BURLINGTON
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Zip: 05402
Pop: 40,000 (approx)
Chartered 1763
Size: 10.5 square miles
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/BURLINGTON PAGE

Overlooking the shores of Lake Champlain, lively and cosmopolitan Burlington is Vermont’s largest and fastest-growing city.  As the shire town of Chittenden County, Burlington is a natural hub for commerce, education and manufacturing, as well as a focal point for tourism.   With a population of approximately 40,000, the city retains a small town feel, which is complemented by a low crime rate, historic architecture and the surrounding rolling landscapes of the Champlain Valley.  The Green and Adirondack Mountains are in close proximity, lending a ‘fresh-air’ feel to the town and vicinity. This healthy appeal has garnered nationwide recognition, with awards ranging from 'Best Green Place to Live 2007' (Country Home), to '#1 Place for Families that Love Outdoor Sports' (Outdoor Explorer), to '6th Best Family-Friendly Place in the Nation' (Reader’s Digest). 

Burlington has also been designated ‘One of the Top 10 College Towns in America’ by the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges guidebook.  With over 10,000 students in the greater Burlington area, the city boasts a lively arts and entertainment scene anchored in the downtown Church Street district, with numerous music, theater, shopping and restaurant venues.  The waterfront district along Lake Champlain is also increasingly popular, with an ever-expanding array of entertainment options.

Burlington is also a focal point for Vermont industry.  Many large companies, including IBM, Bruegger’s and Ben & Jerry’s are located in the greater Burlington area, which includes South Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, Essex, Williston and the village of Essex Junction (see profiles below). 

Ranked 1st in the "Top 10 Cities to Have It All" by A&E television, Burlington and its surrounding communities do have it all: historic charm, urban amenities, outstanding recreation, and some of the most scenic topography around.  It is no surprise that the Burlington area continues to be one of the prime destinations within Vermont, New England and the US at large.

SOUTH BURLINGTON
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Zip: 05403
Pop: 17,000 (approx.)
Chartered 1865
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/SOUTH BURLINGTON PAGE

Located on the shores of Lake Champlain, South Burlington became an independent town in 1865 after breaking from neighboring city Burlington.  South Burlington is known for it’s numerous businesses and commerces, many proximate to central thoroughfares, Shelburne and Williston Roads. It is also home to the state's largest mall, the University Mall.  The town boasts an excellent public school system, burgeoning suburban neighborhoods, and an increasing array of recreational facilities, such as the state-of-the-art Cairns Ice Arena, and the lakefront park Red Rocks,  offering cycling, hiking, swimming and cross country skiing.

WINOOSKI
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Zip: 05404
Pop: 7,000 (approx.)
Incorporated 1922
Winooski MAP  
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/WINOOSKI PAGE

Located northeast of Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain, Winooski was incorporated in 1922.  The town’s name derives from the language of the Native American Abenaki tribe, meaning "Where the wild onions grow.” Winooski is home today to many wholesale merchants and manufacturers, as well as the headquarters of the VSAC, the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, whose new headquarters is a large part of the city's downtown redevelopment project.
 
COLCHESTER
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Zip:05446
Pop: 16,500 (approx.)
Chartered 1763
SIZE: 37 Sq. Miles
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/COLCHESTER PAGE

Colchester Is located above Burlington on the northwest shores of Lake Champlain. The town was settled by two of Vermont's most famous pioneers, Ira Allen and Remember Baker.  Modern day Colchester is home to many suppliers and manufacturers, and is also the site of the Liberal Arts College St Michael’s.  Colchester’s High School boasts the award winning Colchester Theatre Company.  The town newspaper, the Colchester Chronicle, is published bi-monthly.
 
ESSEX
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Zip: 05451, 05452
Pop: 19,000 (approx.)
Chartered 1763
size: 24,448 Acres.
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/ESSEX PAGE
 
The Town of Essex (which includes the Village of Essex Junction) is situated just east of Burlington.  Essex describes itself as “a modern urban community with a friendly rural character”.  The town boasts a nationally recognized school system, parks and recreational facilities, and a multitude of commercial and retail options.  Essex’s history makes it a natural for manufacturing and commerce, as it was once a freight and passenger railroad center.  Scores of companies operate out of the area, with Essex Junction known as ‘the Economic Engine of Vermont.  Essex is also home to the Essex Reporter weekly newspaper.

WILLISTON
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Zip: 05495
Pop: 8,000 (approx.)
Chartered 1763
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS/WILLISTON PAGE

Williston was founded by Thomas Chittenden, the first governor of Vermont, for whom Chittenden County was named.  Williston is home to its share of wholesale merchants and manufacturers, with ski giants Nordica and Rossignol represented along with a multitude of companies of diverse origins.  Williston is home to the weekly arts newspaper VOX, and to the weekly Employment Digest.