Town of
Burlington
About Burlington
Burlington is a picturesque community nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires, boasting gentle rolling hills and pristine woodlands. Founded in 1806, Burlington is a residential community with a population of 9,400 and a land area of 30 square miles that stretches from the Farmington River to the 1,100-foothigh Johnnycake Mountain. It includes Lake Garda, a man-made residential lake, and the village of Whigville. With plenty of open space and a traditional town center, it is easy to see why Burlington is one of the fastest growing towns in the state.
The town currently has about 3,600 housing units with a median sale price of $345,700. The median household income is $143,000. Burlington’s form of government is a Board of Selectmen that includes an elected First Selectman and four additional elected Board members. Burlington was listed in the Best of Small Towns [Hartford Magazine, Nov 2005] and ranked as one of the Top Towns to Live In [Connecticut Magazine, 2010].
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Burlington’s Economic Development Commission continues to work on improving the infrastructure of the central business district. The recently completed waterline extension project will encourage new small businesses to locate here as well as help existing businesses be more viable. Extending the water line to the senior housing facility will improve water service as well as provide better resources for the Volunteer Fire Department, which is adjacent to the facility. Burlington is centrally located within a seven-town area, nine miles from Route 84 and Route 8, making it a great place to do business.
TOWN SERVICES
In the town center, a 9,000 square-foot public library provides a variety of services to groups and individuals of all ages. In addition to books, library card holders can also check out DVDs, CDs, Leap Pad kits, e-books, online continuing education courses, and passes to 16 museums and attractions. There are many activities available at the library including book clubs, story time, movie showings, historical lectures, and knitting classes.
The town owns a 24-unit senior housing project called the Evergreens at Thompson’s Way, which currently consists of five buildings boasting many amenities. The fully occupied complex is set on eight acres of picturesque land in the center of Burlington and is well supported by town services.
EDUCATION
Burlington is part of Regional School District #10 with the Town of Harwinton. Region 10 has an enrollment of2,800 attending Lake Garda Elementary School, Harwinton Consolidated School, Har-Bur Middle School, and Lewis S. Mills High School. Burlington students continue to score in the top tier in the state in mastery testing. The high level of education provided in all the schools results in the vast majority of graduating students moving onto pursue a college education.
RECREATION
The town’s “Tavern Day” is held each year in September and is attended by hundreds of townspeople. It showcases businesses, crafters, a large car show, a food court of local restaurants and the Browne Elton Tavern.
Burlington has four recreational areas: Foote Road Recreation Complex, which has a water-front; Malerbo Recreation Complex, with little league, softball and soccer fields; Nassahegan Recreation Complex, with little league fields and alighting system for the occasional evening games; and the Municipal Tennis Courts. The Farmington River Trail reveals the beauty of the Farmington River as it takes visitors across the entire length of Burlington, from Collinsville to Unionville. Burlington is also home to “Devil’s Kitchen, ”Tory’s Den,” the Burlington Falls passive recreation areas, and the ever-popular Burlington Fish Hatchery. Three water companies and the State of Connecticut own forty eight percent of Burlington. This will help to maintain Burlington’s rural character for generations.
Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington focuses on conservation education, with facilities to bring school groups, the general public, and natural resource professionals from throughout Connecticut to participate in educational programs, demonstrations, and workshops pertaining to wildlife and natural resource management. The facilities include an education center with an exhibit area and a large meeting room, interpretive trails, habitat management demonstration areas, and a backyard wildlife habitat area. Burlington is an attractive, suburban community with residential areas scattered between large pockets of watershed-protected land. It’s a beautiful place to be.
Learn About the Burlington Chamber
The Burlington Chamber is affiliated with the Central CT Chambers of Commerce, and while we are an independent Chamber, that partnership affords our membership a broader scope of networking opportunities in the area towns of Bristol, Farmington, Plainville, Plymouth, and Wolcott. These events include Business After Hours and Coffee Connections networking, grand-opening ribbon-cutting celebrations, and educational Lunch & Learn seminars.