Burlington

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. The population was 57, 303 at the 2020 census, which makes Burlington the 18th largest city in North Carolina, and the second largest in the state. The city was founded in 1856 by the North Carolina Railroad, which built a line between Goldsboro and Charlotte. In 1908, E. M. Holt built the first cotton mill in the South. In 1942, the federal government purchased and leased 22-acre (8.9 ha) site to Fairchild Aircraft Corporation for the construction of test aircraft. Four decades later, Western Electric (then AT&T&T) opened its doors to the Army's tank rebuilding program. In 1991, AT&E (then Fede Fede) moved its headquarters to Burlington, along with its employees from around the country. In 2000, the city was named after the town of Burlington, South Carolina, where it is located on the banks of the Waccamaw River. The name of the town was chosen after a person saw it on a passing train and submitted it as the town's name. The town was officially incorporated as Company Shops in July 1864, and officially incorporating as Burlington in 1866. In February 1887, a contest was held to decide a name, and one person submitted the name "Burlington" After the Civil War, many jobs transferred to Richmond and Manchester.

History

Burlington is the primary city name, but also Glen Raven are acceptable city names or spellings, Burl on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. The official name is Burlington. 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. In 1908, E. M. Holt built the first cotton mill in the South. In 1942, the federal government purchased and leased a 22-acre (8.9 ha) site to Fairchild Aircraft Corporation for the construction of test aircraft. In 1991, the doors to Western Electric (then AT&T) were locked and the chapter of Burlington's history was locked over for another century. Today, the downtown area of Burlington serves as the heart of the community with financial services, a library, small shops, a restored theater and a small eateries. The town of Burlington, North Carolina is home to the North Carolina Museum of Art, which was founded in 1859. The museum is located in the historic town of Graham, about 20 miles west of the city of Charlotte. The North Carolina Railroad was built in the 1850s to connect the cities of Goldsboro and Charlotte by rail. In 1856, the first locomotive passed along the new route. When the iron horse arrived in Alamance County, locals referred to it as "the eighth wonder of the world". Not long after this historic opening, the railroad realized a pressing need for repair shops. In February 1887, a contest was held to decide a name, and one person submitted the name "Burlington" after seeing it on a passing train. The name was officially changed through North Carolina State Legislature.

Geography

Burlington is located at 36°523N 79°2644W (36.089636, -79.445578).Located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Burlington is characterized as having mostly flat land with a few rolling hills. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Burlington has a Humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.4 square miles (65.7 km²) of which 25.2 square miles is land and 0.19 sq miles (0.5 km²), or 0.82%, is water. The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The city is home to the North Carolina College of Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1883. The college is located in Burlington's historic downtown area, which dates back to the 17th century. It is located on the banks of the Little River, which runs through the center of the city. The town has a population of about 2,000. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population to be 2,100. It has a climate of Humid Subtropical Climate (Cfa) on its climate maps, which means it has an evenly distributed rainy and dry climate. It also has a relatively high level of humidity, which is common in the area.

Parks and sports

Alamance County offers many hiking and paddle opportunities including the Haw River Trail and the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Burlington Sock Puppets, members of the Appalachian League, a wood-bat collegiate summer league, play their home games at Burlington Athletic Stadium in Fairchild Park. Several current and former MLB players began their careers in Burlington, including Jim Thome, CC Sabathia, Manny Ramirez, and Bartolo Colon. The city of Burlington also operates the nearby Indian Valley Municipal Golf Course. The Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department manages parks and community centers at the following locations: Cedarock Park, Great Bend Park at Glencoe, Pleasant Grove Recreation Center, and Eli Whitney Recreation Center. The City Park offers more than 75 acres of activities for the entire family. It serves as the home of an amusement area consisting of a carousel, miniature train, boat and car ride, playground, amphitheater, baseball field, picnic shelters, and walking trails. A fully restored Dentzel Carousel is the highlight of the amusement area. As part of the National Historical Register, the carousel attracts thousands of visitors yearly. The Burlington Carousel Festival, is held each September in the park, except for 2018 when it was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions associated with Hurricane Florence. Throughout the spring and summer the park comes alive with an Easter egg hunt, a concert series, and baseball and softball tournaments. The park is located one mile from Downtown Burlington on South Church Street.

Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 49,963 people, 20,632 households, and 12,679 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 57.6% White, 28% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0,1% Pacific Islander, 9.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16% of the population. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01. The median income for a household in theCity was $42,097, and the median income. for a family was $49,797. About 15.9% of families and 19.6%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 34.9%. of those under age 18 and 10.2. of those age 65 or over. The city's population was 57,303 as of the 2020 United States census, with 22,009 households. It is the largest city in the state with a population of more than 50,000 people. It has a population density of 1,967.0 people per square mile (760.5/km²) and a population growth rate of 3.4%. It has an average age of 38.3 years, with 26.6 per cent under the age of 20, 6.5% from 20 to 24, 26.1 per cent from 25 to 44, and 15.7 per cent who were 65 years of age or older.

K-12 education

The local school system is known as the Alamance-Burlington School System. The system was created by a merger between the Alamances County School System and the Burlington City School System in 1996. The school system covers elementary, middle, and high school. It also includes an early college center and a virtual school. The local schools are: Elementary, Middle, and High School. The high school is called Alamance High School and the early college is called Burlington Early College. The college system is called The Burlington School and offers a variety of programs. It was formed by the merger of Alamance County and Burlington City Schools in 1996, and is now known as The Alamance School System, which covers elementary and middle school, as well as early college and the virtual school center. The elementary school system includes: Alexander Wilson Elementary, Grove Park Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, North Graham Elementary, South Graham Elementary and South Mebane Elementary. The middle school system consists of: Broadview Middle, Graham Middle, Hawfields Middle, Southern Middle andurrentine Middle. The early college system, which offers a number of programs, is called the Burlington School Virtual School. It offers programs such as The Burlington Christian Academy, The Blessed Sacrament School, and The Burlington High School Virtual. It is the only school system in the state to offer an online college program. The virtual school system, The Burlington Virtual School, offers classes in English, Spanish, and other languages. The district also offers an online high school program, which allows students to study in other countries.

Higher education

Alamance Community College (part of the public North Carolina Community College System) has campuses in Burlington and nearby Graham. Elon University (a private 4-year university) is in nearby Elon. Additionally, a number of colleges and universities are a short drive away in Greensboro. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in nearby Winston-Salem. The UNC-Greensboro women's basketball team is one of the top teams in the state. The N.C. Division of Forensic Sciences is a top-ranked forensic science program in North Carolina. The North Carolina State Police Department is a leading forensic science unit. The NC State Sheriff's Office is a well-known crime-fighting unit in the area. The state's Department of Public Safety is also a leading law enforcement agency in the North Carolina area. It is based in Burlington, but also has offices in nearby Graham and Winston-salem, as well as a substation in Raleigh. The sheriff's office also has an office in Charlotte, which is just a few miles from the state's largest city, Charlotte. The county's sheriff's department is also based in Charlotte and has a large number of substations in the county. The town's mayor is a former sheriff, and the county's mayor was a former state senator. The city's mayor also served on the state legislature and state board of supervisors. The mayor's office is a major employer in the town of Burlington, and also serves as the mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina's seat of power.

Transportation

Amtrak's Piedmont train connects Burlington to Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, and other points in central North Carolina. The Carolinian train continues to New York with intermediate stops including Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. The Amtrak station is situated at 101 North Main Street. Burlington opened its first public transit service, Link Transit, on June 6, 2016. As of September 21, 2017, more than 100,000 people have used the service. In addition, transportation services are available to its residents through the Alamance County Transportation Authority. Locals can also ride the BioBus from nearby Elon University.Burlington is about 35 miles from the PiedMont Triad International Airport in Greensboro and about 48 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. In also Burlington is served by both Interstate 40, Interstate 85 and US 70. The city is located on the North Carolina Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to South Carolina. It is also on the U.S. Highway System, which connects the Carolinas to the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. The town is on the N.C. Turnpikes, which run from North Carolina to Virginia and the Florida Panhandle. It also connects to the South and the West Coast via I-40, I-85, and the I-95 corridor. It has a post office, post offices, and post offices in Raleigh and Greensboro. Burlington has a public library, which is open through the end of the year.

Business

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. The Times-News is Burlington's only daily newspaper, and the area's dominant media outlet. Zack's Hotdogs, a local restaurant opened by Zack Touloupas in 1928 is located in the revitalized downtown area. Biscuitville, a regional fast food chain, is based in Burlington. Gold Toe Brands, a manufacturer of socks, is also based in the county. The county's largest employer is LabCorp, which employs over 3,000 people in Alamance County and has several testing facilities in the area. It is also home to Glen Raven Inc., a fabric manufacturing and marketing company, and Sunbrella, a flagship brand of the company's clothing line. The town's population is around 20,000. It has a population of about 10,000, with most of its residents living in or near the town of Burlington. The city's population has been growing at a rate of about 1,000 per year since the mid-1980s. The population of the county has grown by about 1.5 per cent since the early 1990s, and is expected to grow by another 1.6 per cent by the end of the decade. The area's population grew by 1.7 per cent in the last five years, and it is projected to reach 11,000 in the next decade.

Shopping

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, the Burlington Outlet Village (formerly known as the BMOC). Most shopping, restaurants and services can be found on Huffmanmill Road and US 70. The city is home to the North Carolina State Fair, which runs through the end of the year. It is also the home of the N.C. State Museum, which is located on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, which opened in 1973. The North Carolina Turnpike, which goes from North Carolina to South Carolina, is also on the city's main thoroughfare, the Turnpillar Road. The Turnpillars of North Carolina are a series of historic buildings that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are still visible in the city today, and can be seen from Interstate 40 and the Turnpink River, as well as Interstate 70 and I-70. The turnpike is also known for its scenic views, especially at night, when it crosses the Piedmont Plateau into North Carolina. The town's main street, HuffmanMill Road, is a main shopping route, with many stores and services on the side of the road.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina = 45.8. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 80. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 98. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Burlington = 4.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 57,303 individuals with a median age of 37.9 age the population grows by 9.06% in Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,893.38 residents per square mile of area (731.05/km²). There are average 2.4 people per household in the 19,856 households with an average household income of $37,390 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 11.50% of the available work force and has dropped -5.88% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 16.74%. The number of physicians in Burlington per 100,000 population = 125.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Burlington = 44.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 4.1 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 109. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 212. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 28.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 34, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina which are owned by the occupant = 54.33%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 39 years with median home cost = $111,280 and home appreciation of -0.49%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $5.91 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $3,692 per student. There are 16 students for each teacher in the school, 456 students for each Librarian and 449 students for each Counselor. 6.93% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 15.91% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.22% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).