More historic than 25% of U.S. towns · #314 of 362 in Wisconsin. What drives it
Most of Burlington was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1972. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1860.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Burlington is more historic than 25% of U.S. towns, #314 of 362 in Wisconsin. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Burlington’s overall grade.
Wisconsin towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Wisconsin town has 3.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Burlington’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of Wisconsin towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1886.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to C. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.5 points).
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Burlington. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1893Silver Lake sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Burlington.
Every building
Burlington, building by building, 1887–1920
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.
Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the area, Native American mounds were constructed near the present location of Burlington. A small Potawatomi village stood in what became Burlington.
The earliest certain European presence in what became 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 approximately Burlington's present location.
Passages that mention Burlington, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Official record of the Old Settlers Society of Racine County, Wisconsin1871 · page 58Read the page →
Read the text
On the 1st of September, 1837, Lewis Royce, Esq., settled in Burlington and built a house west of the present Burlington railroad depot . He came by way of Racine, and there met Ephraim Perkins and family and having a team and conveyance, conveyed them to Burlington, bringing also with him a barrel of flour. He found at Foxville, Origen Perkins, occupying his new homestead; Ruel Nims, on the east side of the river; a small board shanty had also been put up to maintain a
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Official record of the Old Settlers Society of Racine County, Wisconsin1871 · page 57Read the page →
Read the text
Ruel Nims and family arrived in Burlington, (which was then known as Foxville,) on the 10th day of January, 1887, and went into occupation of a log house on the east side of the river, built by Woodbridge, and which during its occupation by Nims, was the first established public house for travelers in Burlington.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In September there was complaint from Burlington that the Schwaebsden Saengerbund of Chicago had been having a three day "session" at Burlington, talking entirely in German and singing German songs. Burlington men who had attended the parties said the songs were merely drinking songs. As there was no witness handy who could testify that the songs
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Racine county in the world war1920 · page 104Read the page →
Read the text
It was decided that the Racine postoffice should act as the central office for the distribution of these stamps for the entire county, excepting the City of Burlington, the sales there to be in charge of Postmaster Henry Zimmermann.
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, 1886 to 1981
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 1886, according to Wikidata. the census of 1860 counted 993 people here.
How does Burlington rank for history?
Burlington is more historic than 25% of U.S. towns, #314 of 362 in Wisconsin. 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.
How old are the homes in Burlington?
7% of Burlington’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.5 points), against a typical 12% for a Wisconsin town; the median home was built in 1972.
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 (4), Wikidata (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), 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.
1933
1933
1933