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Burlington, Washington

Coordinates: 48°28′19.49″N 122°19′41.69″W / 48.4720806°N 122.3282472°W / 48.4720806; -122.3282472
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Burlington, Washington
City
Fairhaven Avenue in downtown Burlington
Fairhaven Avenue in downtown Burlington
Nickname: 
The Hub City
Location of Burlington in Washington
Location of Burlington in Washington
Coordinates: 48°28′19.49″N 122°19′41.69″W / 48.4720806°N 122.3282472°W / 48.4720806; -122.3282472
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySkagit
IncorporatedJune 16, 1902
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorBill Aslett
Area
[1]
 • Total
4.44 sq mi (11.49 km2)
 • Land4.28 sq mi (11.08 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2)  3.62%
Elevation
30 ft (9.1 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
9,152
 • Estimate 
(2021)[3]
9,224
 • Density2,137.8/sq mi (825.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98233
Area code360
FIPS code53-08920
GNIS feature ID1512052[4]
Websiteburlingtonwa.gov

Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. Its population was recorded as 9,152 in the 2020 census.[5] Burlington is located approximately halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. The city is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

[edit]

Burlington began as a logging camp, established by John P. Millett and William McKay, in 1882.[6] It was officially incorporated on June 16, 1902.[7]

Originally, Burlington's businesses were centered on Fairhaven Avenue.[8] Today, Fairhaven Avenue is the center of Burlington's old downtown, which has since been revitalized.[9]

In 2007, the city opened a new library[10] and city hall.[11]

Indigent defense ruling

[edit]

In December 2013, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik determined that Burlington had systematically violated its duty to offer effective legal representation to defendants who couldn't afford an attorney.[12][13] The ruling required Burlington and Mount Vernon to hire a public defense supervisor to ensure their defense system complies with constitutional standards.[14]

2016 shooting

[edit]
Main article: Cascade Mall shooting

On September 24, 2016, five people were shot and killed at Cascade Mall in Burlington.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.42 square miles (11.45 km2), of which 4.26 square miles (11.03 km2) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[15] The highest point in the city is Burlington Hill, which rises 450 feet (140 m) above sea level to the north of downtown. The city fire department placed a Christian cross atop the hill in the 1940s that would be lit for holidays; it was replaced by a permanently-lit and larger version in 1965 that was renovated in 2016.[7][16]

Flooding

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The Skagit River has a long history of flooding, which has affected Burlington as well as other communities in the Skagit Valley. A 1909 newspaper article describes how a dike broke upriver "and a mountain of water came rushing down the Skagit valley and quickly inundated [Burlington]".[17] Burlington is protected by a system of dikes under the jurisdiction of Skagit County Dike District #12, which was originally incorporated in 1895.[18]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19101,302—
19201,3604.5%
19301,4073.5%
19401,63216.0%
19502,35044.0%
19602,96826.3%
19703,1385.7%
19803,89424.1%
19904,34911.7%
20006,75755.4%
20108,38824.1%
20209,1529.1%
2021 (est.)9,702[3]6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
2018 Estimate[20]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census,[2] there were 8,388 people, 3,166 households, and 1,935 families living in the city. The population density was 1,969.0 inhabitants per square mile (760.2/km2). There were 3,419 housing units at an average density of 802.6 per square mile (309.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.1% White, 1.2% African American, 1.8% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 17.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.4% of the population.

There were 3,166 households, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.26.

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,757 people, 2,398 households, and 1,585 families living in the city. The population density was 1,609.8 people per square mile (621.2/km2). There were 2,531 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile (232.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.49% White, 0.83% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 17.66% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.26% of the population.

There were 2,398 households, out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 30.0% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 99 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,848, and the median income for a family was $42,083. Males had a median income of $35,247 versus $22,716 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,167. About 11.7% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]

Burlington is home to Cascade Mall, a former shopping mall located in the heart of the Skagit Valley. It is an enclosed, single-level 585,362 sq ft (54,382 m2). regional shopping center in Burlington, 60 miles (97 km) north of Seattle. Cascade Mall opened in the fall of 1989, at a time when the city of Burlington was credited by The Wall Street Journal as one of the fastest-growing and best investment opportunities among small towns in the United States.[citation needed] The mall is situated near the interchange of Interstate 5 and State Route 20. The mall is owned and managed by Merlone Geier and local management is headed by property manager Taylor Long.[21] The mall permanently closed on June 30, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though some stores on the outer perimeter were allowed to stay open.[22]

Events

[edit]

The city hosts the annual "Berry Dairy Days" festival in June, which celebrates Burlington's agricultural history. The festival began in 1937 as the Strawberry Festival and originally served as a fundraiser for the town's fire department.[23] It now features performances, carnival booths, and fair food.[24] The centerpiece of Berry Dairy Days is a parade on Fairhaven Avenue, the center of downtown Burlington.[25]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019". United States Census Bureau. May 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 31.
  7. ^ "Fairhaven Ave looking East / Burlington Wash [photograph]". Hub History. c. 1910. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  8. ^ Burlington Chamber of Commerce. "Then and Now". Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "Library Building Project". Burlington Public Library. City of Burlington Washington. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  10. ^ "Administration". City of Burlington. City of Burlington Washington. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  11. ^ Liptak, Adam (January 4, 2014). "Need-blind justice". The New York Times Sunday Review. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  12. ^ Cole, Gina; Lerman, Rachel (December 31, 2013). "In lawsuit's wake, cities increase public defense budget". Skagit Valley Herald.
  13. ^ Lerman, Rachel (March 29, 2014). "Supervisor named to oversee MV, Burlington public defense efforts". Skagit Valley Herald.
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  15. ^ Stone Simonelli, Isaac (February 25, 2024). "What's the Deal With: The Burlington Cross?". Cascadia Daily News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  16. ^ "Skagit delta is flooded" (PDF). Mount Vernon Argus. December 3, 1909. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  17. ^ "Skagit County Dike District #12" (PDF). Skagit County. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  18. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  19. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  20. ^ "Contact us". Cascade Mall. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  21. ^ Allison, Jacqueline (June 9, 2020). "Cascade Mall to close at end of June". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. ^ Krenmayr, Janice (June 13, 1954). "It's Shortcake Time In Burlington". The Seattle Times. p. 4.
  23. ^ Deal, Zoe (June 13, 2019). "Burlington celebrates its agricultural history with Berry Dairy Days". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Berry Dairy Days". Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  25. ^ McClellan, Dennis (February 29, 2012). "Lynn D. 'Buck' Compton dies at 90; judge also known for WWII service". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  26. ^ "Hall of Famer Mel Hein dies". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. February 2, 1992. p. C2. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  27. ^ Frey, Jennifer (October 4, 2004). "Mary Mapes's Darkest Hour". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  28. ^ Breymeyer, Natalie (January 7, 2018). "Burlington chamber unveils a legendary exhibit". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  29. ^ Norton, Dee (July 4, 1984). "Stafford death to add a 4th race to state high-court ballot in fall". The Seattle Times. p. B15.
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