished until 1850, when most of the church relocated to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=37]

The first newspaper published in Burlington proper intended for a general audience was the "Weekly Burlington Gazette", first published on April 8, 1858; the newspaper was strongly Republicancite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=25] and continued until December 11, 1860, when its owner moved to Houston, Texas.

From 1860 until 1863, no newspaper was published in Burlington. On October 14, 1863, the "Burlington Standard", another Republican newspaper, was first published. In 1881, the paper became largely nonpartisan, but in April 1886, with a new owner, the paper was renamed the "Standard Democrat" and became strongly pro-Democrat.cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=38] From 1896 to 1911, the "Standard Democrat" was also published in German under the name "Der Standard Demokrat".

The "Burlington Democrat", a newspaper with Democratic leanings, was first published in 1880 as a counter to the Republican "Burlington Standard". Its name was soon changed to the "Burlington Free Press", and its leanings changed to Republican at about the same time the "Standard" became the "Standard Democrat".

The weekly "Burlington Standard Press" is currently published in Burlington; the daily "Racine Journal-Times" and "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" are also common.

Transportation

Major highways

The following highways pass through or near Burlington:

Interstate highways

* is eleven miles west of the city.
* is twenty miles east of the city.

Federal highways

* is ten miles southwest of the city.

Wisconsin highways

*
*
* is nine miles south of the city.
*
*

County highways

*
*

Railroads

The first railroad to pass through Burlington was built in 1855 by the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railroad Company. The construction of this railroad nearly bankrupted Racine. This line was later reorganized as the Western Union Railroad and eventually was incorporated into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company, .cite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=21] (better known as the Milwaukee Road) On the Milwaukee Road, this line was referred to as the "Racine & Southwestern" Division and is often referred to as the "Southwestern" Line.

In 1856, Burlington invested in the Fox River Valley Railroad of Wisconsin, a planned railroad which would have started in Milwaukee, connected to the railroad already in Burlington, and continued to hook up to the Fox River Valley Railroad of Illinois. The roadbed was built, but rails were never laid, due to the failure of the company.

The railroad currently operating through Burlington was constructed in 1885-1886 by the Wisconsin Central Railway. The Wisconsin Central was acquired by the Minneapolis St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railway in 1908, and merged with the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway in 1961 to create the Soo Line Railroad.

The Milwaukee Road operated their last train west of Burlington in 1982. in 1985 the Soo Line purchased what remained of the Milwaukee Road, and reorganized their existing line through Burlington as a part of a new subsidiary known as Lakes States Transportation Division in 1986. Lakes States did not achieve the cost savings that the Soo Line had envisioned and was sold to the new Wisconsin Central Transportation, which commenced operations on October 11, 1987. The Wisconsin Central Limited was acquired by the Canadian National Railway effective October 9, 2001. The Canadian National Railway is still the current operator of the rail line through Burlington.

Airports

Burlington Municipal Airport is in Burlington.

Notable residents

Notable people who were born in or resided in Burlington include:

*LeRoy Anderson, first World War II draftee to receive the Distinguished Service Cross; captured by Japanese forces at the Battle of Bataancite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=74]
*Ginger Beaumont, first player to bat in the first World Series
*Henry Allen Cooper, twice Congressman from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district; Burlington's Cooper Elementary School is named for himcite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |pages=27–28]
*Gregory Itzin, the actor who portrays fictional president Charles Logan of TV's "24", was a former resident of this town
*Bill Kazmaier, three time World's Strongest Man winner; he has also appeared on ESPN as a commentator on World's Strongest Man broadcasts
*Caitlin Morrall, Miss Wisconsin USA 2007
*William Penn Lyon, one of Burlington's first teachers; later a Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
*Reuben Marti, a Lutheran pastor and, with Bruce Thompson, a founder of the Lutheran Pioneerscite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=76]
*John Potter, practiced law in Burlington and taught at its first private school; later Congressman from Wisconsin's 1st congressional Districtcite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |page=30]
*Tony Romo, current starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys
*James Strang, led the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) from Voree, on the outskirts of Burlingtoncite book |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |pages=13–14]
*Bruce Thompson, with Reuben Marti, a founder of the Lutheran Pioneers

References

;General
*cite book |last=Meurer |first=Fran |coauthors=Don Reed |title=Burlington, Wisconsin: The First 150+ Years |publisher=Burlington Historical Society |year=1991 |location=Burlington, Wisconsin

;Specific

External links

* [http://www.burlington-wi.gov/ City government]
* [http://www.burlingtonchamber.org/ Burlington Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.burlingtonhistory.org/ Burlington Historical Society]
* [http://www.basd.k12.wi.us/ Burlington Area School District]
* [http://www.burlington.lib.wi.us/ Burlington Library]
* [http://www.burlingtonhistory.org/Liars_Club.htm Burlington Liars' Club]
* [http://www.burlingtonlinux.org Burlington Linux Computer Club]
* [http://www.burlingtonareaprogressives.org Burlington Area Progressives]
* [http://www.catheonline.org Center for the Arts Technology and Health Education]