Textiles still prevailed, however, and in the 1970s, severe recession struck here. Unemployment rose to almost 20 percent at one point. With local leadership, diversification in the local job market began to occur, and there is no longer such reliance on a single industry. Textile employment remains heavy, but the largest single employer is now a medical diagnostic company. Again, adversity proved to be a new opportunity.
Diversity is now a reality and recession is less a threat.
In the 1950s, Burlington suffered a critical water shortage. This posed a threat not only to existing industry and business but also to future growth in those areas. The city set out to correct that and ensure it never happened again. A new reservoir was built in the late 1950s, and almost as soon as it was placed in use, plans began for another water supply, which has now become a reality. Burlington has one of the best water supplies in the state, including two separate water treatment plants, a situation envied by our larger neighbors.