# Burlington, Connecticut

Burlington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Situated at the foot of the Berkshires and bordering the Farmington River, it is a scenic hill town, rural in nature, located 20 miles (32 km) west of Hartford. Incorporated in 1806, the population was 9,519 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region.

## History

The area that includes present-day Burlington was originally inhabited by the Tunxis tribe.
The town was once part of larger Farmington Plantation. In 1785, it split away and became a part of the town of Bristol. On June 16, 1806, Burlington became a town in its own right. Cottage industries flourished in the early decades of the town, including multiple clock-making operations. Upon the completion of the Farmington Canal in 1829, many industries ceased operations or moved to neighboring towns.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.4 square miles (78.8 km$^2$), of which 29.7 square miles (77.0 km$^2$) is land and 0.66 square miles (1.7 km$^2$), or 2.19%, is water. Almost half of the land in the town is owned by three public water supply companies and the State of Connecticut.
Burlington is home to the State of Connecticut Fish Hatchery, the Nepaug Reservoir, and Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area. Johnnycake Mountain is the highest point in the town at 1,165 ft (355 m). The Tunxis Trail runs through the town north to south.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,326 people, 3,303 households, and 2,691 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.0% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 3,303 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 19, 6.4% from 20 to 29, 10.2% from 30 to 39, 20.6% from 40 to 49, 23.7% from 50 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years.
Economic figures for the town include a median income for a household at $105,250, and the median income for a family at $114,544. About 2.3% of families have incomes under $15,000/year and 11.9% of families have incomes over $200,000/year.

## Government and politics

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019 :
| Party | Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage |
| | Republican | 1,709 | 233 | 1,942 | 29.15% |
| | Democratic | 1,559 | 191 | 1,750 | 26.26% |
| | Unaffiliated | 2,326 | 537 | 2,863 | 42.97% |
| | Minor parties | 92 | 16 | 108 | 1.62% |
| Total | Total | 5,686 | 977 | 6,663 | 100% |
Burlington town vote by party in presidential elections :
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 49.72% 3,099 | 48.68% 3,034 | 1.60% 100 |
| 2016 | 43.68% 2,352 | 51.49% 2,773 | 4.83% 260 |
| 2012 | 46.23% 2,357 | 52.63% 2,683 | 1.14% 58 |
| 2008 | 52.08% 2,716 | 46.14% 2,406 | 1.78% 93 |
| 2004 | 48.84% 2,501 | 49.58% 2,539 | 1.58% 81 |
| 2000 | 49.26% 2,137 | 45.30% 1,965 | 5.44% 236 |
| 1996 | 45.51% 1,747 | 40.32% 1,548 | 14.17% 544 |
| 1992 | 37.03% 1,511 | 35.73% 1,458 | 27.25% 1,112 |
| 1988 | 44.07% 1,413 | 54.96% 1,762 | 0.97% 31 |
| 1984 | 33.84% 994 | 65.99% 1,938 | 0.17% 5 |
| 1980 | 35.81% 953 | 47.69% 1,269 | 16.50% 439 |
| 1976 | 45.08% 972 | 54.55% 1,176 | 0.37% 8 |
| 1972 | 38.53% 722 | 60.09% 1,126 | 1.39% 26 |
| 1968 | 43.81% 648 | 46.65% 690 | 9.54% 141 |
| 1964 | 66.26% 860 | 33.74% 438 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1960 | 48.28% 644 | 51.72% 690 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1956 | 30.35% 305 | 69.65% 700 | 0.00% 0 |

## Schools

Regional School District #10 serves the Connecticut towns of Burlington and Harwinton and was established in 1962. The four schools of the district, Lewis S. Mills High School, Har-Bur Middle School, Lake Garda School and Harwinton Consolidated School, have a total enrollment of more than 2100 students.

## Notable locations

* Brown Tavern (also referred to as Elton Tavern)
* Hart's Corner Historic District
* Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill
* John Wiard House
* Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area
* Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery (also referred to as Green Lady Cemetery)
* Treadwell House

## Notable people

* Romeo Elton (1790-1870), academic and author
* Samuel Griswold (1790–1867), industrialist born in Burlington
* Leonidas Lent Hamline (1797–1865), Methodist Episcopal bishop and founder of Hamline University; born in Burlington
* Heman Humphrey (1779-1861), author and clergyman, 2nd President of Amherst College; raised in Burlington
* Bernard Moses (1846-1931), academic and author