South Burlington, Vermont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Burlington, Vermont
City
South Burlington City Hall, Public Library, and Senior Center
Seal
Location with Chittenden County and Vermont
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Chittenden
Incorporated	1865 (town) 1971 (city)
Area
• Total	29.58 sq mi (76.62 km2)
• Land	16.49 sq mi (42.71 km2)
• Water	13.09 sq mi (33.91 km2)
Elevation	328 ft (100 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,292
• Density	1,230.56/sq mi (475.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	05403, 05407
Area code	802
FIPS code	50-66175
GNIS ID	1459577
Interstate highways

South Burlington is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It's right next to Burlington, and together they form the main part of the Burlington metropolitan area. In 2020, about 20,292 people lived here, making it the second-largest city in Vermont. South Burlington is home to the main office of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and Vermont's biggest shopping center, the University Mall.

History of South Burlington

The area that is now South Burlington was first set aside on June 7, 1763. This happened when the Province of New Hampshire granted it as part of Burlington township.

The Town of Burlington was officially set up around 1785. Later, in 1865, the part of Burlington that was a village became a city. The rest of the original town was then made into a separate town called South Burlington. This new town became the City of South Burlington in 1971.

City Center Initiative: A New Downtown

The City Center Initiative is a big plan to create a lively, walkable downtown area in South Burlington. The city is investing in new roads, parks, and buildings. This will create places for people to gather, move around easily, and help local businesses grow.

The plan covers over 300 acres. This area will have a mix of homes, shops, and cultural spaces. Key parts of the plan include a new city hall, a senior center, and a public library. New streets like Market Street and Garden Street are being built. These streets are designed for both cars and people walking or biking. Market Street already has trees and special surfaces to help manage rainwater. New buildings with shops on the first floor and apartments above are also being built. There's also a new 7-acre public park with walking paths, a children's play area, and natural art.

Geography of South Burlington

South Burlington is located in the western part of Chittenden County. It shares borders with several other towns and cities. To the northwest is Burlington, and to the north are Winooski and Colchester. Essex is to the northeast, and Williston is to the east. To the south is Shelburne.

To the west, South Burlington touches Shelburne Bay, which is part of Lake Champlain. A large section of Lake Champlain, all the way to the New York state line, is also part of South Burlington. The Winooski River flows along the northern edge of the city.

The U.S. Census Bureau says that South Burlington covers a total area of about 29.58 square miles (76.62 square kilometers). About 16.49 square miles (42.71 square kilometers) of this is land. The remaining 13.09 square miles (33.91 square kilometers), or 44.25%, is water.

Population and People

South Burlington is a main city in the Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area. Its population has grown a lot over the years.

2020 Census Information

The 2020 census showed that 20,277 people lived in South Burlington. There were 8,764 households, with an average of 2.15 people living in each home.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in South Burlington, based on estimates from July 1, 2022:

In 2021, the average income for a household in the city was $83,750.

Jobs and Income

Many people work in South Burlington. In 2019, there were 20,252 jobs in the city. Most of these jobs (87.1%) were held by people who live outside South Burlington. Only 12.9% of the jobs were held by people who also live in the city.

About 70.9% of people aged 16 and older in South Burlington are part of the workforce. The jobs in South Burlington are mainly in a few key areas:

• 34.2% work in education, healthcare, and social help.
• 11.4% work in manufacturing.
• 9.1% work in arts, entertainment, recreation, hotels, and food services.
• 9.0% work in retail.
• 9.0% work in professional, science, management, and administrative services.

In 2019, the average household income was $73,605. About 25.2% of families earned between $100,000 and $150,000 per year. The unemployment rate in 2019 was 4.4%.

Economy of South Burlington

South Burlington's economy mostly relies on services. There are 191 retail businesses, many of them located around the City Center near Dorset Street and Williston Road. The city also has 131 healthcare businesses and 116 businesses in professional, scientific, and technical services.

In 2020, South Burlington had the highest retail sales in Vermont, totaling over $1.3 billion. This shows how important shopping and services are to the city's economy.

Some of the biggest employers in South Burlington include the Vermont National Guard, GE Healthcare, and Ben & Jerry's. Other important companies are Fairpoint Communications, Lane Press, and Halyard Brewing Co. CommutAir, a regional airline, has its main office in the city, close to the airport. The University Mall, four grocery stores, and the City Center Development Plan also play a big role in the local economy.

Parks and Fun Activities

The Fletcher-Caulkins House at Wheeler Nature Park

South Burlington has many parks with walking trails and fun things to do for all ages. All parks have parking available for visitors.

• Red Rocks Park is a public park and beach right on the shores of Lake Champlain.
• Farrell Park is a 22-acre park with a playground and picnic area. It also has walking trails and a special off-leash area for dogs.
• Overlook Park offers amazing views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks mountains.
• Veterans Memorial Park (also known as Dorset Park) is one of the city's most popular parks. It has three baseball fields, a basketball court, and a playground. Cairns Arena, the high school's hockey rink, is also nearby.
• Jaycee Park has a playground, a basketball court, and open space for various activities.
• Szymanski Park is located in the southern part of the city. It features a basketball court, tennis courts, a playground, and a picnic area. It also connects to other walking trails.
• Wheeler Nature Park is just south of Veterans Memorial Park. It has a hiking trail and beautiful views of Mount Mansfield.

Education in South Burlington

South Burlington High School

South Burlington has several schools for different age groups.

Elementary Schools

• Chamberlin School (public)
• Orchard School (public)
• Rick Marcotte Central School (public)
• The Schoolhouse (private, independent)

Middle Schools

• Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School (the city's only public middle school)
• Vermont Commons School (private, independent)

High Schools

• Rice Memorial High School (private, Roman Catholic)
• South Burlington High School (the city's only public high school)
• Vermont Commons School (private, independent)

Media and News

Newspapers

• The Other Paper is a weekly newspaper that has been published since 1977. It is now owned by the Vermont Community Newspaper Group.

Television

• WCAX-TV
• WPTZ – This station is licensed to Plattsburgh, New York, but its main studio moved to South Burlington in 2019. It's in the same building as the Ben & Jerry's headquarters!

Radio

• WXXX – 95.5 FM (known as 95 Triple X) plays Top 40 music.

Transportation and Roads

Burlington International Airport in South Burlington

South Burlington has important transportation links.

Airport

The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport serves the area. It offers flights to major regional and international airports. Even though it's called "Burlington International Airport," it is actually located in South Burlington. The land for the airport is owned and run by the nearby City of Burlington. The airport used to have seasonal flights to Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. Bus service to the airport is provided by Green Mountain Transit.

The airport is also a base for the Vermont Air National Guard. It has a facility for the Vermont Army National Guard and is a meeting point for the Air Wing of the Vermont State Guard.

Major Highways

US Route 7 in South Burlington is a major corridor in Vermont.

Several important highways run through South Burlington:

• Interstate 89
• Interstate 189
• U.S. Route 2
• U.S. Route 7
• VT 116 (Vermont Route 116)

Interstate 89 has two exits that serve the city. Exit 13 connects with I-189, which ends at Shelburne Road (U.S. Route 7). Exit 14 is the largest highway exit in Vermont and connects to U.S. Route 2. Exit 14 East leads to Williston Road and Dorset Street in South Burlington. Exit 14 West is the main exit into Burlington and becomes Main Street there.

Interstate 189 runs east to west. It connects two of the city's main shopping roads: Shelburne Road (U.S. Route 7) and Dorset Street.

VT 116 (Vermont Route 116) runs north to south into South Burlington. It ends at a junction with U.S. Route 2 (Williston Road).

Famous People From South Burlington

Many interesting people have connections to South Burlington:

• Kerstin Anderson, a stage actress.
• Harry Bliss, a cartoonist and illustrator.
• Ronald Braunstein, a conductor.
• Louvenia Bright, the first Black woman to serve in the Vermont General Assembly.
• Jim Condos, the Secretary of State of Vermont and a former member of the Vermont Senate and South Burlington City Council.
• Jason Chin, an author of award-winning books like Redwoods; he lives in South Burlington.
• Garry Davis, a peace activist who created the World Passport.
• John Dooley, a former judge on the Vermont Supreme Court.
• Jack Du Brul, a New York Times bestselling author; he lives in South Burlington.
• Christian Hansen Jr., a U.S. Marshal for Vermont and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.
• Benjamin N. Hulburd, a former chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
• Major Jackson, a poet.
• Jack Leggett, a college baseball coach.
• Aaron Miller, a retired NHL player and Olympic medalist; he lives in South Burlington.
• Mike Rochford, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Yakult Swallows; he grew up and played high school baseball in South Burlington.
• Barbara Snelling, a former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and First Lady of Vermont.
• Martin St. Louis, a retired NHL player and current head coach of the Montreal Canadiens; he lives in South Burlington.
• Charles Tetzlaff, a United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.
• Devon Teuscher, a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.

See also

In Spanish: South Burlington para niños