Burlington dates to 1783, and 38% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #21 of 71 in Vermont. What drives it
52 places in town are on the National Register, among them ten historic districts with 983 buildings between them. Below: 18 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1792.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Burlington’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Burlington is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #21 of 71 in Vermont. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Burlington’s overall grade.
Vermont towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Vermont town has 147 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Burlington’s 230 sits above most of its state (73% of Vermont towns have fewer) while its 1,026 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1783.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share (±2.8 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Burlington’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Every building
Burlington, building by building, 1885–1926
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
King George II of Great Britain placed the western border of the Province of New Hampshire twenty miles (32 km) east of the Hudson River. However, George III moved the Province of New York's border to the Connecticut River. He stated that the land claims of those currently in the area gained by New York were still valid, but New York courts ruled against the settlers. New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth continued to sell land in these areas in direct opposition to New York and royal demands. On June 7, 1763, the grant document for Burlington was awarded to Samuel Willis and 63 others. In the summer of 1775, settlers began clearing the land and built two or three log huts in 1775, but the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War delayed permanent settlement until after its conclusion. The first recorded town meeting was held on March 19, 1787.
Passages that mention Burlington, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers1886 · page 191Read the page →
Read the text
this act was amended and the right given to the company to construct its road " from some point in Highgate, on the Canada line, thence through the village of St. Albans to some point or points in Chittenden county, most convenient for meeting at the village of Burlington, a railroad to be built on the route described in the acts to incorporate the Champlain and Connecticut River Railroad Company, and the Vermont Central Railroad Company." The route determined upon extends from Rouse's Point to Burlington, through Colchester, Milton, Georgia, St. Albans, Swanton and Alburgh, a distance of fifty-three
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers1886 · page 452Read the page →
Read the text
The Bank of Burlington. — After the removal of the Burlington branch of the Vermont State Bank to Woodstock, in 181 2, the residents of Chittenden county felt the necessity of an establishment of the kind here, and in 1816, through their agency, application was made to the Legislature for another branch at Burlington ; but nothing was accomplished until November 9, 1 8 18, when the Bank of Burlington was incorporated. We have not been able to procure all the information which we wished in regard to this institution. It wielded a most beneficent influence in the entire State for nearly half
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Burlington, 1783 to 1976
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1783, according to Wikidata. Burlington’s post office opened in 1792, and the first U.S. census counted 330 people here in 1790.
How does Burlington rank for history?
Burlington is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #21 of 71 in Vermont. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Burlington?
52 listings: 35 buildings, among them the Ethan Allen Engine company No. 4 (listed 1971, the first), 14 historic districts with 983 contributing buildings, 2 sites, and 1 structure. 1,026 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Burlington?
38% of Burlington’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.8 points), against a typical 22% for a Vermont town; the median home was built in 1957.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (13), the Library of Congress (5), Wikidata (5), the National Register of Historic Places (52), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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