Burlington, North Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burlington, North Dakota
City
Nickname(s):  The Forks
Location of Burlington, North Dakota
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
County	Ward
Township	Burlington
Township	Kirkelie
Founded	1883
Incorporated	February 28, 1884
Area
• Total	1.91 sq mi (4.94 km2)
• Land	1.91 sq mi (4.94 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,660 ft (506 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,291
• Estimate  (2022)	1,294
• Density	677.33/sq mi (261.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	58722
Area code(s)	701
FIPS code	38-10940
GNIS feature ID	1035947
Highways	US 2, US 52

Burlington is a small city in Ward County, North Dakota, United States. It was founded in 1883. Even though there were two earlier settlements before it, Burlington is the oldest city in Ward County and the surrounding areas.

On February 28, 1884, Burlington became the county seat (the main city for the county government) of the newly formed Imperial Ward County. This county was much larger back then, including parts of what are now Renville, Mountrail, and Burke counties. Burlington was the county seat until 1888. In 2020, about 1,291 people lived in Burlington. The city is also part of the Minot area.

History of Burlington

Dakota Territory, around 1886

Burlington and its earlier settlements were started by two men, James Johnson and James Colton, in the late 1870s. This was when the area was known as Dakota Territory. The first settlements were called The Forks, and later Colton. These were the beginnings of what is now Burlington.

James Johnson named the city "Burlington" after his hometown in Burlington, Iowa. The nickname "The Forks" is still used for Burlington today. It refers to the city's history and its location where the Des Lacs and Souris Rivers meet.

One of the first buildings in Burlington was the first Ward County Courthouse. James Johnson built it, and it was first used to store grain. Later, in the mid-1900s, this building was moved to the North Dakota State Fair grounds. Today, it is part of the Ward County Historical Society's Fairgrounds Museum.

In the early 1890s, the Burlington Reporter became the first newspaper in western North Dakota. It later changed its name to the Minot Daily News. On June 24, 2011, everyone in Burlington had to leave their homes because of serious flooding in the town.

Burlington's Geography

Burlington is located in the middle of North Dakota, in an area called the Drift Prairie. It sits right where the Des Lacs and Souris Rivers join together. The city is located at 48°16′39″N 101°25′40″W / 48.277475°N 101.427694°W / 48.277475; -101.427694.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Burlington covers about 0.64 square miles (1.66 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Burlington's Population

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 1,060 people living in Burlington. These people made up 399 households and 293 families. The city had about 1,656 people per square mile (640 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people in Burlington were White (94.2%). There were also Native American (2.7%), Asian (0.2%), and African American (0.1%) residents. About 2.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 40.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.66 people, and the average family had 3.11 people. The median age in the city was 33 years old.

Education in Burlington

Burlington's school district joined with the Des Lacs school district in the late 1960s. This created the United Public School District 7. Now, Des Lacs-Burlington High School serves students from Burlington.

Children in kindergarten through sixth grade go to school in Burlington. Students in seventh through twelfth grade attend high school in Des Lacs. Before the year 2000, there wasn't enough space in Burlington for seventh and eighth graders. A new junior high section was finished that year, making more room. In 2008, Des Lacs-Burlington Elementary School had about 500 students.

Culture and Sports

Sports Teams

Burlington has had success in sports.

Baseball Championships

• North Dakota Region 16 Legion baseball (as "Burlington Bulldogs"): 2007
• Central Plains Super-Region baseball (as "Burlington Bulldogs"): 2007

Softball Runner-up

• State women's softball (as "Burlington"): 1946, 1947, 1948

Media and Radio

Burlington has access to several radio stations.

AM Radio

• 910 KCJB – "91 Country" (plays classic country music and talk shows)
• 1320 KHRT – "K-Heart" (plays gospel music)
• 1390 KRRZ – "Cars" (plays oldies music)

FM Radio

• 88.9 KMPR – Prairie Public Radio (includes shows from NPR, PRI, and APR)
• 91.1 HBN Radio (plays Christian music)
• 91.9 K-LOVE (plays Christian music)
• 93.7 KIZZ – "Z94" (plays today's hit music)
• 94.9 KTZU – "The Zoo" (plays classic rock music)
• 97.1 KYYX – "97 Kicks" (plays country music)
• 98.1 KOWW-LP – "The Cowlip" (a local community radio station)
• 99.9 KMXA-FM – "Mix 99.9" (plays adult contemporary music)
• 102.9 KWGO – "W-G-O" (plays adult contemporary music)
• 104.1 KSAF-LP – (plays Christian music)
• 105.3 KZPR – "The Fox" (plays mainstream rock music)
• 106.9 KHRT – "K-Heart" (plays Christian music)

Transportation Around Burlington

Burlington is connected by major roads:

• U.S. Route 2
• U.S. Route 52

Railroads

Train tracks still run through Burlington today. They are becoming more important for moving oil and gravel, which are big industries in North Dakota. The Great Northern is now part of the BNSF Railway, and the Soo Line is run by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Airports

There are three small private airstrips near Burlington. One, called Pietschtree airstrip, is right next to the city. For bigger flights, people use the Minot International Airport.

Fun Places to Visit

• Burlington Recreational Park
• Burlington Walking Path: This path starts on U.S. routes 2 and 52 and stretches for over eight miles, connecting to Minot.
• Minot Country Club
• Old Settlers Park & Campground
• Peace Lutheran Church & Burlington Cemetery
• Wildwood Golf Course

Pioneer Village Museum Moving Back

One of the first buildings in Burlington was the first Ward County Courthouse. It was built by James Johnson and was originally used to store grain. In the mid-1900s, it was moved to the North Dakota State Fair grounds. There, it became one of three buildings in the Ward County Historical Society's Pioneer Village Museum.

In 2019, the Ward County Historical Society announced that the courthouse building, along with the entire Pioneer Village Museum, would be moved back to Burlington. This move was due to some legal issues with the State Fair Association. The other two buildings from the museum, the Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Sundre Log Cabin, will also be moved.

See also

In Spanish: Burlington (Dakota del Norte) para niños