| Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. | | | | tension between left-of-center moderate |
| state of Vermont and is the shire town of | | | | Democrats and the left-of-center Progressive |
| Chittenden County, Vermont. At a population | | | | Party. U.S. Congressman Bernard Sanders was |
| of 38,889, the city is the core of one of the | | | | mayor of Burlington from 1981 to 1989. Bob |
| nation's smaller metropolitan areas. The | | | | Kiss, the current Mayor, is a Progressive who |
| urbanized area consists of the cities of | | | | was elected in 2006. The City Council has 14 |
| Burlington, South Burlington, and Winooski; | | | | seats, which are currently occupied by 6 |
| the towns of Colchester, Essex, and | | | | Democrats, 4 Progressives, 2 Republicans, and |
| Williston; and the village of Essex Junction. | | | | 2 Independents. Peter Clavelle, Burlington's |
| As of 2000, the metropolitan area contained | | | | longest serving Mayor, held that office from |
| the three northwestern counties of | | | | 1989 to 1993, and again from 1995 to 2006. |
| Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle, with a | | | | |
| 2000 confirmed population of 198,889, and an | | | | Burlington is a college town, home to the |
| estimated 2003 population of 203,503. | | | | University of Vermont (UVM), Burlington |
| | | | College, and to Champlain College, as well as |
| As of the census2 of 2000, there were 38,889 | | | | a Community College of Vermont campus. The |
| people, 15,885 households, and 7,052 families | | | | Vermont Lake Monsters, formerly the Vermont |
| residing in the city. The population density | | | | Expos baseball club of the New York-Penn |
| was 3,682.0 people per square mile (1,421.9 | | | | League plays on the campus of UVM in |
| km2). There were 16,395 housing units at an | | | | Centennial Field. Saint Michael's College is |
| average density of 1,552.3 per square mile | | | | in nearby Colchester. The only large |
| (599.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city | | | | industrial facility in Vermont is IBM's |
| was 92.27% White, 1.78% Black or African | | | | semiconductor plant a few kilometers east in |
| American, 0.47% Native American, 2.65% Asian, | | | | Essex Junction, but many small industrial and |
| 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other | | | | service companies are located in the |
| races, and 2.27% from two or more races. | | | | Burlington area. |
| 1.40% of the population were Hispanic or | | | | |
| Latino of any race. | | | | Burlington is home to Vermont's lively, |
| | | | arts-focused alternative weekly, Seven Days. |
| There were 15,885 households out of which | | | | It is also home to the corporate headquarters |
| 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living | | | | of Bruegger's Bagels, the chain of 250 bagel |
| with them, 31.4% were couples living together | | | | bakeries, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The |
| and joined in either marriage or civil union, | | | | Magic Hat Brewing Company is located in South |
| 10.0% had a female householder with no | | | | Burlington, just outside of city limits. |
| husband present, and 55.6% were non-families. | | | | |
| 35.6% of all households were made up of | | | | The city is known for its thriving arts |
| individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone | | | | culture. Events such as the South End Art Hop |
| who was 65 years of age or older. The average | | | | and public galleries such as The Firehouse |
| household size was 2.19 and the average | | | | Gallery and Pine Street Art Works, showcase |
| family size was 2.86. | | | | the visual arts. |
| | | | |
| In the city the population was spread out | | | | Burlington is also the birthplace of the |
| with 16.3% under the age of 18, 25.4% from 18 | | | | legendary ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's, |
| to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to | | | | founded in 1978 in a renovated gas station, |
| 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or | | | | which was at that time located at the |
| older. The median age was 29 years. For every | | | | southwest corner of College and Saint Paul |
| 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every | | | | Streets. The company is now headquartered in |
| 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 | | | | nearby South Burlington, with major factories |
| males. | | | | in Waterbury and St. Albans. |
| | | | |
| The median income for a household in the city | | | | Burlington is the site of Fletcher Allen |
| was $33,070, and the median income for a | | | | Health Care, a tertiary referral hospital for |
| family was $46,012. Males had a median income | | | | Vermont and northern New York State, Level I |
| of $30,144 versus $25,270 for females. The | | | | Trauma Center and teaching hospital. |
| per capita income for the city was $19,011. | | | | |
| About 10.4% of families and 20.0% of the | | | | Burlington also offers the Church Street |
| population were below the poverty line, | | | | Marketplace, a lively center of downtown with |
| including 19.4% of those under age 18 and | | | | festivals throughout the year. It also boasts |
| 10.5% of those age 65 or over. | | | | the Burlington Town Center mall with over 75 |
| | | | specialty shops and 15 national retailers |
| The city has a city council-mayor form of | | | | such as Macy's and Old Navy. |
| government, which is generally in a state of | | | | |