Burlington, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Burlington is a city in Alamance
and Guilford
counties in the U.S. state
of North Carolina
. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010 census, which makes Burlington the 17th largest city in North Carolina. The Metropolitan Statistical Area population was nearly 150,000 in 2008.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²), of which, 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.28%) is water.
, which took place prior to the actual Revolution, when citizens rebelled against the corrupt British Colonial Government, the Battle of Lindley's Mill, the Battle of Clapp's Mill, and Pyle's Defeat.
The Holt family was instrumental in building several different textile mills in Burlington and the surrounding towns. These textile mills provided much of the economic base on which the county would grow.
The need of the North Carolina Railroad
in the 1850s to locate land where they could build, repair and do maintenance on its track was the genesis of Burlington, North Carolina. The Company selected a piece of land slightly west of present day Graham, North Carolina
.
By the time the shops were completed in 1857, the village had grown to twenty-seven buildings. Thirty-nine white men, twenty Negro slaves and two free Negroes were employed in or around the shops. The employees and their families needed to live within walking distance; hence, a town began to develop. The town was called “Company Shops”.
Sale of town lots soon started, but not surprisingly, the sale of lots was slow until after the Civil War
. By 1864, Company Shops numbered about 300 persons.
In 1886, the North Carolina Railroad Company transferred its operations to Spencer, NC. The railroad offices and shops at Company Shops were closed. With the railroad shops no longer operated there, the citizens of Company Shops decided a new name was needed. In February 1887 a committee of the town’s leading citizens selected “Burlington”.
The city of Burlington was incorporated and a charter was issued by the State Legislature on February 14, 1893.
of 2000, there were 44,917 people, 18,280 households, and 11,754 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,111.0 people per square mile (815.0/km²). There were 19,567 housing units at an average density of 919.6 per square mile (355.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.27% White, 25.05% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.16% from other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.07% of the population.
There were 18,280 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,301, and the median income for a family was $45,441. Males had a median income of $31,697 versus $22,466 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,640. About 9.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.
, which was created by a merger between the Alamance County School System and the Burlington City School System in 1996.
Local public schools in Burlington include:
Private Schools include:
's Carolinian and Piedmont train
connects Burlington with the cities of New York
, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington
, Richmond
, Raleigh
and Charlotte
. The Amtrak station
is situated at 101 North Main Street.
Burlington is a short drive to Piedmont Triad International Airport
in Greensboro
and Raleigh-Durham International Airport
in Morrisville
. The city is almost centrally located between these two major North Carolina airports.
Burlington has no public busing system. It relies on the BioBus from nearby Elon University
, a rookie-level farm team of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals
, have played in Burlington since 2006. The team is based at Burlington Athletic Stadium
. Prior to 2006 team was known as the Burlington Indians, functioning as a farm team of the Cleveland Indians
since 1985.
has its headquarters and several testing facilities in Burlington. LabCorp is Alamance County's largest employer, employing over 3,000 people in the county.
Honda Aero, a subsidiary of Honda
, recently announced that it will move its corporate headquarters to Burlington and build a $27 million plant at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport
where it will build its HF120 jet engines for use in very light jet
s.
Biscuitville
, a regional fast food chain, is based in Burlington.
Burlington is also the operations headquarters for Gold Toe Brands
, a manufacturer of socks.
The Times-News
is Burlington's only daily newspaper, and the area's dominant media outlet.
National Agents Alliance
has its headquarters in Burlington.
/85
and US 70 corridors. The city's only indoor mall, Holly Hill Mall is located at the intersection of Huffman Mill Road and Church Street (US 70). An outdoor mall, Alamance Crossing
, opened in 2007 at Interstate 40/85 and University Drive. Just off I-85/40 at Exit 145 is North Carolina's original outlet mall, Burlington Outlet Village
(formerly BMOC). The first shopping center in Burlingon and Alamance County was Cum-Park Plaza on North Church Street.
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Guilford
Guilford County, North Carolina
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010 census, which makes Burlington the 17th largest city in North Carolina. The Metropolitan Statistical Area population was nearly 150,000 in 2008.
Geography
Burlington is located at 36°5′23"N 79°26′44"W (36.089636, -79.445578).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²), of which, 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.28%) is water.
Parks
There are a variety of parks that can be found in Burlington. These parks include Joe Davidson Park, Cedar Rock Park, and the Burlington City Park. All of these parks have a variety of things to do. Upon visiting these parks, one can find things like baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds, and tennis courts.Early history
Alamance County was created when Orange County was partitioned in 1849. Early settlers included several groups of Quakers, many of which remain active in the Snow Camp area, German farmers, and Scots-Irish immigrants. Alamance County, where Burlington is located, is the site of several skirmishes that were part of the American Revolution. These include the War of the RegulationWar of the Regulation
The War of the Regulation was a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1760 to 1771, in which citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials...
, which took place prior to the actual Revolution, when citizens rebelled against the corrupt British Colonial Government, the Battle of Lindley's Mill, the Battle of Clapp's Mill, and Pyle's Defeat.
The Holt family was instrumental in building several different textile mills in Burlington and the surrounding towns. These textile mills provided much of the economic base on which the county would grow.
The need of the North Carolina Railroad
North Carolina Railroad
The North Carolina Railroad is a state-owned rail corridor extending from Morehead City, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. The railroad carries over seventy freight trains and eight passenger trains daily...
in the 1850s to locate land where they could build, repair and do maintenance on its track was the genesis of Burlington, North Carolina. The Company selected a piece of land slightly west of present day Graham, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Graham is a city in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 14,533...
.
By the time the shops were completed in 1857, the village had grown to twenty-seven buildings. Thirty-nine white men, twenty Negro slaves and two free Negroes were employed in or around the shops. The employees and their families needed to live within walking distance; hence, a town began to develop. The town was called “Company Shops”.
Sale of town lots soon started, but not surprisingly, the sale of lots was slow until after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. By 1864, Company Shops numbered about 300 persons.
In 1886, the North Carolina Railroad Company transferred its operations to Spencer, NC. The railroad offices and shops at Company Shops were closed. With the railroad shops no longer operated there, the citizens of Company Shops decided a new name was needed. In February 1887 a committee of the town’s leading citizens selected “Burlington”.
The city of Burlington was incorporated and a charter was issued by the State Legislature on February 14, 1893.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 44,917 people, 18,280 households, and 11,754 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,111.0 people per square mile (815.0/km²). There were 19,567 housing units at an average density of 919.6 per square mile (355.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.27% White, 25.05% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.07% of the population.
There were 18,280 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,301, and the median income for a family was $45,441. Males had a median income of $31,697 versus $22,466 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,640. About 9.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The local school system is known as the Alamance-Burlington School SystemAlamance-Burlington School System
The Alamance-Burlington School System is a school district covering Alamance County and the city of Burlington. It was created in 1996 by merging the respective systems of the county and city....
, which was created by a merger between the Alamance County School System and the Burlington City School System in 1996.
Local public schools in Burlington include:
- Southern Alamance High School
- Hugh M Cummings High School
- Walter M. Williams High School
- Sellars-Gunn Education Center
- Broadview Middle School
- Turrentine Middle School
- R. Homer Andrews Elementary
- Eastlawn Elementary
- Grove Park Elementary
- Hillcrest Elementary
- E. M. Holt Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Marvin B. Smith Elementary
- Elon Elementary
- Western Alamance Middle School
- Western Alamance High School
- Eastern Alamance High School
- Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary
- Highland Elementary
Private Schools include:
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Carolinian and Piedmont train
Carolinian and Piedmont
Carolinian and Piedmont collectively refers to two state-supported Amtrak services in North Carolina:*the Carolinian, a daily train between Charlotte, North Carolina and New York City...
connects Burlington with the cities of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The Amtrak station
Burlington, North Carolina (Amtrak station)
The Burlington Amtrak Station, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is served by two passenger trains, the Carolinian and Piedmont. The street address is 101 North Main Street, and is located in the heart of downtown Burlington....
is situated at 101 North Main Street.
Burlington is a short drive to Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the entire Piedmont Triad Region in North Carolina. The airport has 3 runways; the third opened January 27, 2010 for traffic. The airport is located just off...
in Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
and Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
in Morrisville
Morrisville, North Carolina
Morrisville is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. A small portion of the town extends into Durham County. The population was 18,576 according to a April 1, 2010 census. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region...
. The city is almost centrally located between these two major North Carolina airports.
Burlington has no public busing system. It relies on the BioBus from nearby Elon University
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
Sports
The Burlington RoyalsBurlington Royals
The Burlington Royals are a minor league baseball team in Burlington, North Carolina, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since September 1, 2006. For the previous 21 years, the team had been affiliated with the Cleveland...
, a rookie-level farm team of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, have played in Burlington since 2006. The team is based at Burlington Athletic Stadium
Burlington Athletic Stadium
Burlington Athletic Stadium is a vintage baseball stadium in the central North Carolina Piedmont city of Burlington. It seats 3500 and serves as home field for the minor league Burlington Royals of the rookie Appalachian League...
. Prior to 2006 team was known as the Burlington Indians, functioning as a farm team of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
since 1985.
Business
LabCorpLabCorp
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings , more commonly known as LabCorp, is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. It operates one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the world, with a United States network of 36 primary laboratories. Before a merger with...
has its headquarters and several testing facilities in Burlington. LabCorp is Alamance County's largest employer, employing over 3,000 people in the county.
Honda Aero, a subsidiary of Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, recently announced that it will move its corporate headquarters to Burlington and build a $27 million plant at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport
Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport
Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Burlington, a city in Alamance County, North Carolina, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has one runway....
where it will build its HF120 jet engines for use in very light jet
Very Light Jet
A very light jet, entry-level jet or personal jet, previously known as a microjet, is a category of small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, seating 4-8 people, with a maximum take-off weight of under...
s.
Biscuitville
Biscuitville
Biscuitville is a privately held regional fast-food restaurant chain consisting of 58 locations in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. The restaurants specialize in breakfast food and Southern cuisine. All biscuits served at Biscuitville restaurants are made from scratch "hot every 20...
, a regional fast food chain, is based in Burlington.
Burlington is also the operations headquarters for Gold Toe Brands
Gold Toe Brands
Gold Toe Brands, Inc., is the third largest United States-based producer of socks. It makes more than half of the men's dress socks sold in department stores in the United States and produces more than 140 million pairs of socks annually...
, a manufacturer of socks.
The Times-News
The Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina)
The Times-News is a daily newspaper based in Burlington, North Carolina formed in 1931 by the merger Burlington Daily Times and The Burlington News.Founded:1887. Joined Freedom Communications Inc...
is Burlington's only daily newspaper, and the area's dominant media outlet.
National Agents Alliance
National Agents Alliance
National Agents Alliance is a direct selling company that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the insurance market.- History :...
has its headquarters in Burlington.
Shopping
I-40Interstate 40 in North Carolina
Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...
/85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
and US 70 corridors. The city's only indoor mall, Holly Hill Mall is located at the intersection of Huffman Mill Road and Church Street (US 70). An outdoor mall, Alamance Crossing
Alamance Crossing
Alamance Crossing is a lifestyle center in Burlington, North Carolina, USA. Opened in 2007, it is the second shopping mall in the city, as well as the larger. Alamance Crossing comprises more than seventy tenants, including three major anchor stores , along with two junior anchors...
, opened in 2007 at Interstate 40/85 and University Drive. Just off I-85/40 at Exit 145 is North Carolina's original outlet mall, Burlington Outlet Village
Burlington Outlet Village
Burlington Outlet Village is an outlet shopping center located just off I-85/40 in Burlington, North Carolina, USA. Burlington Outlet Village, formerly known as the Burlington Manufacturers Outlet Center , was the first factory outlet center to open in North Carolina.The center consists of...
(formerly BMOC). The first shopping center in Burlingon and Alamance County was Cum-Park Plaza on North Church Street.
See also
- The Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina)The Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina)The Times-News is a daily newspaper based in Burlington, North Carolina formed in 1931 by the merger Burlington Daily Times and The Burlington News.Founded:1887. Joined Freedom Communications Inc...
- I-85 CorridorI-85 CorridorThe I-85 Corridor is a multi-state region that follows Interstate 85 across the Southeastern United States. It stretches from Montgomery, Alabama to Petersburg, Virginia...
- Piedmont TriadPiedmont TriadThe Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...