Burlington, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burlington
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Atlantic Bank and Trust Company Building in Burlington
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| Motto(s):
"Belong in Burlington"
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 Burlington
Location in North Carolina
Burlington
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State | North Carolina | ||||
| Counties | Alamance, Guilford | ||||
| Founded | 1857 (Company Shops) | ||||
| Founded | 1886 (Burlington) | ||||
| Incorporated | February 14, 1893 | ||||
| Named for | Word seen on a passing train | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 31.82 sq mi (82.41 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 30.27 sq mi (78.38 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 1.55 sq mi (4.03 km2) 4.87% | ||||
| Elevation | 673 ft (205 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 57,303 | ||||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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60,032 | ||||
| • Density | 1,893.38/sq mi (731.05/km2) | ||||
| • Urban | 145,311 (US: 243rd) | ||||
| • Urban density | 1,579.2/sq mi (609.7/km2) | ||||
| • Metro | 179,165 (US: 249th) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP Code |
27215, 27216, 27217
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| Area code(s) | 336/743 | ||||
| FIPS code | 37-09060 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403956 | ||||
Burlington is a city in North Carolina, a state in the United States. It is mostly located in Alamance County, but a small part is in Guilford County. Burlington is the main city of its own metropolitan area. It is also part of a larger area called the Piedmont Triad, which includes Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
In 2020, about 57,303 people lived in Burlington. This makes it the 18th largest city in North Carolina.
Contents
History of Burlington
Alamance County was created in 1849. Early settlers included Quakers, German farmers, and Scots-Irish people. Many Quakers still live in the Snow Camp area today.
Burlington started because the North Carolina Railroad needed a place to build and fix its trains in the 1850s. They chose land near what is now Graham. In 1856, the railroad line was finished, connecting Goldsboro and Charlotte. People were amazed by the new trains.
The railroad soon needed repair shops. Alamance County was a good spot because it was along the new train line. A local leader, Gen. Benjamin Trollinger, helped the railroad buy land for the shops. Between 1855 and 1859, many buildings were built, including shops for engines and machines, and homes for workers.
The area was first called "Company Shops". For a short time, it was called "Vance," but it went back to "Company Shops" in 1864. During the Civil War, Company Shops was a small village. It didn't have many public services like churches or schools. In 1866, the village officially became a town called "Company Shops."
Later, the railroad changed hands. Many train jobs moved to other cities. Since the train shops were no longer the main focus, the people of Company Shops decided they needed a new name. In 1887, a contest was held. Someone suggested "Burlington" after seeing the word on a train. The town chose this name, and it became official.
Around the year 1900, Edwin M. Holt started small textile factories near the Haw River. In 1908, he built the first cotton mill in the South. From this one factory, Alamance County grew to have many cotton mills and yarn factories. These factories employed thousands of people. Holt's company became known worldwide as Burlington Industries.
Even though textiles were very important until the 1970s, Burlington knew it needed other industries. During World War II, the government used a large area for Fairchild Aircraft Corporation to build test planes. After the war, Firestone Tire Company used the site for tank repair. Later, Western Electric came to town. They worked on defense technology during the Cold War. However, Western Electric closed in 1991.
Over the years, Burlington has grown and changed. The downtown area, once the center for Company Shops, is still important today. It has financial services, government offices, a library, shops, restaurants, and a theater. It is also home to Laboratory Corporation of America, a large biomedical testing company. Labcorp is the biggest employer in Burlington and Alamance County.
Many historic places in Burlington are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Alamance Hotel, Atlantic Bank and Trust Company Building, and the Southern Railway Passenger Station.
Geography and Climate
Burlington is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The land is mostly flat with some rolling hills.
The city covers about 31.82 square miles (82.41 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
Climate in Burlington
The weather in Burlington usually has warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. It has a Humid subtropical climate, which means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Burlington, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1952–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
83 (28) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
103 (39) |
96 (36) |
86 (30) |
79 (26) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 51.4 (10.8) |
55.1 (12.8) |
62.5 (16.9) |
72.1 (22.3) |
79.2 (26.2) |
86.4 (30.2) |
89.7 (32.1) |
88.3 (31.3) |
82.2 (27.9) |
72.9 (22.7) |
62.7 (17.1) |
54.3 (12.4) |
71.4 (21.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 41.1 (5.1) |
43.9 (6.6) |
50.9 (10.5) |
59.8 (15.4) |
68.1 (20.1) |
75.9 (24.4) |
79.6 (26.4) |
78.1 (25.6) |
71.8 (22.1) |
61.1 (16.2) |
50.9 (10.5) |
44.1 (6.7) |
60.4 (15.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) |
32.8 (0.4) |
39.3 (4.1) |
47.4 (8.6) |
57.1 (13.9) |
65.4 (18.6) |
69.4 (20.8) |
68.0 (20.0) |
61.3 (16.3) |
49.3 (9.6) |
39.2 (4.0) |
33.8 (1.0) |
49.5 (9.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
4 (−16) |
8 (−13) |
21 (−6) |
23 (−5) |
43 (6) |
48 (9) |
41 (5) |
29 (−2) |
24 (−4) |
15 (−9) |
3 (−16) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.96 (101) |
3.24 (82) |
4.44 (113) |
3.83 (97) |
3.63 (92) |
4.63 (118) |
4.39 (112) |
4.12 (105) |
4.91 (125) |
3.35 (85) |
3.21 (82) |
3.35 (85) |
47.06 (1,195) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Parks, Sports, and Fun
Burlington has many parks, like Joe Davidson Park and Burlington City Park. These parks offer lots of activities. You can find baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds, disc golf, and tennis courts.
The Alamance County Recreation and Parks Commission helps manage these areas. They work to provide fun activities for everyone.
The Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department manages several parks and community centers:
- Cedarock Park
- Shallow Ford Natural Area
- Great Bend Park at Glencoe
- Pleasant Grove Recreation Center
- Eli Whitney Recreation Center
Alamance County also has great places for hiking and paddling. These include the Haw River Trail and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Recreation and Parks Department helps people access the Haw River Paddle and Hiking Trail at several spots:
- Altamahaw Paddle Access
- Shallow Ford Natural Area
- Great Bend Park at Glencoe
- Glencoe Paddle Access
- Saxapahaw Lake Paddle Access
- Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access
Burlington is home to the Burlington Sock Puppets. This baseball team plays in the Appalachian League, a summer league for college players. They play their games at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Before being the Sock Puppets, they were known as the Burlington Royals and the Burlington Indians. Many famous baseball players, like Jim Thome and CC Sabathia, started their careers in Burlington.
The city also runs The Valley Golf Course.
Burlington City Park is a large park with over 75 acres of activities. It has an amusement area with a carousel, a miniature train, and other rides. There's also a playground, an amphitheater, a baseball field, and walking trails. The park's main attraction is a fully restored Dentzel Carousel. This carousel is on the National Historical Register and brings in many visitors each year. The Burlington Carousel Festival is held here every year.
Burlington is also home to the Burlington Boys' Choir. This is the oldest boys' choir in North Carolina. It started in 1959 and has traveled to perform in many places.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 817 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,716 | 110.0% | |
| 1900 | 3,692 | 115.2% | |
| 1910 | 4,808 | 30.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,952 | 23.8% | |
| 1930 | 9,737 | 63.6% | |
| 1940 | 12,198 | 25.3% | |
| 1950 | 24,560 | 101.3% | |
| 1960 | 33,199 | 35.2% | |
| 1970 | 35,930 | 8.2% | |
| 1980 | 37,266 | 3.7% | |
| 1990 | 39,498 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 44,917 | 13.7% | |
| 2010 | 50,042 | 11.4% | |
| 2020 | 57,303 | 14.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 60,032 | 20.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Data
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 25,810 | 45.04% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 16,118 | 28.13% |
| Native American | 193 | 0.34% |
| Asian | 1,353 | 2.36% |
| Pacific Islander | 42 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,296 | 4.01% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11,491 | 20.05% |
According to the 2020 census, Burlington had 57,303 people. There were 22,009 households and 12,978 families living in the city.
2010 Census Data
In the 2010 census, Burlington had 49,963 people. There were 20,632 households. About 28.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.38 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 26.6% were under 20 years old. About 15.7% were 65 years or older. The average age was 38.3 years.
Education in Burlington
Schools for Kids (K-12)
The schools in Burlington are part of the Alamance-Burlington School System. This system was formed in 1996 when the county and city school systems joined together.
Elementary Schools
- Alexander Wilson Elementary School
- Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School
- Audrey W. Garrett Elementary School
- B. Everett Jordan Elementary School
- Eastlawn Elementary School
- Elon Elementary School
- E. M. Holt Elementary School
- E. M. Yoder Elementary School
- Grove Park Elementary School
- Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School
- Haw River Elementary School
- Highland Elementary School
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- Marvin B. Smith Elementary School
- North Graham Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- R. Homer Andrews Elementary School
- South Graham Elementary School
- South Mebane Elementary School
- Sylvan Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Broadview Middle School
- Graham Middle School
- Hawfields Middle School
- Southern Middle School
- Turrentine Middle School
- Western Alamance Middle School
- Woodlawn Middle School
High Schools
- Eastern Alamance High School
- Graham High School
- Hugh M. Cummings High School
- Southern Alamance High School
- Southeast Alamance High School
- Walter M. Williams High School
- Western Alamance High School
Other Schools
- Alamance Christian School
- Blessed Sacrament School
- Burlington Christian Academy
- The Burlington School
- Clover Garden School (Charter)
- River Mill Academy (Charter)
- Alamance-Burlington Early College at ACC
- Alamance Virtual School
- Career and Technical Education Center
- Ray Street Academy
- Sellars-Gunn Education Center
Colleges and Universities
Alamance Community College has campuses in Burlington and nearby Graham. It offers many different programs and job training. Elon University is a private four-year university located in nearby Elon.
Transportation in Burlington
You can travel by train from Burlington! Amtrak's Piedmont train connects Burlington to cities like Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, and Greensboro. The Carolinian train goes even further, to New York, with stops in places like Washington and Philadelphia. The train station is at 101 North Main Street.
Burlington also has its own public bus service called Link Transit. It started in 2016 and has been used by many people. You can also ride the BioBus from nearby Elon University.
For air travel, Burlington is about 35 miles from Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. It's about 48 miles from Raleigh–Durham International Airport near Cary. Major highways like Interstate 40, Interstate 85, and U.S. Route 70 also serve Burlington.
Businesses in Burlington
- Labcorp is a very large company that does medical testing. It has its main office and several testing centers in Burlington. It is the biggest employer in Alamance County, with over 5,000 workers.
- Honda Aero, a part of Honda, has its main office in Burlington. They are building a factory there to make jet engines for small airplanes.
- Glen Raven Inc. makes and sells fabrics. Their most famous brand is Sunbrella.
- Biscuitville is a fast-food restaurant chain that started in Burlington.
- Gold Toe Brands makes socks.
- The Times-News is Burlington's daily newspaper.
- Zack's Hotdogs is a local restaurant that opened in 1928 in the downtown area.
Shopping in Burlington
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Burlington has several places to shop. Holly Hill Mall is an indoor mall. Alamance Crossing is an outdoor mall that opened in 2007. There is also the Burlington Outlet Village, which was North Carolina's first outlet mall when it opened in 1981.
Famous People from Burlington
Many notable people have connections to Burlington:
- Adam Armour, a soccer player
- Jesse Branson, a former NBA basketball player
- Billy Bryan, a former NFL football player
- Josh Bush, a former NFL football player
- Chris Castor, a former NFL football player
- Drew Coble, a former American League umpire
- Geoff Crompton, a former NBA basketball player
- Max Drake, a musician
- William Edward Ellis, a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy
- Andrew Everett, a professional wrestler
- Frank Haith, a college basketball coach
- Sammy Johnson, a former NFL football player
- Charley Jones, a former MLB baseball player
- Dwight Jones, a former NFL football player
- Don Kernodle, a professional wrestler
- John Meeks, a basketball player
- Danny Morrison, a former president of the Carolina Panthers football team
- Will Richardson, an NFL football player
- Tequan Richmond, an actor known for Everybody Hates Chris and Ray
- W. Kerr Scott, a former Governor and US Senator for North Carolina
- Brandon Spoon, a former NFL football player
- Brandon Tate, a former NFL football player
- Floyd Wicker, a former MLB baseball player
Sister Cities
Burlington has two sister cities, which are cities that partner with each other to promote cultural ties:
Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
See also
In Spanish: Burlington (Carolina del Norte) para niños
