Burlington, VT

Nestled on Lake Champlain, Burlington is a quintessential college town. With a population of just fewer 40,000, the city is the largest in the state of Vermont, holding the unique distinction of being the nation's smallest "largest town in its state." In 2007, the city was named the Best Green Place to Live in America by Country Home Magazine. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized Burlington as the healthiest city in the country, a distinction based on the fact that it ranks the highest in the country for exercise and the lowest in indicators for poor health such as smoking and obesity.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing, tourism and education drive Burlington's economy. The city is home to hundreds of small manufacturers producing products, such as electronics, textiles, lumber, furniture, toys and jewelry.

Burlington's numerous festivals and cultural attractions bring large numbers of tourists to the area each year, fueling sizable tourism and service industries.

Burlington is home to many of the region's top employers:

• Burlington is known as the birthplace of ice cream company Ben & Jerry's (now headquartered in South Burlington).
• The city is the national headquarters for Seventh Generation, Inc., a leading brand of green cleaning products.
• Other major Burlington employers include Fletcher Allen Health Center, University of Vermont, and Chittenden Bank.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Burlington accommodates more than 16,000 houses, of which more than half are occupied by renters.

The University of Vermont houses less than half of its degree students on-campus. The residential neighborhoods surrounding the campus accommodate most of the student body, making these areas younger and noisier than most of the city.

Downtown Burlington is a high-density area that blends the city's commercial center with a residential neighborhood. Downtown offers a range of household types for residents of various income levels. Additionally, employment opportunities can be found in the surrounding commercial developments. It is very easy to get around downtown; the area features an integrated system of public transit, bicycle routes, and pedestrian paths.

The Main Street Landing at Burlington's downtown waterfront is a popular shopping and dining destination. It is also a favorite locale for boating, fishing and relaxation. It provides the setting for many of the city's popular festivals.

The city has taken steps to revitalize several of its transitional neighborhoods. These include Riverside Avenue, the Pine Street corridor, Downtown, the Downtown Waterfront, and the Intervale.

FOR VISITORS

• ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center: Open seven days a week year-round, the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is home to a number of permanent exhibits that showcase the history and ecology of the Lake Champlain Basin. It features 100 hands-on interactive exhibits for patrons to enjoy as well as more than 70 species of native fish, amphibians and reptiles. The center also includes a café, gift shop, laboratory and resource room.
• The Ethan Allen Homestead: The Ethan Allen Homestead offers a glimpse of what life was like in the area during the 18th century. Visitors can tour the historic home (built in 1787) of Vermont's founder and enjoy the scenery from its outdoor picnic areas and walkways.

FAMILY FUN

• Catamount Outdoor Family Center: One of the largest facilities of its kind in the county, Catamount Outdoor Family Center offers a number of recreational activities, including mountain bike trails and races. During the summer, it hosts a children's mountain-bike camp.
• Winooski River Bike Ferry: A favorite destination for Burlington walkers and cyclists, the Winooski River Bike Ferry is a 13-mile rail trail that crosses the Winooski River Delta.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Fleming Museum: Located on the campus of the University of Vermont, the Fleming Museum is home to an art and anthropology collection that ranges from the historic to the contemporary. The museum is open seven days a week, year-round.
• Shelburne Museum: The Shelburne Museum houses an extensive collection, including both fine and folk art. Located seven miles south of Burlington, the museum has more than 150,000 pieces, including a number of historic buildings.

EVENTS

• Burlington Winter Festival: The Burlington Winter festival is a favorite cold- weather tradition. The event celebrates the season with an ice walk, snow sculpting competitions and other winter activities.
• Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival: In August of each year, Burlington plays host to the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, a popular event featuring 20-person teams paddling 40-foot canoes. The event is hosted by Dragonheart Vermont, a dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors and their supporters. Proceeds from the event support an emergency fund for cancer patients.
• Burlington Jazz Festival: The Burlington Jazz Festival is held every June to encourage the appreciation of jazz music and local musicians. The 10-day event includes concerts, educational events and musical performances throughout the city.
• Burlington Irish Heritage Festival: Coinciding with St. Patrick's Day each year, the Burlington Irish Heritage Festival is a week-long event featuring music, dance, dramatic performances, lectures, movies, storytelling and poetry readings.
• Vermont Brewers Festival: Held in Burlington's Waterfront Park, the July festival is the East Coast's longest-running brewers' festival. Visitors can sample the unique offerings of a wide variety of brewers.
• KeyBank Vermont City Marathon: Sponsored by KeyBank, the Vermont City Marathon draws a large field of participants every year. The success of the event has given rise to RunVermont, a group that sponsors numerous running events, including a popular youth program.

LOCAL MEDIA

The Burlington community is served by the Burlington Free Press, a daily newspaper.

Radio stations broadcasting from Burlington include:

• WRVV 90.1-FM
• WEZF 92.9-FM
• WOKO 98.9-FM
• WVPS 107.9-FM
• WVMT 620-AM
• WTWK 1070-AM
• WJOY 1230-AM
• WVAA 1390-AM

The city is also the home of television stations including:

• WBVT (UPN)
• WCAX (CBS)
• WVNY (ABC)
• WFFF (FOX)
• WPTC (NBC)

EDUCATION

Burlington is known as a college town. It is home to a diverse group of institutions of higher education including:

• University of Vermont
• Champlain College
• Burlington College
• Community College of Vermont