Burlington, Vermont, USA
1849 Burlington

Chittenden Co. This is the chief town in the county. It is delightfully situated upon the tongue of land formed by the confluence of the Winooski River with Lake Champlain. This is the most important town in Vermont. It lies in lat. 44° 27' N., and in lon. 73° 15' W.

The surface of the township is agreeably diversified, and is so much elevated above the lake that the air is pure and wholesome.

This town is not surpassed in beauty of location by any one in New England. It lies on the east shore of Burlington Bay, and occupies a gentle declivity, descending towards the west, and terminated by the waters of the lake. The principal streets, running east and west, are one mile in length, and these are intersected at right angles, by streets running north and south, and cutting the whole village into regular squares. A large share of the business on Lake Champlain centres at this place, and the town is rapidly increasing in wealth and consequence.

There are regular daily lines of steamboats between this place and Whitehall, between this and St. Johns, and between this and Plattsburgh, besides numerous arrivals of irregular boats, sloops, &c. Three extensive wharves, with store-houses, have been constructed, and most of the merchandize designed for the north-eastern section of Vermont is landed here.

The trade is principally with the city of New York, although Montreal and Troy have a share. For the safety of the navigation, a light-house has been erected on Juniper Island, at the entrance of Burlington Bay ; and for the security of the harbor, a breakwater has been commenced here, at the expense of the general government. There are four lines of mail stages, which arrive and depart daily, besides three or four others, which come in and go out twice or thrice a week.

The public buildings are six churches, the University of Vermont, the Episcopal Institute, the court house, two banks, the Academy, and two female seminaries. The University consists of four spacious edifices, located upon the summit at the eastern extremity of the village, more than 250 feet above the level of the lake, and commands one of the finest prospects in the United States. The village, the lake, with its bays and islands—its steamboats and sloops—the Winooski River, dashing through frightful chasms and then winding among the beautiful meadows, and the distant and lofty mountains, which form the great outline, render the view from the dome of the University one of the most variegated and interesting to be met with in our country.

As a part of Burlington may be mentioned the village called "Winooski
City." It is situated on both sides of the Winooski River, partly in Burlington and partly in Colchester, and is about two miles from the village of Burlington. The water power here is sutficient for propelling almost any amount of machinery.

A substantial covered bridge connects the two sides of the river ; a
handsome church and several stores have been erected ; and " Winooski
City " bids fair to become a place of business and importance.

Manufactures. The manufactures of this place consist of two woollen mills, one cotton mill, one foundry and machine shop, two saw mills, one grist and an extensive flour mill.

The principal manufacturing establishment is the Burlington Company, at " Winooski City." They commenced operations in 1836-7. It continued to manufacture on a small scale till 1845, when the company was newly organized and much enlarged. The company now runs sixteen setts of woollen machinery, on fine, fancy, and plain cassimeres and coatings. It employs 450 hands ; it uses annually 600,000 pounds of wool, and consumes 4,000 cords of wood. It uses, also, 12,000 gallons olive and 3,000 gallons sperm oil ; 140,000 pounds of soap, 25,000 pounds of glue, 150 tons of dye-woods, &c.

The railroads between Burlington and Boston will greatly enhance the value of the commerce of this place ; and at no distant day Burlington will become an important depot for the commerce of Boston as well as of New York.

Boundaries. North by Colchester, from which it is separated by Winooski River, east by Williston, south by Shelburne, and west by Lake Champlain.

First Settlers. The first that was done in this town, with a view to its settlement, was in 1774... The first man who brought his family
into Burlington in the spring of 1783, was Mr. Stephen Lawrence. A number of other families came into Burlington the same season, among whom were Frederick Saxton, Simon Tubbs, and John Collins, and from that time to the present the population has been constantly on the increase.


A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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